| Letters - 21 December 2004 |
| Can’t get off roller coaster |
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| FOR THE Scottish Executive to launch a climate change revue is just ridiculous. |
| With America, the world’s greatest polluter, ignoring the Kyoto agreement, and the Third World, which has the greatest population, exempt, our contribution won’t even register and is not worth the exertion.
Global warming and population explosion are like two giant meteorites heading for our planet. We know they’re coming, but we can’t do anything about it, just like the dinosaurs.
Every living organism creates pollution and there are billions of us, with millions more coming off the production lines . . . and the lines are speeding up.
So we have to create more energy to feed, house and clothe more millions so that they can produce more billions, and this creates ever more pollution.
It is an endless game. We like to think that we can control our planet, but we can’t. The human race is on a roller coaster and we can’t get off. Enjoy the ride. — Fintryman, Dundee.
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| Little safety or respect |
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| THE PERSISTENT complaints to the Tele’s letters’ page about the no-private-car area of Commercial Street, Dundee, are unsurprising, because the situation may well be less straightforward than it seems.
Contrast a similar complaint a few weeks ago about a dangerous situation at the junction of the King Street/East Marketgait junction. The authorities sprang into action immediately, but perhaps this was because it provided a photo opportunity for MP Iain Luke with an election in the offing.
On the other hand, it’s unlikely the authorities are really that interested in the Commercial Street situation, since the restrictions are less about road safety and more about giving priority treatment to taxis and buses.
Blocking the road completely would stymie this, and in any case there presumably isn’t a road safety issue, otherwise the buses and taxis wouldn’t be allowed.
The police do show an occasional interest, but this is presumably the usual box-ticking exercise rather than any genuine attempt to stop private cars using the area.
The futility of any such action was well demonstrated a year or two ago regarding the ban on through traffic in Bell Street. In the end only concrete blocks could stop the cars.
As for Commercial Street, it seems that the authorities rely on the fact that the vast majority of drivers heed the restrictions without enforcement.
While this may mean that the priority afforded to taxis and buses is not affected, it does little to enhance road safety or respect for the law. — Driven To Distraction.
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| In case of bombing |
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One of the rings in Hillbank Road, Dundee.
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| I REFER to the rings on the wall in Baffin Street, Dundee. There are similar rings in Hillbank Road on the wall of the then Scott Jute Works, where there were horse-drawn lorries.
The rings were put on the wall during the war. If an air raid occurred, the horses were tethered to them while the carter went to the shelter. — G. R. M.
THE RINGS featured in the Tele letters were for tethering horses in case they bolted during bombing raids during the war.
They were usually enclosed in a painted circle and were all over town. There are not many left now. — Dougie.
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| Thankless |
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| SCOTLAND SHOULD now see what the Government thinks of it by the way it has treated our regiments.
Men were sent to Iraq, some to die, all for the sake of this thankless Government.
Scotland gets what it deserves. The Labour Party has always looked at Scotland as a safe-seat area.
I, for one, look forward to the next elections to see if the Scottish people, for once, show Labour it cannot take us for granted.
If we do not vote out Labour MPs you can be sure we shall be treated with more contempt. — Hopeful.
THE BLACK Watch is home, heroes all and the bravest of the brave. We won’t forget those who died.
Geoff Hoon, for merging the regiment, should be brought to Edinburgh, put in the stocks and pelted with rotten fruit.
To the soldiers of The Black Watch, enjoy your Christmas and New Year. You’ve earned it the hard way. — A. O. Young, Craigowan Road, Dundee. |
| Broken box |
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| IT’S NO mystery to me why nearly a million customers have deserted British Gas.
A meter reader broke my white box open. The plastic door was hacked in two. After reporting this all they did was mend the lock. When I complained again no remedial action was taken. — J. I. Matthew.
[A spokesperson from British Gas, who trade in Scotland as Scottish Gas, said, “I would be very happy to have the matter fully investigated.
“Meter readings are undertaken by a number of different companies.
“We take any customer’s complaints seriously, and the situation does not seem to have been handled satisfactorily.
“Unfortunately, as we have not been given the address, we are not yet able to begin our investigation. If J. I. Mathew supplies this, I will ensure the complaint is looked into immediately.
“Scottish Gas aims to provide a high standard of service and we expect companies working for us to adhere to these same standards. I regret any inconvenience caused to our customer.”]
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| THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.* |
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