Sir, – Reading yet another article on Smart Parking in Perth (November 4) I felt compelled to share my experience with your readers.
My daughter borrowed my car, with my permission, and parked in the Watergate car park, Perth, where she normally parks. She paid her amount and went off to shop.
Upon her return and with her ticket almost expired, she took a phone call in the car which resulted in another phone call.
With the car park almost empty, she was unaware that the camera shows no mercy and a week later received a fine of £100 for being over her time.
As one of your readers suggested, we should protest with our feet (or rather cars) and not use Smart Parking facilities.
More worrying is that more cameras mean fewer traffic wardens which equates to fewer jobs. We need more car parks like Thimble Row where you pay upon departure and can shop and spend for as long as you wish, knowing you will pay the required fee when you depart.
Jean Simpson. Chapelhill Farm, Logiealmond.
SNP plays games over refugees
Sir, – SNP Europe Minister, Humza Yousaf talks up Scotland’s generosity in the Syrian refugee crisis, telling us 350 of the first 1,000 refugees coming to the UK are destined for this country.
In this though, he is fudging figures for the SNP’s only too predictable objectives.
The total number of refugees coming to Scotland remains unchanged at 2,000, merely 10% of the 20,000 to arrive in the UK over the next five years.
Our population comprises 8.3% of the UK’s so a fractionally larger number than one might necessarily expect but not that many more.
Only a few weeks ago, Nicola Sturgeon told us she was in tears and very angry about the UK Government walking by on the other side attitude to the refugee crisis.
Yet her own government seems unwilling to do more than David Cameron’s.
Plus we have learnt the First Minister has reversed her television declaration to take a Syrian family into her own home.
Ms Sturgeon’s rhetoric appears unmatched by her actions.
Could the reality be Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf view the appalling refugee tragedy as just another opportunity to play the SNP’s favourite game of them-and-us with the UK?
Martin Redfern. 4 Royal Circus, Edinburgh.
Clear benefits of cycling
Sir, – Your correspondent Clark Cross (November 4) asked: “What are motorists who pay to use our crumbling roads getting in return from cyclists?”
How about reducing congestion, reducing pollution, increasing their health with a resulting reduced impact on health services for starters?
Another point is car drivers do not pay for the roads as road tax has not been in force for about 80 years.
Roads are paid for from general taxation.
Therefore, if cyclists pay any tax, they are contributing to the cost of roads.
Car drivers pay Vehicle Excise Duty which is based on the emissions from the vehicle.
It is also very unlikely that a bicycle will cause any damage to a road surface.
John Johnston. Annfield Farm, Dunfermline.
Britain faces power crisis
Sir, – Last Wednesday afternoon, National Grid took emergency action to maintain sufficient spare electricity supplies.
The “visible” UK wind fleet of 9,000 megawatts capacity was producing just 257 MW at 5.45pm and solar nothing, when demand peaked at 47,500 MW.
Peak demand last winter was almost 54,000 MW.
Power stations totalling 15,000 MW have closed since 2011, so unscheduled shut-downs are likely to increase because power stations are not getting enough downtime for long-term maintenance.
We may escape power cuts this winter, but there’s an ill wind blowing for the winter of 2016-17.
The huge Eggborough and Longannet plants are to close in March with a combined capacity of 4,200 MW.
All of this is due to decisions taken by politicians in 2002 to prioritise renewable energy.
It is time to stop wasting money on wind or solar subsidies. We need a national programme to construct gas power plants forthwith.
Geoff Moore. Braeface Park, Alness.
Energy policy of ‘madhouse’
Sir, – The failure of “renewable” power plants to provide reliable energy means taxpayers will have to pay £450 million this winter to provide back-up diesel generators.
The success of fracking in North America has collapsed the price of coal and oil, making it uneconomic to build capacity with high capital costs such as new nuclear plants.
The UK in general and Scotland in particular face alarming energy-supply problems and EU regulations are still closing our coal plants.
Diesel operators will ship units from China and plug them into the grid but as diesel emits only slightly less carbon than burning coal, this is an energy policy of the mad house.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Wisdom of self defence
Sir, – You have my solemn promise that this is my last word on the subject. Readers may recall my appeal for advice concerning the defence of home and family with reference to the Trident debate.
My search is, in my opinion, finally at an end and I now have my answer. May I quote one of the acknowledged worldly wise, sadly no longer with us.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far” – Theodore Roosevelt, late President of the United States and a world statesman.
Ian Kennedy. Manse Cottage, 1 Gray Den, Liff.
Folly of rail campaign
Sir, – I write with reference to Ms Liston’s letter (November 5) supporting her one-person fight to get a railway station back in St Andrews.
Let us put aside the £70 million pounds that would be needed to install five miles of track and infrastructure, the three years-plus of disruption that would ensue on the current road network while doing it and trying to get Fife Council to approve a new site for the railway terminus.
Why do we need it? The residents of St Andrews have an adequate railway station at Leuchars served by an excellent bus and taxi service. We in St Andrews are nearer to a mainline railway station than residents in many larger towns and cities across the UK.
Ken Reid. 201 Lamond Drive, St Andrews.
Prudent use of taxpayers’ cash
Sir, – David Thomson (November 5) suggests, but has no evidence to support the suggestion, that Tata Steel may not have tendered for Forth crossing work as they knew there was no level playing field given the difference in the cost of manufacturing of steel in China.
The Scottish Government had nothing to do with the tendering process. The award was for structural fabrication and not the manufacture of steel plate.
Tata Steel make steel plate, they do not do fabrication.
Might this constantly overlooked fact be why they did not tender?
It is only those with a political axe to grind that attempt to make capital under the bogus guise of caring for the workers.
An additional fact is that Cleveland Bridge in Darlington did tender for work and won a multi-million pound contract for fabrication of massive steel girders, thus saving hundreds of jobs.
They beat international rivals to secure this work. Tata steel have stated that they were indirectly involved in this tendering process and will supply steel plate to Cleveland Bridge.
This procurement process is said to have saved the taxpayer £1 billion.
I am certain that had the costs risen due to the cost of steel, Mr Thomson and others would have complained that taxpayers’ money had been squandered.
Stephen Windsor. The Holdings, Kinfauns.
What about Scots homeless?
Sir, – I note that the Scottish Government has set up a refugee task force to organise suitable housing and support for the Syrian refugees and has already held an emergency summit meeting to start the process.
I don’t suppose there is any chance of Nicola Sturgeon setting up a task force to organise suitable housing and support for the many thousands of Scottish people on our housing waiting lists?
Councillor Mac Roberts. Perth and Kinross Council, Carse of Gowrie Ward.
Unwarranted accusation
Sir, – It would appear, having watched First Minister’s questions, the pressure is beginning to tell on Nicola Sturgeon as witnessed by her very personal attacks on almost every opposition politician.
Surely there is no need for such remarks, in particular her comments about North East Scotland Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone, supposedly leering at her, who incidentally did not even ask a question.
Mev Braid. Kinkell Avenue, Glenrothes.