| Letters - 06 June 2006 |
| Makes you want to cry |
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| HOW MANY people in Dundee are embarrassed by the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and neds who hang about outside the Wellgate Centre?
Even though they all have mobile phones they still shout to each other at the top of their voices, usually about some domestic incident involving an unfaithful partner, money-owing friend or need to get some “gear”.
Just a few days ago I was witness to a large junkie fight in this area. The fighters were dressed in the standard addict gear of tracksuit bottoms, designer label jumper (or Rangers, Celtic football top) and checked baseball cap.
There were also numerous baby buggies on show. The men and women involved were all knocking spots out of each other until one of them happened to spill his loose change, when the pugilists all started picking up the coins, returned to their respective baby buggies and walked off in different directions shouting abuse.
In some ways you want to laugh at the incident.
But when you imagine the affect this has on their children and all the other things they will see in private, which they’ll regard as normal, it actually makes you want to cry. — Lifeseeker, Dundee. |
| Appalled at behaviour |
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| I WAS appalled at the behaviour of a thug in Dundee’s Murraygate, near the Wellgate Centre, on May 31, in the afternoon.
He was shouting and cursing, running after another guy looking for a fight among the shoppers.
What made it more shocking was that this guy had a woman and toddler with him.
Where were the police? The cameras must have seen what was going on. — Fed Up. |
| Anger over service charge |
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| IN FEBRUARY I had Sky Digital installed. In March I requested a service call but cancelled this as they were going to charge £65.
When I received my statement in April, I saw they had charged me for the service call.
Despite many phone calls they still took the money from my bank account, which left me overdrawn (for which I was charged £22.50).
Being a single parent this is quite a lot of money to me and much needed.
After not hearing from Sky, I called them on June 1, and was informed the money had been refunded to my Sky account.
For such a large company I feel that I have been treated very unfairly. — Tracey Newton. |
| Smoking suit plea |
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| I have heard that an American college is developing a smoking suit. This will allow the wearer to indulge in a cigarette in areas where smoking is prohibited. It works like scuba gear in reverse, with fans taking the exhaled smoke into a tank on the wearer’s back.
Do any readers know if these are available yet, and if I will get one on the NHS? An an ex-navy man who fought for this country in the last war, I would be only too happy to wear one of these.
If the NHS can waste billions on drug addicts, plastic surgery and obese people, surely I would be entitled to one of these to improve my quality of life for the little time I have left. — Veteran. |
| Stop oil production |
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| F P R DISMISSED North Sea oil as a limited resource of dubious value. I would go further, and cease all oil production.
Free from the financial millstone of oil, the Scottish economy might then achieve the growth rates enjoyed by other small European countries.
Regarding D A B’s claim that the people ignore the SNP at election times, I believe there is a fairly solid backing of the party, but there’s just not enough of them. — Scottus. |
| ‘Estimate far too low’ |
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| Re LETTER from F P R, since oil was first discovered, the London parties have argued Scotland was too small and too poor to survive economically as an independent nation.
This was in spite of their own research which stated, “All that is wrong now with the SNP estimate is that it is far too low,” and concluded that an independent Scotland would “be in chronic surplus to a quite embarrassing degree” (Scottish Office report written by Prof Gavin McCrone).
Current estimates suggest we are at the halfway point for North Sea revenues, with 30 years of oil still available. The SNP would invest these revenues in a fund for future generations. — Joe Fitzpatrick, Dundee West, SNP.
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| Look forward |
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| RE THE comments by Gerry McGuigan. Gaelic has no relevance to the lives of the vast majority of Scots in 2006.
The BBC’s effort to indoctrinate children through cartoons is embarrassing.
Scotland is an English-speaking nation.
The main reason why Gaelic has not a chance is that today’s youth is immersed in a culture of Americanism thanks to satellite and cable TV.
Let’s look forward and stop wasting money. — P. A. Fisher, Newport. |
| Fairytale alternative |
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| IT IS wonderful to hear there will be a “fairytale” horse and carriage available to hire from the leisure and communities department of Dundee City Council.
How about making it a permanent fixture on a Saturday in the city?
It would be a delightful alternative to a taxi or limousine and in keeping with our Victorian architecture. — Dreamer. |
| Remembering Corrie greats |
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| I WAS wondering if the Tele knew when the late great Coronation Street actresses died — Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner), Doris Speed (Annie Walker) and Violet Carson (Ena Sharples)? — Corrie Fan.
[Pat Phoenix died on September 17, 1986, Doris Speed on November 16, 1994 and Violet Carson on December 26, 1983.] |
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