Sir, To describe the proposed power station in Dundee as “biomass plant” is blatant obfuscation.
In plain language the proposal is an electricity generator using Tay water turned to steam by burning woodchips.
The timber source is to be trees grown in faraway countries, dried and chipped using electricity, conveyed to ports in diesel-powered trucks or railways, loaded and shipped to Dundee in bunker oil-powered ships.
Here it will be off-loaded and burned within the city bounds to produce electricity for Dundee homes and businesses for inflated prices and added air pollution.
New Power Stations are needed so build one on Buddon Ness where prevailing winds would blow the smoke stack gases out to sea.
To fuel the station use the abundant coal supplies from Fife’s threatened opencast mines delivered by fuel efficient railway trains from pits to the station’s own siding off the present main line. Let us dump the First Minister’s grand delusions that Scotland has to “save the world”.
It is in our interests that we use electricity which we can produce locally.
Kenneth Foster. 57 Hatton Road, Luncarty, Perth.
Real concerns about crossing this road
Sir, I am writing to highlight my serious concerns regarding the lack of pedestrian crossing points on the A930 Dalhousie Road in Barnhill, notably next to the shops.
The road has high traffic levels and is often used as a diversion route if there are any accidents on the A92.
I am a father of two small children and find the road particularly difficult to cross when out with my family.
On school days there are no lollipop crossings and I am genuinely concerned for the children living in the area.
Trying to cross the road from north to south is hard enough but trying to cross from south to north is near impossible due to the high number of parked cars restricting your view of the oncoming traffic.
This results in having to wait 10 to 15 minutes at times to cross.
The nearest pedestrian traffic light crossing is at the Old Eastern Primary School approximately 1.5 miles away.
Something needs to be done (ideally a traffic light crossing), so we can cross this road safely.
I fear it is only a matter of time before someone experiences a serious injury or there is a fatality on this stretch of road.
Steven Donald. 28 Kerrington Crescent, Barnhill, Broughty Ferry.
Important to go to meetings
Sir, I was interested to read in The Courier, April 23, the biggest Yes Scotland event in Perth and Kinross took place in Blairgowrie Town Hall on Saturday.
This event warranted 12 lines in the “In Brief” column. There was an excellent turn- out at this meeting of people both for and against independence.
The speakers put their positions very clearly and two out of three had no political affiliations. The questions from the audience were thought provoking and good natured.
I would urge anyone to attend meetings of the “yes” campaign as well as The Better Together campaign. The more information we have should enable us all to make an informed choice. I trust The Courier can report both positions in an unbiased way.
Ercell Carruthers. 11 Poplar Avenue, Blairgowrie.
No surprise in latest attack
Sir, The latest attack from London by George Osborne and his mouthpiece Danny Alexander comes as no surprise to us who wish for independence for Scotland.
Saying that Sterling being adopted as the preferred currency to be used after independence would cause rifts between countries in order to cause chaos to the “yes” vote seems a very presumptious statement to make.
Travellers to England from Scotland have often been turned away when they use our own Scottish notes at the minute.
Time for the Bullingdon boys to grow up and come to the table with something more positive for Scots to ponder on rather than just trying to scare them into voting “no”.
Bob Harper. 63a Pittenweem Road, Anstruther.
Funds for some things then…
Sir, Dudley Treffry informs us Perth and Kinross Council have come forward with £820,000 to “spruce up” areas of Blairgowrie. In Ardler village we have been asking for a proper bus service for many years. At the moment we have two buses per week. One to Perth via Carse of Gowrie, one and a half hours each way. A day trip.
The other is a minibus which does not correspond with bank opening times etc, to Coupar Angus. Yes a connection to Perth and Dundee is possible but returning to Ardler is a bit of a problem. For a population of 200 this is unacceptable.
The reason for a lack of a service, according to our local councillor, is lack of finance which seems a strange answer to us in Ardler when they are about to spend £820,000 on a “spruce up” in Blairgowrie. Is the council aware that having no transport to Blairgowrie will deprive us from witnessing these improvements?
Andrew Fyall. 8 Wallace Street, Ardler, Blairgowrie.