| Letters - 22 December 2005 |
| Charge £5 at city border |
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| HAVING RECENTLY read all the letters about the people on the outskirts of the city using Dundee’s facilities and not paying for them, I know of an easy way to get them back. |
| Allow the city taxi drivers to charge them a boundary fee, as in other major cities (say £5). That will soon have them clambering to be back and will cheer up our poor taxi drivers. — Scott, Dundee.
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| Higher taxi fares |
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| WE BOOKED a six-seater taxi for a family meal out. It collected four people from Monifieth and a further two in Broughty Ferry en route to Dundee’s City Centre. The charge was £17.90.
The charge for the return journey from the City Churches rank was £10.60.
On contacting the taxi company the next day, I was informed that the first cab was licensed by Angus Council and their charges are £1.75 per mile as opposed to Dundee’s £1 per mile.
As well as that, Angus taxis have a higher initial meter reading and charge extra for additional passengers.
I warn customers to be careful. — Feeling Ripped Off.
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| A dismal showing |
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Not much in the way of festive cheer in the streets of Lochee.
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| LOCHEE-ITES WILL be familiar with the phrase “Lochee and nae lights”. Never was this saying more apt than when Christmastime comes around.
From the library to the west end of the High Street, a total of six supposedly festive light decorations adorn lamp posts.
They do nothing to inspire a feeling of Christmas cheer.
In fact they only heighten the dismal atmosphere and the feeling that you have entered a deprived area.
Lochee was once a vibrant community, until the planners decided to “improve” it.
This resulted in Lochee becoming a pale shadow of what it once was and a depressing sight at night.
The councillors who presided over this state of affairs ought to be ashamed. They can redeem themselves slightly by providing some meaningful Christmas lights and councillors Farquhar and Shimi would not need to attend the switching-on of lights in other parts of Dundee. — James Smith, Brownhill Place, Dundee. |
| Tacky displays |
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| I LIVE in a private residential neighbourhood in Dundee. The sheer number of households in my estate and throughout Dundee with “festive illuminations” such as six-foot santas and other tacky items, must be a godsend to the retailers in the city.
These “displays” are cheap looking and possibly the reason why house prices in Dundee are slowing. — Bah Humbug. |
| Police duty of care |
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| THE STATEMENT from Ian Alexander, Divisional Commander of Tayside Police, at a tribunal that police officers can “walk away” if they feel threatened, was bizarre.
The police swear an oath to serve and obey.
Ranking officers have to show a duty of care to the police as well as the public.
I think Tayside Police should take a serious look at the controversial single-manning, bearing in mind that many of their own officers have raised valid concerns. — M. T.
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| Money squandered |
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| LIKE MANY readers, I work and pay taxes, only for my money to end up in the hands of those with no intention of contributing anything to society.
It is obvious many of those in self-imposed unemployment have a far greater disposable income than those who are forced to provide for them.
Paying to help those in genuine need is one thing, but I resent seeing the money I contribute being squandered on drink and foreign holidays.
There was absolutely no need for the Government to raise the pension age.
The simple solution would have been to cut the billions wasted on these shameless spongers. — I. Fleeced, Carnoustie.
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| Disheartening school tables |
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| THE LATEST set of school tables continues to show Dundee secondary schools failing the children, and firmly stuck near the bottom of the 32 councils.
This is all the more disheartening when it is remembered Dundee’s primary schools are rated near the top.
Responsibility needs to be taken, but political point-scoring between the various parties only clouds the issue. — F. P. R. |
| Support for store |
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| WHERE DOES Confused get into his or her head that the majority of people in the Stobswell area are objecting to Lidl being built in Dura Street?
I for one, and anyone I have spoken to, are all for it, as we have always had two supermarkets in this area of Dundee. — All For It.
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| Bus buyout |
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| I AM dismayed to read that Stagecoach had bought out Strathtay buses.
Strathtay provides a friendly, punctual service on which I can depend.
The Government preaches that choice of service forces quality up and a competitive market produces competitive prices.
This takeover should be referred to the appropriate body. — Inverg. |
| No improvement |
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| TRAVEL DUNDEE will increase fares in January. Since they were last increased a year ago, nothing has improved.
If you have to rely on the 15/17 Whitfield services, the buses still run late, they’re still overcrowded, and the majority are still driven by surly drivers. — Fed-Up Waiting.
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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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