Sir, In this health and safety conscious age I find it astonishing that, after four serious incidents with Super Puma helicopters and now 20 deaths, in the last four years, “helicopter operators are satisfied there is no reason to believe there is an inherent mechanical problem with any of the Super Puma models”.
This at a time when the black box flight recorder had not been recovered, so presumably the hard information necessary to come to such a conclusion would not have been available.
I am astonished also that the authorities who govern these matters have allowed these helicopters to resume operations without a full enquiry into this latest incident and a detailed statement to justify the above conclusion.
Obviously the replacement of the Super Puma fleet would be very expensive, but it is outrageous that the profits of the oil companies should be put before the safety of oil workers, whose jobs are difficult and dangerous enough, without the constant worry, for themselves and their families, of travelling to and from work in a vehicle which would seem, without clear evidence to the contrary, to be inherently unsafe.
Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.
Much needed transport link
Sir, When will Perth and Kinross Council finally bow to public pressure and deliver the transport link that is so desperately needed by those living in the heart of the area? I refer, of course, to the long awaited Errol to Newburgh ferry which is at the top of the agenda for nearly everyone living in both those communities.
Like most Errolites, I regularly have cause to visit the good burghers of Newburgh, a journey of nearly 20 miles by road. However these two settlements are separated by barely one mile of water as the crow flies; two fraternal communities geographically divorced by the River Tay.
I can see Newburgh clearly from my home but if I wish to travel there I face a journey of at least 30 minutes, including an always frightening encounter with one of Scotland’s few actual motorways.
Surely P and K council must eventually take heed of the overwhelming clamour of opinion coming from both banks of the river and start ferry operations forthwith. I suggest a low-key service to start with, perhaps using a small vessel which could accommodate only 50 road vehicles along with 100 foot passengers.
I calculate that with a sailing time of around five minutes operating 18 hours a day and a fare of £11.20 per vehicle, the venture would raise at least £110,000 in the first year alone. This would be more than enough to pay the crew and for the fuel used many times over.
As more people started to use this vital link, operations could be extended to use two larger roll-on-roll-off ferries operating around the clock.
Ron Jessop. Gas Brae, Errol.
It will serve a dual purpose
Sir, You report on Saturday that hunger and poverty is driving some people in Scotland to poach deer and salmon and you point out that a deer can give a family food for a week.
If they can catch a deer, skin it, gut it and cut it into appropriate pieces, which are all likely to require different cooking techniques, then good luck to them. They deserve the meat for their efforts and skills. Anyway, I thought we were having to cull deer in Scotland?
Mona Clark. 9 Millbay Terrace, Dundee.
Why not for Fife too?
Sir, Your editorial on Friday begs an interesting question related to the proposal to devolve more controls to our island communities.
If it’s good enough for Orkney then why not the Kingdom of Fife?
The fact that the latest input to this debate comes from the SNP government in response to Orkney and Shetland’s already stated desire to “go it alone” in the event the Scottish people vote for separation from the rest of the UK come the 2014 referendum necessitates close scrutiny.
This is the ruling party which has recently eroded the identity of our local colleges, police forces and fire brigades in the name of efficiencies of scale.
This is a government that threatens to withhold funding from local councils unless they all “toe the line” on council taxes.
It is also a government that bullies and suspends its own locally elected councillors if they dare to form alliances with councillors of other parties (eg in Argyll) without the explicit approval from Party HQ.
Can they really be trusted to deliver devolution to our remoter communities let alone our mainland local authorities?
Galen Milne. Ochiltree, Dunblane.
Kerry’s quick bodyswerve
Sir, USA politician John Kerry says France is their oldest ally. He has been quick to give the UK a bodyswerve after our parliament voted against attacking Syria. Just proves he doesn’t give a jot about democracy and is no surprise considering the number of tin-pot dictators who toe the American line.
George Aimer. 82 Kinghorne Road, Dundee.