| Letters - 14 October 2005 |
| Keep spies out of classroom |
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| I COMMENT on the recent statements from Chief Constable John Vine regarding league tables and, more worryingly, his views about the imminent threat of terrorism to Dundee. |
| League tables are flawed and fail to take account of factors unique to each area. Is it necessary to compare us with Aberdeen or Glasgow, etc?
The recent annual report from Mr Vine shows he failed to meet 10 out of 18 targets he set his own force last year.
As a citizen and taxpayer, I am extremely concerned by Mr Vine’s “enemy within” terrorism statements.
Someone in his position shouldn’t play on people’s fears or risk alienating entire sections of the community and increasing tension.
Schools and colleges are democratic seats of learning, not places to be spied on or targeted by Special Branch.
Mr Vine has put his foot in it, particularly when an innocent man’s death at the hands of armed police in London is still under investigation.
And remember the riot police Mr Vine deployed from helicopters during G8, running at peace protesters through fields of corn with batons. — G. M.
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| Bloomin’ huge |
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Theresa Hopkins with her grandad Harry Furey and his great-granddaughter Megan Fletcher.
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| MY GRANDAD, Harry Furey, has grown a sunflower in his back garden in Dundee, and it is 14 feet, or more. When I saw it I was shocked, as I have never seen a sunflower grow as big as this.
I said to him it’s like the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. My mum and grandad laughed. — Theresa Hopkins, Dundee.
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| Feed the birds |
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| NOW THAT the flowers have nearly finished growing for the year, don’t put your sunflower heads in the bin as they are a valuable food source for the local finches.
Just lay the heads face up in the garden and the birds will feed on them for weeks. — Bird Lover.
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| Venue needed |
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| I AGREE with reader J. M. S. that Dundee needs a medium-sized venue to complement the Caird Hall.
Critics regularly complain that part of Dundee’s inability to attract top names is because the 2000-seater Caird Hall is too large a venue.
The vacant Homebase site could easily hold such a development.
It is centrally based and the good transport links make it easy to get to by locals and visitors alike. — S. M. T., Dundee.
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| Trying to help our customers |
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| I REPLY to the letter from the r eader complaining about the fact Morrisons in Arbroath Road, Dundee, has shut down and local shops are selling goods at a higher price, for example milk at 45p.
Since Morrisons closed we have been in contact with suppliers and negotiated new prices, nowhere near 45p a pint for milk.
New stocks of bread are also competitively priced. Being the local butcher I feel we have tried to help our customers by supplying all their essential items. — G. Ferrier, Manager, Grossett’s, Arbroath Road, Dundee.
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| Dangerous city |
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| SO SOMEONE in Dundee thinks they are overtaxed and makes a comparison with New Orleans.
New Orleans is a violent, dangerous place with one of the worst records for murder, violence and crime in the US.
A person can still walk about in most of Dundee day and night. The same can’t be said of New Orleans. Maybe if they spent more of their taxes on police and city employees they would be able to reduce or eliminate their horrendous crime rates.
It was not politically correct to mention the fact that thousands of New Orleans residents would not obey the order to evacuate because they were waiting for their welfare cheques to arrive and others would not leave their dogs and cats. — Realist.
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| Ratio too low |
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| PERHAPS OVERTAXED would like to comment on the number of people employed by New Orleans’ council who fall under the banner of care workers and refuse collectors.
I believe in America such “luxuries” fall under the remit of private companies and are not included as council workers.
When you take this into consideration Dundee City Council’s ratio is too low by comparison. — Welfare State Fan.
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| Support wanted |
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| I AM the local co-ordinating officer for the petition to be presented to Parliament on November 30, to save the Scottish Regiments.
I write asking for support.
Over the next few weeks, supporters with petition sheets will be seeking signatures in Dundee.
Should any reader wish to take a petition sheet I can be contacted on 01382 665312. — Lt Col R. I. Rose, Tullideph Road, Dundee.
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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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