Sir, Following the events in Glasgow, a so-called “divided city”, I would suggest that we have all witnessed a rare occasion when all the ridiculous rules were ignored and the ordinary person in the street took it upon themselves to work for the common good.
No “health and safety assessment”; no officious “I’m in charge”; no divides whatsoever. Even a well-known politician who was on the scene piled in.
Why does it take a disaster, regardless of magnitude, to cause us to forget differences, rules and regulations and just get on with helping fellow humans in distress?
We are at present ruled by people who refuse to give straight answers to simple questions, give promises they have no intention of keeping and will lie themselves blue in the face to serve themselves.
Divide and rule comes to mind. Why should anyone think they have our interests at heart?
On the other hand we have seen offers of help from the local mosque to those distressed in Glasgow, and a minister giving space to an overcrowded mosque in the Aberdeen area.
Surely this is how it should be? Working for the common good.
G Stewart. Springbank, Clayholes, by Carnoustie.
Exaggerated claims don’t help
Sir, One of your correspondents in Friday’s Courier gives views as to what is wrong with energy from wind turbines. There are always at least two sides to every story so here are a few alternative opinions.
If people think wind turbines are noisy they should try living near a busy road or in a town or city centre when the pubs/nightclubs are closing.
Most forms of energy are subsidised in one way or another. If the government did not assist with nuclear waste plans and underwrite insurance for nuclear plants there would be no nuclear energy as no private company would insure against a nuclear accident.
No energy source is free they all cost something to develop but it is a fact that subject to a dramatic change in the weather there will always be wind in Scotland. There will not always be coal and oil/gas because they are limited resources.
I would suggest that wind turbines are part of our renewable energy future, they are not the answer on their own. We need to develop other renewable energy forms and we need to ensure that there is a reasonable debate about energy alternatives.
Grossly exaggerated claims about the problems with wind energy do not help.
Robert Potter. Menzieshill Road, Dundee.
Won’t stop bad driving
Sir, Average speed cameras on the A9 will not stop idiots using the last bit before the carriageway becomes single again tearing past at 100 mph. Or the impatient driver leapfrogging in and out, cutting in dangerously. Or other poor and dangerous driving.
The money being proposed for spending on the cameras would be much better spent if there were more unmarked police cars combined with rigorous prosecution and publicity. Simply putting up signs on their own stating that “unmarked police cars operate in this area” would not be enough.
John Dorward. 89 Brechin Road, Arbroath.
Watching with interest . . .
Sir, It seems our esteemed first minister Carwyn Jones has visited your country to warn you against the evils of independence. Please do not assume that he speaks for all Welsh people. He does not. He speaks only for the Labour party in Wales.
Labour has ruled Wales as a political feoff for almost a century and has in that time reduced our nation to a doormat for our next door neighbours to wipe their feet on.
The Welsh electorate are regarded as mere voting fodder. We are here to ensure that Westminster occasionally has a left of centre government.
Welsh constituencies contain communities that are amongst the poorest and most deprived in the UK. Little has been done to improve their conditions. After all, poor areas are more likely to vote Labour than affluent ones.
Many of us in Wales are eagerly following developments in Scotland and we look to the Scots to lead the way. We hope that you grasp your future and lead your nation from under the cloud of English domination into the light of freedom. Good luck Scotland.
Chris Schoen. Tal Gwynedd, 5 Heol y Bedyddwyr, Penygroes, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
Which airlines will use it?
Sir, Prestwick Airport has been bought by the Scottish Government for £1, but which, if any, airlines are likely to use it? Ironically, it is the only Scottish airport with a direct rail link.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.