| Letters - 22 December 2006 |
| Let’s give Braeview a chance |
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| I read the inspector’s report in the Tele regarding Braeview Academy, Dundee. The school is improving and all the kids look smart in their uniforms and seem to take pride in the place. |
| This is thanks to the new head teacher Mrs Hardcroft and the staff.
My child comes home regularly with certificates of merit and letters regarding good work.
This proves that if a child wants to work hard then they will thrive.
Please start encouraging this school and give it a chance — Happy Parent.
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| Bring back the “Fifie” |
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| I READ with interest of the Lottery money to be used to preserve the RSS Discovery.
We should now try to get back the former “Fifie”, the Scotscraig.
This former ferry from Dundee to Newport is rotting away in Malta. Some parts of the film, Popeye, starring Robin Williams, were filmed on the Scotscraig.
I remember some of the crew of the “Fifies”. They were regular visitors to nearby Forte’s Café where I worked as a waitress in the 50s.
The café was situated across from the Dundee West Railway Station. It was a beautiful building and should never have been demolished. — Edith Boag, Tait’s Lane, Dundee.
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| Is Brussels behind closures? |
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| I HAVE been reading about the hundreds of sub post offices in our cities, towns and rural areas under threat because the Government wants to save money by cutting the subsidy.
I know the EU are not keen on this type of subsidy.
Is their unseen hand behind this retrograde step? — Countryman.
[A spokesman for the DTI said, “The closures of post offices is not a result of EU pressure.
“The Government is continuing an annual subsidy of around £150 million a year until at least 2011 to help safeguard a national network.
“Despite this continuing money, some offices have to close because people are using the post office less — around four million people a week fewer than two years ago. More and more people are choosing to have their benefits paid into bank accounts, use phone banking, direct debit or on-line services.”]
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| They should learn English |
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| I keep hearing about cuts in hospitals, etc, due to lack of funds.
But there is plenty of money spent on translated leaflets etc, into English.
This should be stopped. If people come here then it’s up to them to learn our language. — Angry.
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| Pest licence |
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| Sandy Smith is wrong to say you need a Defra licence to control pigeons. Although gun laws are made at Westminster they are administered in Scotland and licences to kill so-called pest birds are issued by Seerad in Edinburgh.
Having such a licence does not exempt you from laws governing airguns.
It is an offence to discharge an airgun within 50 feet of the centre of a public road and you cannot carry an uncovered airgun in a public place.
Shooters would also have to ensure they killed only feral pigeons and not other birds.
That is why, after seeing the photograph of a shot pigeon lying Brook Street, Dundee, I suggested in my letter that the law might have been broken. — John F. Robins, Animal Concern Advice Line.
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| Addicts are people |
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| I COULD not believe Fair Doo’s reaction to the pigeon cull.
Not all drug addicts do the things he/she suggested.
They are just people who have made mistakes in their lives.
Most of their families are good citizens.
We should try to help these people and not judge them.
Pigeons are vermin. Addicts are people. — Judge Fair.
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| The Birthday Boy |
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| “Season’s Greetings”; “Cool Yuletide”;
“Merry What-mas?”; “Festive Joy”.
Cards sent to old friends nationwide:
Forgotten is the Birthday Boy!
Not much room left in the trolley,
Where sits the great big cuddly toy.
Nothing wrong with being jolly
But don’t forget the birthday boy!
Festive fatties filling faces
While drunken parties peace destroys;
Faithful few, in diverse places
Remember him the birthday boy!
Living in this land of plenty,
Let Heaven’s wit our wealth employ.
Our souls' stockings will be empty
If we reject the birthday boy!
— Sinclaire Pyper.
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| Tired of abuse |
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| I AM fed up of people shouting abuse at me when I use Commercial Street and the Cowgate areas between 4pm and 11am. If they read the notices they will see disabled drivers are allowed to use these roads during those hours.
Perhaps the signs can be made more prominent. — Fed Up.
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| Refund woe |
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| I GOT a nice pre-Christmas surprise when I was told by Scottish Gas I had overpaid my electricity bill throughout the year by several hundred pounds.
After requesting a refund, I received a cheque for roughly half the amount. A phone call later, I was promised the outstanding amount.
A week later I got a meter reading request but no cheque. After another phone call, I was told my money would not be sent until I had completed a meter reading.
Does anyone know if this is illegal? — D. A., 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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