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Letters - 07 March 2008
Petrol bomb in Whitfield Park

The remnants of the bomb.

I refer to the letter “Dundee Eyesore” in the Tele on February 5 from Watcher. Not only are the vandals defacing property and engaging in other anti-social behaviour, they are now playing with petrol bombs.

The footpath has been scarred and the remains of a petrol bomb were found at the park in Hawick Drive, Whitfield.

The police have removed the remnants of the “bomb” for forensic examination and hopefully the identity of the culprit will be confirmed. — Fellow Watcher.

Putting kids in danger

The parked cars outside St Columba’s Primary in Kirkton Road.

I highlight the dangers regarding parking outside St Columba’s Primary School in Dundee.

At 9 am and from 3 til 3.20 pm, there are cars in the street and cars on pavements. There is no space to drive down the street.

It is a danger to kids.

In addition, the 20mph flashing lights are in the wrong street. They should have moved when the school was changed, as they are no help to kids at what is a building site entrance.

I would like a Tele photographer to go there at around 3 pm to highlight the problem.

It was not long ago a child was involved in an accident with a passing car. — Worried.

Why the delay?
I read the council reckons it will be later this year before anything can be done for the residents of the Crescent Street area of Dundee, regarding parking.

We were told last summer something would be done. Why should we have to wait? Yellow lines only take a pot of paint.

I remind the council this street has a nursery and a playpark in it. — Angry Parent.

Very dangerous
As a resident of Crescent Lane, I am fed up with the free parkers, especially those who think it is OK to park three abreast.

I have never seen anything like it. To get out they reverse right down the street. I think this is very dangerous. — Disgusted Resident.

Rule for everyone
My daughter has difficulty parking her car in the Sandeman Street area on a Saturday when there is a match.

She went through an operation recently and has children. When she goes out for her shopping she finds it impossible to get parked when she arrives back.

Recently, returning with her shopping, she parked behind other cars up on the pavement outside Tannadice allotments. Going back to her car half an hour later, she found she had got a ticket.

The rest of the cars parked on the pavement had invalid badges.

If this is a rule it should apply to everyone. — Concerned Mum.

Councillor might help
I agree with the recent letter about parked cars on the pavement, near our houses, in the Hepburn Street area of Dundee.

Many are company white vans and lorries. The drivers don’t live in our street but park there.

Perhaps a solution would be to use vacant ground near Kings Cross Hospital for parking with a weekly fee for using this ground.

Maybe Councillor Jimmy Black might help with this. — Another Frustrated Tenant.

No help for us
My fiance and I recently moved into our first home and we are struggling to cope with rising fuel costs. We are unable to buy a house so had to go through a letting agent. Although we have a home, it’s not ours and therefore we cannot make any changes without our landlord’s say so, including changing our energy supplier.

We have a pay-as-you-go meter, which is costing us about £150 a month. We simply cannot afford to keep paying this and it is becoming a case of will we eat or will we have heat?

When looking for a home we applied to the council and a number of housing associations, but as both my partner and I are not junkies, hold down jobs and are careful enough not to be pregnant, we do not qualify for anything.

We are now building debt due to the cost of renting and paying the bills. At least the elderly can qualify for some help with their bills.

The Government has just launched a new scheme to help first-time buyers, but not in Dundee. When is the Government actually going to do something to help? — Fed Up.

End jury duty
I was told to report for jury duty in Dundee. I had to phone the jury helpline after 5pm on the night before the case to confirm if it was going ahead. I was told I was not required but had already requested a shift swap with a work colleague and it was too late to change.

How can the court do this to hard-working people with not even a small apology for the confusion?

Three lawyers on a panel should decide court cases and this would be cheaper than the present jury system, too. — Contempt of Law.

Need morals
Having had my new car for a matter of weeks, I was left disgusted when both my wing mirrors were kicked off.

I could claim off my insurance but the excess and loss of no claims bonus leaves me no choice but to pay for it out of my own pocket.

I wasn’t a direct target as most of the cars in my street got the same treatment. These people don’t need punishment, they need morals. — Hilltown Hawk.

Job loss answers wanted
Like MP Jim McGovern, I would like answers regarding the redundancies made by Texol. How was the selection for redundancy made? When did the consultations take place and why were the management unable/unwilling to answer any questions regarding redundancy payments and non-payment of four months’ pension contributions?

Where were PACE or representatives of the Jobcentre to advise employees of our rights?

Many of us were original employee/shareholders with more than 91/2 years service, each paying in £4000 to help in the set-up of this company. Surely this is a shabby way to treat a loyal workforce. — Ex-Employee/Shareholder.

Hurt poorest
I have been left scunnered at the thought of Dundee City Council having to make £1m of cuts in much-needed services in order to met the SNP’s Council Tax freeze.

Not only will these cuts hurt the poorest, but as these people don’t pay the tax in the first place, it’s a “double- whammy”.

Contrast this with the massive savings for those on the highest bandings, the people best placed to pay. — Gobsmacked.

Tax changes
I recently retired after 45 years working, I was appalled to find the Westminster Government has adjusted Income Tax payments from April. Anyone under 65 years earning between £5500 and £15,000 is in for a shock, because they will be paying extra tax of up to £200 pa.

Anyone earning over £15,000 is all right because they are going to be better off.

It’s the same old story, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Labour won’t be getting my vote again. — Lochee OAP.

Prize bingo
Pitkerro Care Centre, Pitkerro Road, Dundee, is holding an Easter Prize Bingo on Tuesday to raise money for a summer house. Families and friends are welcome. Eyes down 6.30pm. Refreshments provided. — Jayne Allan Activities Co-ordinator.
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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