Sir, Luss estates are right to be concerned about the decline of capercaillie (Disturbing effect of wild camping on capercaillie, July 16), on Loch Lomond, but it is too late now to re-invigorate the scattered outlying populations, including those on Tayside, simply by tinkering half heartedly around the edges of the problem.
The numbers left are too small, they cannot get going properly and are always vulnerable to chance accidents, poor spring weather or predator attack.
We need to consider local reintroductions of capercaillie to revive our outlying populations.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will be wary about this, but we do have precedents for this, with sea eagles being introduced on the east coast and water voles being re-introduced to the Trossachs.
Recognising the sensitivity of this, we can only progress by first determining the criteria by which local re-introductions can take place and then working out a protocol for doing so.
Capercaillie may hang in there for several years yet, and it is a credit to them for doing so up to this point, but unless we address this issue, then their eventual fate is already decided in these outlying areas. If SNH cannot fund this, then I am sure private estates will, as they did previously in the 1830s on Tayside.
Victor Clements. Native Woodland Advice, Mamie’s Cottage, Taybridge Terrace, Aberfeldy.
This is just bullying to get money
Sir, I too have been in dispute with Athena and Lidl in Dundee with regards to a £90 parking fee.
I was in a similar situation where I was in the store for 20 minutes. Having not used this store before I noticed the parking notice said customers were entitled to 60 minutes parking so I thought I would have no problems popping in for a cucumber and a browse as I had been advised to check out their water pumps.
After realising the water pump was not suitable I stood in a queue for 10 minutes waiting to be served at one checkout while no other staff attempted to clear the queue quicker.
I was so appalled I put my cucumber back and left the store.
I too received a parking fine of £90 which was reduced to £45 and they are now going to accept £20 as a “goodwill gesture”. Is this legal?
I see it as bullying for money!
Surely Lidl will have me on their CCTV in the store to prove I was a customer. At no point was there any mention of a system to take details.
Dr Sharon King. Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee.
Ed must face unions down
Sir, Having been brought up in the Falkirk area, I am intrigued by the selection chicanery in a seat which could be won for Labour by a performing bear.
The union barons justify their antics by claiming proletariat candidates cannot get a seat but their “candidate” is the (white-collar) office manager of Labour’s Tom Watson.
I somehow doubt that my former neighbours in this ancient industrial town would have chosen a bland apparatchik had Unite not foisted her on them.
John Smith did Labour a big favour when he ended the travesty of union barons wielding millions of “votes” to impose leftist strategy which made the party unelectable.
It will be hard for Ed Miliband who owes his present position to union shenanigans but this is his moment and if he does not face the unions down his days at the top are numbered.
Dr John Cameron, 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Stands by remarks Sir, Re This was a lost opportunity, Letters, July 10, I am pleased to be an old friend of Andrew Arbuckle but must stand by my remarks.
His claim that the scale of the project was based on the amount of electricity used in the area covered by the Newburgh Community Trust is incorrect.
In the non-technical summary accompanying the application we were told that the NCT area had 1250 households.
In the Environmental Statement it states the project would provide the equivalent annual electricity of around 4000 households.
In other words the scheme exceeds the aim expressed in the summary by a factor of more than 200%. The aim of the trust could have been achieved by a development with an installed capacity of a third of what is proposed.
The fact that the site on Prospect Hill was in a Special Landscape Area has been overlooked as it was throughout. I rest my case.
Graham Lang. Westermost, Coaltown of Callange, Ceres.
Act of colonial piracy
Sir, It seems that imperialism dies hard in the unionist breast! In the event of an independent Scotland, to turn Faslane into a sovereign base would be an act of colonial piracy and, I suspect, would be viewed with dismay throughout Europe and the free democracies of the world.
No, if Westminster is wise, they will consider, in the event of an independent Scotland, whether or not they can afford to support an “independent” nuclear deterrent like Trident.
Brian Rattray. 124/2 Gylemuir Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.