Sir, Many thanks to Councillor Bryan Poole, for advocating so clearly the case for siting the new Madras College next to the university campus in St Andrews.
He claims (Courier, January 22) that the new Levenmouth School will provide “a revolutionary kind of education in Fife”, with all its sports fields and a new Fife College campus “offering further education opportunities unavailable anywhere else in Fife” actually onsite.
Many of us agree entirely with him that: “To just plonk a school down for S1 – S6 is old hat now.”
But is this the same Mr Poole who has now decided just that to “plonk down” Madras with inadequate sports fields on an exposed sloping site on the wrong side of the town for 60% of its pupils and almost two miles from the university?
Or the same Mr Poole who in June 2012 said: “the overwhelming preference is for a site on the western approaches to St Andrews”, that “the university are interested in doing a deal over the pond site”, that “Pipeland is no better than Kilrymont”; or the same council which assured us when not proceeding with a Taybridgehead school that the new Madras would be sited on the west side of the town and with the great educational advantage of easy access to the adjacent university?
Our case rests, Mr Poole.
Mary R C Jack. 36 Craig Road, Tayport.
Fed up with all this hoo-ha
Sir, I must be a rara avis, judging by what I read in the newspapers. I am a Scottish Tory, a great admirer of both Winston Churchill and Maggie Thatcher, I want out of the European Union, greatly desire the abolition of the money and time and space-wasting Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish Parliaments and think Scottish Nationalism, Scottish Independence and Alex Salmond are swear words.
You’d never guess it, but I am going to vote “no” in the referendum. Meanwhile, I am growing more and more impatient with all the referendum hoo-ha. I have just had yet another “Yes” leaflet delivered to my door.
Will voters really change their minds on such a fundamental issue as independence because of what politicians and activists tell them? What is there to think about? You are either for or against in accordance with your upbringing, your past experience, your education and your world view.
The nitty gritty of currency, laws, state benefits and pensions should make no difference to life-long attitudes.
Why is the referendum not brought forward to next month? If not, I think I’ll go into hibernation followed by aestivation until the great day finally arrives. I can’t stand the pointless aggravation.
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
Restrict it to 2018
Sir, I agree with those who believe that official commemoration of the First World War should be restricted to 2018 and that it should not become any celebration.
When I was 18, I registered as a conscientious objector, and I would have done so, if of military age during that war.
Coming from a family which has clergymen, I have had a struggle of conscience over what is and what is not a “just war”, and in my sincere belief, the First World War was not any just war, unlike the Second World War in which Nazis aimed at world rule and the extermination of all minorities.
I tell my friends in Finland, Sweden and Switzerland that if I were one of their citizens of the right age, I would have no objection to military service because it would be purely defensive.
I would object strongly, however, to involvement in any conflict to interfere with any state which is none of my rightful business, such as Iraq or Afghanistan.
Robin Ball. 27 Morgan Street, Dundee.
Sign was not the problem
Sir, I was disappointed when I read the published version of my letter, wrongly headed Monstrosity of a sign spoils county town (January 21).
The observations/criticisms in my letter were intended to be in relation to the style of actual building design, and the stark white roofs and walls in particular, relative to, and in contrast to, the surrounding town buildings, right in the centre of town (and as viewed from Balmashanner).
My reference to the size of the sign was of a secondary importance only, as one would never suggest that one oversized sign would spoil a town, although a large and alien supermarket certainly could.
Roy Scott. 9 Westfield Drive, Forfar.
Need to alert pedestrians
Sir, When will cyclists and mobility scooter riders notice and then realise that pedestrians do not have eyes in the back of their heads? Do they not have bells on their machines to alert pedestrians?
M Clunie. Montrave Crescent, Leven.