Sir, With regard to the recent sale and subsequent planning application in respect of Caird Rest, Perth Road, Dundee; this beautiful listed building was indeed gifted by the Caird family to the citizens of Dundee as a retirement home for “genteel ladies”.
It was maintained for this purpose for many years until Tayside Regional Council changed its status and placed infirm female patients who were bedridden and suffered from dementia therein.
Far different from the gentle ladies who could be seen sipping tea either in the sitting room or on the verandah looking out on to Perth Road.
Tayside Regional Council eventually deemed the premises unfit for purpose and sold this substantial building, for what is believed to be a less than substantial price, to Dundee University.
The first sign of this sale was when, during the hours of darkness, university staff placed metal shutters on the windows. I believe that after a tip-off this fact was published in The Courier the following day.
I now would be interested to know how much profit has been made on this sale, and how much else of Dundee’s heritage was sold off by Tayside RegionalCouncil at knockdown prices shortly before disbandment.
Ken Dickson. Collace Crescent, Dundee.
A compelling case for North Haugh site
Sir, I was delighted to see the website www.newmadras.org and the excellent prospectus which makes such as strong case for relocating Madras College to the North Haugh in St Andrews.
As a former university student in St Andrews who has kept up with what happens in the town, I have always thought that the exchange of the South Street historic Madras old building for a site adjacent to the new university buildings and playing fields on the North Haugh was the best solution for Madras and other interested parties, particularly the university.
The prospectus and site comparisons produced by “A Twenty-first Century Vision for a New Secondary School Serving the Madras Catchment Area” make compelling cases for the North Haugh solution. It is obvious that the remainder of the South Street site that the university does not use could be disposed of profitably and the existing Kilrymont Site should be used for housing. Let us hope these arguments prevail with the Fife planning authorities and they don’t proceed with the Pipeland development for the new school.
Dr Andrew Craig. 67 Gosberton Road, London.
Glad it was the last air show
Sir, As a resident of Leuchars I was both disgusted and dismayed to find that, having left Leuchars on the morning of the air show, the police would not let me, or other residents, return home.
I’ve lived there for several years and never had this problem before on an air show day. A few years ago we were issued residents’ car passes, but that stopped.
With a complete lack of alternative parking provision for residents, denied access and an urgent need for my disabled wife to gain access to her medication made my predicament even worse. I made a complaint and spoke to an inspector who said it was a temporary measure and the police on duty should have used common sense. If only they had. After I was eventually allowed through, it took almost an hour, my son was then later denied access to visit.
I’m glad it was the last one, the management of this one was nothing short of a debacle.
D Beveridge. 42 Warwick Close, Leuchars.
Frustrations of fund-raising
Sir, It is rather disappointing to hear of the CAFE Project having financial difficulties, Plea to dig deep and save CAFE (September 7).
Being involved with an Edinburgh based national UK charity as a regional volunteer, I have more than a good idea of the resources in terms of people and money required to operate effectively. In the current financial situation in Britain, all involved with charity work have to do a little bit more and tighten the belt further, in order to remain afloat.
I am also heavily involved in seeking funding from a variety of trusts and foundations for structural stabilisation and expansion for my local village hall, and can therefore empathise with those seeking funds for other charities.
It is very time consuming and sometimes frustrating in answering the same questions time and time again, in seeking seemingly shrinking sources of funding.
Without being party to the financial situation of the CAFE Project and not fully understanding the activities and their costs, it is difficult to see where the problem lies and where or how the current overhead in excess of £12,000 per month is accrued.
Hopefully a solution can be found which reduces the overheads and allows the continued operation of a well thought of institution.
Geoff Bray. Heather Croft, Letham, Angus.
Wrong people are penalised
Sir, It was good to see that Commonwealth Games shooting events are coming to Barry Buddon Shooting Centre. The numbers involved are considerable, 500 athletes and officials from 40 countries, and it will bring both publicity and business to the area as interest in shooting events is high.
However, it should be noted that 40% of the events are based on air guns and despite the lauding of Shona Robison (Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport) and her colleagues, behind the scenes, the Scottish Government is intending to bring in legislation which will seriously damage shooting in Scotland. Shooting brings in £2.6 million per year and supports thousands of jobs, and many of those who shoot either use, or started shooting, using air guns.
The justice secretary has set his sights on air gun shooters. Scotland has had a 71% reduction in air gun crime over five years and a recent consultation in which 87% of respondents stated there was no need for a licensing scheme for air guns and that current law is already capable of dealing with offenders. Despite this, the Scottish Government still wants to push legislation ahead for a licensing scheme.
This will discourage those who want to learn to shoot, cause long-term damage to Scotland’s shooting income and place a huge strain on the Scottish Police Force in managing the scheme. With some 80,000 shotguns and firearm certificate holders in Scotland they already struggle to deal with this, so how will they deal with an estimated 500,000 air gun licences?
It will also penalise those who use air guns for pest control who will have to pay for a licence for their gun, whether they carry this service out as part of their job, or voluntarily as sport.
Of course, those who misuse air guns will not bother to declare they have them, or pay for a licence, so in short only legitimate, safe shooters will be penalised.
The justice secretary has stated that as air guns are of low value, the licence fee will be kept low: £20 has been suggested. However, the police say the current firearm fee £50 is not enough to cover their checks and administration, so who will pay the difference, the Scottish public? Perhaps in this day and age, a no-fee electronic registration scheme would be the way to go.
Perhaps the Justice Secretary should aim his shots at those who misuse air guns by using the existing laws instead of bringing in legislation that will damage the Scottish economy, cost the taxpayer dearly, and trample over the rights of this country’s law-abiding shooters.
Allan J Ramsay. 15 Dunalistair Gardens, Broughty Ferry.
Tracker device for sheep?
Sir, I read the recent report in The Courier about sheep rustlers in Perthshire and I thought that, as the farmers or shepherds have to tag all their animals these days, why can’t they ensure that one of the tags in the flock contains a tracker device so that if they are stolen, police would be able to quickly track down and arrest the culprits?
Jim Smith. 11 Glenesk Avenue, Montrose.
Stunning air show pictures
Sir, Your photographer Dougie Nicolson has done a brilliant job over many, many years capturing the great spectacle of the Leuchars Airshow. His latest portfolio surpasses anything he has ever done.
If he does not win awards for such a stunning collection of artistic, photographic genius, then the competitions are not worth winning and the judges not worthy of their status.
Michael Mulford. 82 Hogarth Drive, Cupar.
Strong case for Little Cairnie Hospital
Sir, With reference to the letter in The Courier (September 5) concerning the possible closure of Little Cairnie Hospital, Arbroath, I agree fully with everything Pamela Braid said.
I also had direct personal experience a few years ago when my mother-in-law was a resident there. She was very, very happy and was treated with kindness and dignity. I couldn’t praise the Sister and nursing staff enough on her ward.
The place was so clean, the staff efficient and they carried out their duties with competence, humour and friendliness. The place ran like clockwork.
While there, my mother-in-law was moved to another ward and the Sister and staff made redundant and the ward was turned into a storeroom!
With an increase in elderly people needing good care in their twilight years isn’t there a strong case for retaining Little Cairnie and perhaps opening other similar small hospitals?
Penny McCreadie 12 Alford Gardens West Ferry Park Dundee.