| Letters - 26 September 2006 |
| Make use of ‘the system’ |
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| I’VE JUST taken advantage of the facility to renew my car tax disc by telephone. |
| It’s an automated procedure and, within literally 10 seconds, can confirm that your car has valid insurance and an MOT certificate.
In all, it took about one minute and saves digging out insurance and MOT documents, then standing in the inevitable queues at the Post Office.
However, if the licensing authorities can confirm a driver’s details in a matter of seconds, why do the police still insist on having drivers hand in their documents after a spot-check or a road infringement?
Surely, if it is all in “the system”, then that could free up police from this particular clerical task, thus allowing even more bobbies on the beat, where the public want to see them. — J. B., Broughty Ferry, Dundee. |
| Councillor’s cash pledge |
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| I RESPOND to letter writer Dundee Voter. As a retiring councillor with eight years’ service, I will be entitled to a one-off payment of £10,000 as part of the Scottish Executive’s severance scheme.
If the people of Dundee West do me the honour of electing me as their MSP, I intend to donate this to local charities and community projects in Dundee. — Joe Fitzpatrick, Dundee West SNP. |
| Patients had food choices |
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| THE ARTICLE in the Tele about the food served to patients at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee is nonsense.
They still get a good choice. The concerned nurse should have asked to see the daily menu before she complained.
Yes, they get packet soup as an alternative, which is better than none at all. As for the desserts, individual trifles are the only ones brought in once a week. The menu had everything else, including apple crumble, rhubarb tart, ice cream, jelly, fruit mousse and tea bread.
At breakfast, patients have always had rolls and cereal at ward level. Porridge was replaced with scrambled egg. — Catering Staff, Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee. |
| Could be enjoyed by visitors and residents |
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| I DON’T believe the Law is the place for The Black Watch Memorial, as suggested by J. J. Smith.
I think it should be in front of Dundee’s City Churches, where it could be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. — Peter Donaldson, Findhorn Street, Dundee. |
| City centre would be best |
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| LETTER WRITER J. J. Smith suggests The Black Watch statue be moved from Powrie Brae, but I am not so sure the top of the Law is the best home for the memorial.
We already have a fine memorial there. Somewhere in Dundee city centre would be best.
Perhaps once Tayside House is demolished, it could be the centrepiece for a new park in the area. — Mary Harwood, Rosebank Place, Dundee. |
| Plus one |
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| CONGRATULATIONS TO the Scottish Executive for the introduction of free travel for the elderly and disabled.
But as a taxpayer I am concerned about the rapid increase of concession “plus one” bus passes that allow disabled passengers and a companion to travel free.
I was led to believe this was being introduced (and quite rightly so) for companions of wheelchair users.
It now appears that alcohol and substance abusers and a host of others are getting allocated these “plus one” passes.
How many of these have been allocated in the Dundee City Council area and what are the qualifying criteria? — Confused Traveller.
[A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “The card is available only to people meeting eligibility criteria set by Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, and they can choose different companions for different journeys.
“Applicants may qualify for the companion concessionary card if they meet one of the following criteria:
l In receipt of higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance;
l Receiving attendance allowance;
l Registered blind;
l Living in a care/residential home or hospital and eligible for the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
“In Dundee 450 entitlement cards with the companion element have been issued.”] |
| Conscience |
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| I INVITE the person who stole my six-year-old son’s red Diamondback bike on Saturday, September 23, to come back and get the chain guard. I can’t wait until I see you as you have upset my son. Do you have a conscience? — P. Taylor, Garden Mill Place, Dundee. |
| Housing |
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| IN RESPONSE to the letter from Councillor Dawson, it is not just anti-social behaviour that needs to be tackled in the Fintryside area, but housing and a host of other things.
Where has he and our other councillors for this area been for the last couple of years?
Surely it’s not time for another election? — Cynical Sid. |
| Conform |
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| I READ the letter about flexible time for employees with young children.
Why should employers have to even consider this? Surely if somebody takes a job then he or she should conform to the hours.
It is a sorry state of affairs if employers have to suit the employee. — B. C., Monifieth. |
| Energy costs |
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| THERE IS a deafening silence from politicians regarding the massive hikes in domestic energy costs.
What is Gordon Brown’s opinion? Surely this will undermine his inflation targets and will railroad his target of taking a million children out of poverty.
It seems to me private utilities are the real enemy of the people.
They are going to destabilise a Labour Government.
The saying ‘keep your friends close and your enemy closer’ has never been more stark.
Labour’s love-in with private enterprise is a disaster. — Jim Hutchison, Dundee. |
| 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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