Sir, – Last Saturday evening I did something I haven’t done for many years, I tuned in to the Eurovision Song Contest. Why oh why ? I suppose I entertained the most slender of slender hopes that this year it might be good.
No chance. Having nailed myself to the armchair through a complete repertoire of ordinary songs made out to look better with flashing lights, whirling acrobats and a flaming piano, I gave up halfway through the politically biased voting and went to bed.
My only consolation was that the pianist who had almost caught fire earlier on was now on nil points at the time and doing only marginally worse than the UK.
At least I had a giggle as I climbed the stairs.
As genuine musicians tell us, a great song can’t be written to order.
Classics from the past were originally written and composed in a few moments of pure inspiration.
It is the same with poetry where a long procession of poets laureate were commanded to do works for royalty and grand occasions.
It doesn’t work, the result being invariably bland fare indeed.
Good poetry has to come to the poet and good music to the musician, not the other way round.
Those of us around for the entire 60 years of the Eurovision Song Contest will dearly remember, Non ho l’eta, the winning entrant in Copenhagen in 1964, sung by the Italian teenager whose name I could never pronounce far less spell.
It was quite beautiful and had us spellbound from the first few notes.
The Greek singer, Vicky Leandros won for Luxembourg in 1972 with Apres Toi, another knockout.
Later, it was rendered in English as Come What May.
Sadly, throughout the ESC’s history, songs of that quality have been few and far between.
Frankly, the contest is deadly dull and boring, not really worth watching, and thankfully, today there is much more alternative television on Saturday evenings.
Ian Nimmo White. 16 Allan Street, Leslie.
Perth park and ride miles better
Sir, – I note with interest the experience of Chris Anderson using Kinnoull Street car park (May 27) and theproblems in general using paid car parks throughout Perth.
Can I recommend that, if circumstances allow, he and others choose the park-and-ride option at Broxden rather thantrying to park in the city centre.
The cost is £1.50 for an adult return (or free if you are mature enough to possess a bus pass) and you can park your car all day.
The buses are always very comfortable and run on a 15-minute timetable.
I would suggest that the cost and convenience are a good argument against the stress and uncertainty faced by your correspondents inbattling the car parks in the centre.
Frank Gibson. 21 Wellbank Gardens, Glenrothes.
City hall future not set in stone
Sir, – The opinion piece by Jim Crumley (May 26) is just the most recent example of a series of speculative articles on the future of the former city hall buildings.
I am aware that there is a great deal of interest in the future of Perth City Hall and that there are some very strongly held views about what should happen with the building and the site.
I admire that level of passion and am really pleased that so many people are interested in the future of our city.
However, I do not believe it is helpful for people to make assertions about what is happening on the basis of rumour and supposition.
It is important that a fair and impartial assessment is made of each of the bids we have received for the former city halls.
When that process is complete, all elected members of the council will be able to reach an informed decision.
We have remained true to our conviction that the only viable alternative to a city square was a plan which could be sustained and delivered for the benefit of the city without ongoing support from public funds.
If, and until the outcome of the assessment process is published this remains an if, either of the compliant bids which will be considered on July 1 do meet this criteria, then there will still need to be a decision made by councillors on whether that proposal achieves what we want to deliver for Perth.
It must also be remembered that any decision of the council will require ratification by Historic Scotland.
Cllr Ian Miller. Leader of the Administration, Perth and Kinross Council.
No u-turn on demolition
Sir, – Not for the first time in recent days, I read that Perth and Kinross Council has allegedly changed its mind on the future of its “wretched cuboid of dressed stone”, as Jim Crumley so eloquently termed the city hall in his refreshing take on the saga of its eternal demise.
Haud yer horses Jim, I don’t recall any such change of mind.
Cllr Tom Gray. West Park, Braco.
Valued building must be saved
Sir, – We live in a democracy so I fully support Jim Crumley having his say on the fate of Perth City Hall, even although he sets himself up as a sequoia in the forest of philistinism.
However, call me an old fusspot but I do not appreciate the way he has mangled reality.
He states that the city hall has no use as it has been closed since 2005.
Well, of course, the reason it has not been used, is the plain fact that the council closed it in 2005 and has not allowed anyone inside since.
It is strange, for a building of no use, that the hall was in continuous use from its completion up until 2005.
There is no goodreason why this building could not go on for another 100 years.
He further states that the people of Perth desire to see this fine old building demolished. Where is the evidence for this? There is none.
All the evidence points to a majority of people wanting the building saved.
In any case, this is a grand old listed building, in a good state of repair, in a central conservation area and in a city not blessed with too many examples of outstanding architecture.
Professor Gavin Stamp, the renowned architectural historian, many other people and heritage bodies sing the praises of this building. Historic Scotland has made it clear they will not allow it to be demolished.
I hope that the SNP do not, in their new-found power, revert to the arrogance and philistinism of the Labour Party in Scotland in the 1950s.
This building must be saved.
Robert Booth. 2 Kirkfield Place, Auchterarder.
Carmichael cost us £1.4 million
Sir, – In the great scheme of things, it does not greatly matter what Nicola Sturgeon said or did not say to the French Ambassador.
The disgusting thing is that Alistair Carmichael denied all knowledge of the memo, and now, after we, the taxpayers have stumped up £1.4 million, for a totally unnecessary inquiry, he admits to it, and says, that these things happen.
Alistair Carmichael has not got a leg to stand on and should go now.
I see that he is now getting support from some of the (few) other Liberal Democrats left.
Are they not to be trusted either?
Norman Smith. 24 Aberdour Road, Burntisland.
Referendum will be divisive
Sir, – The proposed franchise for the forthcoming EU Referendum is not only perverse but utterly nonsensical.
Under the Prime Minister’s proposals, to be contained in the forthcoming EU Referendum Bill, 1.5 million EU nationals resident in the UK, including 90,000 in Scotland, will be excluded from voting.
That is unless they are from Cyprus, Malta or the Republic of Ireland.
However, the proposals will allow Commonwealth citizens who live in the UK and are not UK passport holders to vote.
This is nothing short of narrow nationalism, viewing a Zimbabwean living in Scotland or a Scot living in Majorca for less than 15 years as being worthy of a vote but excluding a Pole who lives here and for whom the continued relationship between the UK and the EU will have a major impact.
Such a situation will clearly do little to build social cohesion.
In addition, 16 and 17-year-olds will not be able to vote.
These young people are our future, they will have to live with the outcome for many years and it is vital that they have a say in this referendum.
Alex Orr. 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.