Sir, I write with reference to your article, Angus Historians bid to block new eco church.
As president of Monifieth Local History Society, I can clarify that we have no wish to block the building of a new eco church.
It is our constituted objectives to educate the public at large regarding local heritage and, where possible, preserve links to the past.
Sad to say, Monifieth heritage is slowly disappearing with no thought of preserving the past for future generations.
There are also examples of Monifieth heritage not being retained in the area.
Monifieth Pictish stones can be seen in the National Museum in Edinburgh. The site of Eglismonichty Chapel is now a housing estate.
Monifieth Railway Station has been moved to Bo’ness where it can be seen in the transport museum.
The Albert Works, operating as first a spinning and weaving mill from the early 1900s then the premises of Low & Duff, has been demolished.
The 15-acre High Street site of James F Low, ironfounders of international fame, at one time employing around 2,000 people, has been demolished.
The numerous mansion houses and estates within the town and surrounding area have either been demolished or converted for housing.
There are plans to develop the Ashludie Hospital site for housing.
Now there is the proposed sale of church buildings following the amalgamation of congregations of three churches.
As a group, in our communication to Angus Council, we are objecting to the submitted planning application indicating complete demolition of the South Church Halls, a building of significant historic interest, and in accordance with national planning guidance.
We have requested that at least the frontage of the building should be retained and incorporated into the proposed new replacement.
Margaret Copland. President, Monifieth Local History Society, House of Memories, 55 High Street, Monifieth.
Serbs puzzled by no vote
Sir, During a week’s holiday in Serbia this month, I was asked about possibilities for Serbs to live and work in Scotland.
I explained that we have unemployment problems of our own.
During the war in Kosovo, Nato, led by Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, bombed numerous non-military buildings not only in Belgrade but in most other cities of any size.
The use of depleted uranium has caused persisting health problems for those who live there.
I let them know that I have good reason to dislike Tony Blair for turning the Labour Party from being a party of social justice into one for millionaires.
None of the Serbs I met could understand why the majority of Scots did not vote yes in the referendum while they had the chance.
Robin Ball. 27 Morgan Street, Dundee.
Exceptional kindness
Sir, I experienced first hand the wonderful care and attention of staff of all grades at Ninewells Hospital including volunteers.
Their attention and extra kindness was freely given.
Elizabeth Walker. 28 Blackfriars Street, Montrose.
Paper seller deserves medal
Sir, My recent experience in Ninewells Hospital was a positive one.
Staff do everything they can to make you happy during your stay and the food is lovely.
I have to mention the lady who goes around the wards selling newspapers. I have known her since my first time in Ninewells 18 years ago.
I asked her how long she had been doing that job and she thought it was about 23 years. She deserves a medal.
Jim Smith. 11 Glenesk Avenue, Montrose.
Performances embarrassing
Sir, As a senior citizen with an afternoon to spare, I decided to watch the performance of our recently elected MPs on television from Westminster.
I was embarrassed at their behaviour and, in most cases, their inability to speak even a few words without notes.
Heaven help Scotland if this is the best the SNP can put forward to represent us.
Their conceit knew no bounds as, like an individual who has overindulged, they misread laughter within the chamber as approval.
What concerns me is that these SNP MPs are laughing all the way to the bank with a substantial amount of hard-pressed taxpayers’ money as payment for their infantile behaviour.
RHL Mulheron. 28 Cowgate, Tayport.
Perverse view of tolerance
Sir, I am grateful to Alistair McBay of the National Secular Society for reminding us about the secular version of tolerance (July 27).
Apparently he wants us to believe that the National Secular Society would employ someone who was not a secularist and did not agree with their aims.
I guess this means that Labour should be free to appoint a leader who does not share Labour party principles, or did they do that already?
For Mr McBay to claim that a specifically Christian organisation is guilty of discrimination because they seek to employ a Christian as their leader isridiculous especially when that organisation has a GOR (general occupational requirement) for that post.
I am fully aware that the National Secular Society is not a charity and does not set up food banks.
My point is simply that if they object to churches setting up food bank charities why don’t the atheistic secularists set up their own, instead of attacking those who do?
For him to claim that the NSS campaigns against discrimination in education reveals a great deal about the secularist version of tolerance. The NSS campaigns to have only secular schools. They don’t campaign against the rich being able to segregate their children according to wealth.
They only campaign against the human right of parents to have our children educated according to our values.
That is the secularist version of tolerance. They will tolerate anything as long as it agrees with their values. It is a brave new world where tolerance just means going along with one opinion.
I prefer the Christian version where we allow diversity of views and practice and where a Christian organisation with a Christian ethos is free to employ a Christian leader.
David A. Robertson. St Peter’s Free Church, 4 St Peter Street, Dundee.
Missed chance at Broxden
Sir, With reference to your report about safety measures at Broxden in Perth being called for by Transport Scotland (July 25).
Many years ago Councillor Willie Wilson asked my advice, as he does not drive and I, having been a driver for upwards of 50 years and residing near to Broxden, drew out a full plan which he took to the council.
The council expert there put it straight in the bucket, with a sneering comment: “What does he know about it?”
Well done, the council experts, and there are not many of those.
Bill Fairweather. 23 Viewlands Road, Perth.
Folly of Groning conviction
Sir, The jailing of Oskar Groning for his ghastly work at Auschwitz is a nonsense.
What was he supposed to do? Stand up and say ‘this is wrong and I refuse to have any part of it’?
No prizes for guessing what would have become of him.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Food bank market forces
Sir, For many years, a Christian organisation I was familiar with ran a food bank.
It did not advertise it. Access was only through referral from church or civic organisations.
Church members kept it topped up with goods and those in genuine need were helped.
It does worry me that the food banks of today are run by organisations that require a high-profile to survive and thrive.
I am happy to help those in need but I fear there is a case of supply and demand at work here. If you give away free food you are on to a very successful business model.
It is human nature not to turn down a freebie.
I have no doubt there are very many genuine cases of need and so I support the principle of food banks but I also support moves to help people into well-paid work so they can help themselves and their families.
What I do not think is unhelpful are the utterly disgraceful scenes in Dumfries last Friday when Scottish Secretary David Mundell opened a food bank.
The howling, vicious, distorted faces of protestors proved they were not there for a political debate.
The twisted faces showed they hate the Tories more than they claim the Tories hate the poor.
Bob Stark. Mill Street, Tillicoultry.
Scots benefit from Europe
Sir, The record results from Scottish Development International, which show an increase in both projects and jobs created or safeguarded in Scotland through inward investment, highlights the considerable benefits of our continued membership of the European Union.
This also reinforces the findings of the Ernst & Young Attractiveness Survey published earlier this year, which named Scotland as the most attractive place in the UK to invest outside London.
More than 2,000 companies already call Scotland home and many of these companies are coming here, in part, to access the considerable advantages of being part of the EU single market, the largest in the world and amounting to more than 500 million people, brings.
With nearly half of Scotland’s international exports to the EU and with more than 300,000 jobs dependent on such exports it would be folly for us to remove ourselves from the EU and the many clear advantages membership brings.
Derek Hammersley. Chairman, The European Movement in Scotland, 12b Cumberland Street, Edinburgh.