Sir, Much has been written in your columns on the North Haugh’s unsuitability for the new Madras College due to its risk of “flooding” and admittedly, SEPA’s recent map may not help.
But clearly, the Swilcan Burn needs dredging, for a start.
However, being of Dutch origin, may I point out that vast areas of the Netherlands are below the level of the North Sea, including Schiphol Airport (4m below).
Eighty years ago engineers built the 20-mile long Afsluitdijk causeway, creating the freshwater Ijsselmeer lake from what was the saltwater Zuiderzee (“South Sea”) which withstood the appalling floods of 1953.
My husband’s firm built its new factory of 10,000 square metres, for heavy engineering work, right on the waterfront in Rosyth, using piling on old poorly-reclaimed land with no problems.
I believe the new Dunfermline High School template could almost be used “as is” for a new Madras on the North Haugh in St Andrews.
It was built by BAM Construct UK Ltd, part of a group which is the market leader in the Netherlands and one of the biggest in the EU.
I cannot believe it is not capable of building a fine school there, able to withstand whatever is thrown at it for the rest of this century.
Mrs Annette Birkett- Uppenkamp, 12 Horseleys Park, St Andrews
Where are turbine jobs?
Sir, At a recent public exhibition by the developers relating to Little Raith wind farm extension at Lochgelly, it was learned from the developers that the existing turbines were operated remotely from a control centre in Salzburg, Austria.
Additionally, the high value components, including the GE Turbines, the gearbox and the control system were all sourced overseas and the developer is based in Manchester.
So where are the Scottish/local jobs? Other than the role of bird surveyor?
Dan Arnott. St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy
Scotland gets no benefits
Sir, The Little Raith wind farm at Lochgelly shows how everyone but Scotland benefits from these subsidised follies and how few Scottish jobs are created, in spite of assurances from our First Minister.
The turbines at Raith are made in Germany by an American multinational and the site developer is based in Manchester.
The turbines are then remotely controlled from Austria, using German technology.
All Scotland gets is another ruined landscape, a job for someone to pick up the dead birds and some expensive electricity when the wind blows.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeeper’s Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Second inquiry is pointless
Sir, So, the Energy Secretary Ed Davey, is seeking to instigate yet another examination by the regulator of perceived excess profits by our energy companies, where several previous such inquiries have, perhaps predictably, found absolutely nothing untoward.
Our energy policy, as a member of the European Energy Community, is dictated by successive Energy Community Acquis, from Brussels.
The regulator’s raison d’tre thereby, is to ensure continuity and sustainability of supply, with equality of opportunity for producers,suppliers and transmission companies.
Competition alone is relied upon to effect price regulation to consumers and does not fall within the scope of the regulator.
It clearly did not impinge upon the consciousness of those great minds engaged in the drafting of the policy, that by their acting not as a cartel perish the thought! but effectively in concert,the benefits to the consumer, of competition between the companies, is negated.
It is to me, at least, by no means immediately apparent, precisely what a further inquiry will achieve in practicality only perhaps, a modicum of political comfort for Mr Davey.
Peter Dickinson. Ceol na mara, 13 South Street, Arbroath.
Thank you, kind taxi driver
Sir, May I, through your letters, give my heartfelt thanks to a taxi driver and another motorist who came to my aid on Friday evening.
Whilst cycling along Brook Street, Dundee, I was unaware when my bicycle saddle bag became detached and ended up lying on the road.
The taxi driver managed to pass me on Polepark and shout out his window that my bag had fallen off and when I returned back down the road, the other motorist had rescued my bag from the middle of the road and was about to set off after me to return it.
I would also like to apologise to the taxi driver who did his best to attract my attention before by beeping his horn but, as cyclists often get beeped at by motorists who feel we should not be on the road in front of them, I ignored him.
Thanks again to both of them.
Fraser Smith, Tealing