My wife and I and our two children had a recent holiday in Spain which we enjoyed.
We left to catch the plane to Edinburgh from Barcelona at six in the morning.
I left what Euros I had to the domestic staff and on arriving at the airport my 14-year-old son and three-year-old daughter wanted something to eat and drink.
I checked my wallet and found a £10 note.
I asked the staff at the sandwich bar if they accepted British money and they replied yes.
At the checkout the assistant then her supervisor declined my Scottish note.
I explained it was British money and it was all the same. He replied, “No, not the same, different.”
On the plane going to Edinburgh, I was going to try again, but before I could a man in front of me had his Scottish note refused.
So if you are off to Spain, be warned. — Scot the Difference.
Hurtful to honest taxi drivers
I am not at all impressed by the stance and standards of Dundee City Council over taxis.
Why were we not allowed a discussion at the last meeting? An agenda can be altered.
Basically a private hire company had in effect operated without a licence, and therefore without insurance, for a year.
And what about planning permission for the rank at Fat Sams? I thought there was already a rank there and that picking up within 40 yards of a rank was illegal.
Does the public care? I’m not sure they do.
But it is hurtful to the honest taxi drivers who have worked for 20 years in the trade.
I truly think something must be done now to stop the spiralling number of taxis of all sorts coming into the trade.
Dundee has had many closures recently and I wish the people well. Some have entered the taxi trade and good luck to them. But they may find it hard to stay afloat if things don’t improve. Not all drivers have a second driver and have expensive cars to run.
The only times there are real issues with lack of taxis is 2.30 to 3.00 on a Sunday morning after clubs close.
The rest of the time it can be difficult to get on the end of a rank, due to the number of taxis. — Thon Bloke.
Times change
Having read various reports on the ongoing “taxi wars” I feel it is my duty to stand up for private hire owners.
There seems to be glares from “yellow plates” when passing colleagues. We now feel guilty picking up genuine fares in case of confrontation.
My feelings are that elderly drivers cannot adapt to change.
Gone are the days where you would sit in your office awaiting someone to give out jobs while playing cards.
Now you have to go and look for your next fare. Times change. — Move On.
Trying to earn a living
On behalf of many taxi operators I distance myself from the minority who seem bent on tarnishing our reputation with their recent antics.
We have no idea what the protests are about or who they are aimed at.
We prefer just to get on with trying to earn a living. — Working.
Not much sympathy
I don’t think many people in Dundee have much sympathy with the supposed plight of the city’s taxi drivers.
I recently got a taxi from the city centre to Menzieshill and was charged a whopping £7. It’s normally £5.50.
I gave the driver £6 which I felt was fair and reasonable. He didn’t and called the police who arrived within seconds. The taxi driver then drove off.
It is about time Dundee City Council looked at public transport policies and provide affordable night-time buses. — Unashamed.
Lift only access
I write in response to the letter from B. C. regarding buggies used on escalators in Dundee.
I have a seven-month-old baby and use the lifts when possible. However, it wouldn’t be the first time I have stood waiting 10 minutes to get the lift in the Wellgate Centre. It is often filled with not only kids but respectable looking people who can quite easily use the escalators.
The security guards do nothing. This is the only way people with buggies have access to the upper floors as there is no way I am folding down my buggy, carrying my baby and my shopping bags every time I wish to move floors. — Irritated Mother.
Forced to use escalators
As a regular Wellgate Centre user with a pram, I respond to B. C.
I have stood at the lifts on several occasions for 15 plus minutes while people who have neither wheelchairs nor buggies have hogged the lift, and have eventually been forced to use the escalators.
If pram-users are to be banned from escalators, then people who don’t need lifts should also be banned from them. — Ellen Smith.
What a cheek
What a cheek Observer has saying ban buggies on buses. What are the mothers supposed to do, carry their babies?
Leave the young mothers alone and help them off and on buses. I do and I’m an OAP. — Mrs M. Corbitt, St Margarets Park, Forfar.
Staff have to pay more
Parking charges are being increased from November 1 for staff at Ninewells Hospital who have a fob and pay monthly.
I have contacted site manager Brian Main asking for justification in the increase but have not had a reply.
It is not just the £1.10 per month increase, it is the principle. Why do they keep increasing costs for staff?
This now makes the fob £302.40 a year for staff to park to go to work. It is an outrage. — Elaine Sandeman, Balunie Drive, Dundee.
School curtains
On a visit to pick up my grandson from Hillside Primary, Dundee, I was appalled at the state of the curtains in the hall. They are well past repair. — Grandparent.
Pleased to have bins
I think the reader who wrote in about the recycling bins on the corner of Provost Road, Dundee, was wrong.
I was pleased to see them put there because it was too far for me to walk to the recycling centre.
Now I can recycle my paper and cans.
I think it’s good that the council is putting more recycling bins around the city.
The flower bed on the corner is nice but the bins don’t detract from them.
It’s just a shame that people spray graffiti on the bins but that is not the fault of the council. — Happy Recycler.
Not treated equally
If Proud Of Our City would rather not have the on street recycling point near them, then Dundee City Council can feel free to relocate the bins to Heron Rise in Claverhouse.
I am angry that the council is not treating all its citizens and taxpayers equally.
When will such an on street facility be available to the residents of Claverhouse? — Wanting To Recycle.
Recycling lottery
I’m a disabled woman living in Carnoustie and I am sick of our bin and recycling services.
Last week I put out my black bin which was full (as there is never enough room with four adults in the house) of rubbish, over two weeks, so there were an extra two black bags, which were very light.
I placed them on top of the bin as they only take the bin. I watched in disbelief as they removed the sacks, emptied the bin and then put the bags back in the bin before they left. So my bin is now full and I have two weeks to go before it is emptied again.
The recycling service is a lottery. It depends who is working that day as to what is taken. — Nikki Griffiths, Barry Road, Carnoustie.
Roger was western star
Roger Moore is the 2350th star to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Mention is often made of his Bond films, but The Saint (in the early 60s) is often his only TV success that gets a mention.
Overlooked is a classic when Roger was under contract with Warner Bros in the early 60s.
The Western series Maverick featured three members of the family — Brett (James Garner), Bart (Jack Kelly) and gambling dude Beau (Roger Moore). — J. I. Matthew.
Pub phones argument
Can the Tele settle an argument? I say a pub should have a phone for the safety and security of staff. My friend works in a pub and there is no phone. What if there is an emergency? — John Wheet, Strathmartine Road, Dundee.
[A spokeswoman for Dundee City Council said, “There is nothing in the rules and regulations by Dundee City Council stating public houses have to have a phone in them. This is a matter for the publican.”]
Nursery’s strengths
Letters in the Tele criticised the Little Explorers Nursery in 2005. I quote comments from the 2005 inspection report signed by the Care Commission which state the nursery’s key strengths are “the bright, safe building and spacious outside play areas” and “the happy children and welcoming atmosphere created by the manager and staff”. — Anon.
Table-top sale
The Whitfield Women’s Health Forum is holding a table-top sale on Friday, November 2, at 7pm in the Community Centre, Whitfield Drive. Anyone wishing to book a table can do so by contacting me on 01382 504067. Refreshments, raffle and tombola will be available. — Mary Adamson, Vice Chair, Whitfield Women’s Health Forum.
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.*
