Sir, Supermarkets based in England have no business interfering in our referendum process. They may react after the event, but should not attempt to influence it beforehand.
Their concern is not for Scottish customers; what they fear is loss of profit. In any case, Asda and Morrisons have said only that they might charge more up here “if the costs increased”.
A future Scottish government might well take measures to lower costs.
These two supermarkets presumably thrive at present in Scotland, so why would they risk losing this market?
Other stores would obviously gain this trade by accepting the “long distance” price differential, thus becoming more able themselves to absorb any increased expenses.
An obvious inference must also be that Asda and Morrisons would abandon Scotland altogether at a certain cost level. Really?
Would that be such a disaster in any case? Do we really need hypermarkets open 24/7?
Smaller chains such as Aldi and Lidl are growing rapidly in both size and popularity, while there would also be an opening for a revival of the Co-op the original supermarket which was once so strong in Scotland.
Lesser-sized stores operating locally would also help to revive our townships.
At all events, the decision on Scotland’s future should be made on rational, factual and above all honest argument, not scaremongering.
Robert Dow. Ormiston Road, Tranent.
Wee Christmas cracker made me smile
Sir, Recently I had the privilege of formally welcoming everybody to the Young Carers Project’s Christmas Party, which this year was funded by the Rotary Club of Dundee (The Courier, December 20).
Without doubt the money, donated by the good people of Dundee, was very well spent as we entertained these young carers, aged between eight and 16, who have to care for a parent or sibling with mental or physical disabilities. They have all shown “Service Above Self”, the motto of Rotary.
My evening was made when a tiny girl came forward to where I was helping serve the food, indicated that I should descend to her diminutive height and proceeded to place the crown from her Christmas cracker on my head.
She went away beaming and I was left with a smile which will last all Christmas and well into the New Year!
The Rotary Club of Dundee hopes to arrange an outing for these young carers and their families and will be fundraising in due course for this purpose.
My thanks to the public’s continued generosity and their support for Rotary, whose strapline this year is “We’re for Communities”.
Tim Heilbronn. President, Rotary Club of Dundee, 74a Errol Road, Invergowrie.
We must put a stop to this
Sir, Once again the poisoning of another eagle in one of the Angus glens brings shame on our countryside.
This happens year in year out and despite harsher penalties, this disgusting practice still continues.
The offenders are rarely caught and you would think that with modern forensic science and strict control of poisons etc that more prosecutions would be forthcoming, but unfortunately for the magnificent eagle the reason for the persecution is because they kill a few grouse, which is part of their natural diet.
Who benefits from killing eagles? Presumably rich landowners and their paying guests, but that does not give people the right to wipe out our magnificent golden eagles, they belong to the people of Scotland.
We know that grouse shooting brings in much-needed money to the economy but so does our native wildlife, with red deer and eagle sight-seeing tours, etc.
How long are we going to let this continue? Can we not finally put a stop to this or are we powerless because there are different rules for others?
Jim Sorley. 105 Perry Road, Edzell.
Turning into a pantomime
Sir, The pre-determination meeting for replacing Madras College at Pipeland should have been in a reopened Byre Theatre rather than the Town Hall, as the process is turning into pantomime (report December 17).
So, “oh yes it is” very clear that those behind this farce are the administration councillors pushing the education service’s planning application for an unsuitable site.
This meeting had to be held, by law, only because they chose a green belt site where development is “significantly contrary to the council’s development plan”. Likewise, scrutiny must be made by the Scottish Government, causing further delay, possibly lengthy, and which could well reject this ill-advised scheme.
And “oh no it’s not” those who support the much better North Haugh option, avoiding these delays, who are to blame.
Construction there on the Dunfermline High School template could well have begun already. It is those politicians who have misled both themselves and the long-suffering parents understandably keen to see the school built asap by alleging Pipeland would be a quick fix solution but failing to do their homework.
John Birkett. 12 Horseleys Park, St Andrews.