I am a pupil at Brackens Primary School and I believe something should be done to stop the cars going too fast when I try to cross the roads coming home.
It is very scary for me and my friends when cars come flying around the corner and don’t stop to allow us over.
We have the lollipop man on Birkdale Avenue but have roads to cross ourselves before we get there.
I ask parents of children in cars, give a thought to us on foot. — Victoria Spink, Primary 3, Brackens PS, Dundee.
Only neeps, water on shelves
THE Government wants to hide cigarettes etc under the counter to stop people buying them.
It claims because they are on view people are easily enticed into smoking by the packaging. Is the Government trying to set a precedent?
Will alcohol be subject to these Draconian measures?
Why stop there? Hide chocolate, to stop tempting the overweight into gorging themselves to an early death. Hide all sweets! In fact, any product containing sugar. And salt, too, while they’re at it.
What about washing powder? The damage it does to the environment is condemned, and all things made of plastic, too.
The day will come when you walk into a shop, and all you will see is the world’s longest counters with only neeps and bottled water on the shelves. But, what will the Government have left to tax? — Charon.
Residents expect more of council
PARKING in Dundee’s Ladywell Avenue is now a joke.
People who shop and work in the city are waiting for residents to come out of their houses in the morning to get into their parking spaces.
When you tell them you are a resident just dropping kids off at school, they say, “Well we can park here”.
I have lived here for nine years and have paid more than £400 in parking tickets for parking in my own street.
I wonder how they would feel if I was to park in front of their drive.
The council must be able to do more to sort this problem. — Fed Up, Ladywell Avenue, Dundee.
No “minimum wage” for carers ...
AS my mum’s carer for more than 15 years I find it ludicrous I have to survive of £46.85 for a 35-hour week minimum.
The Department of Work and Pensions insists a carer signs a statement to say care is provided for 35 hours or more per week to receive the allowance.
How can this be justified? What about minimum wage legislation? Shouldn’t it apply to the allowance?
MPs can claim flat-screen TVs and new kitchens. This is on top of the new £20,000 second home allowance, on top of their £68,000 year salary.
Do local councils care about carers or do they just pay lip service?
Ninewells Hospital and others would come to a standstill if all the carers took strike action.
The situation will not improve till we carers take decisive action. — Kenneth Hill.
March extremes
THE gap between extreme hot and cold is greater in March than in any other month.
The record low of minus 22.8C was at aptly-named Logie Coldstone, Grampian on March 14, 1958, and the record high was 25C (77F) on March 29, 1965, at Wakefield, Yorks and March 29, 1968, at Cromer, Norfolk, a difference of over 47 degrees C.
March 20, 1986 was also another record breaker. 171mph was recorded on the summit of the Cairngorms, Britain’s highest wind speed. — Weather Watcher, Dundee.
Attacked by junkie for 70p
ON leaving Dundee’s Seagate bus station recently, I was faced with a junkie begging for 70p.
After I said no he grabbed me by the neck and punched me in the chest and kicked me on the back of my legs.
I managed to get free and went into the safety of a friends’ car.
I was in shock and couldn’t believe this had happened at ten past five when lots of people were going about.
I have reported the incident.
There is CCTV at the bus station and I hope the police catch this beast before he does the same again. — Daryl Beech, Kirriemuir.
Persecuted Christians
I share Dermot O’Sullivan’s revulsion at President Bush’s glorifying the war in Iraq and justifying the use of torture while claiming to be a Christian.
As a believing Christian, I can no more accept as my brother-in-Christ any church member who justifies torture, cruelty, bullying or unjust wars than I can accept any fanatic who believes that he is doing God’s will as a suicide bomber.
Before the invasion, Iraqi Christians lived free from persecution. Now the Muslim majority see Christians as supporters of Bush and persecute them accordingly. — Christian Socialist.
Jumble sale
THERE will be a jumble sale at the Gaiety Lounge, Balgarthno Road, Dundee, on Saturday at 10am for the OAP comfort fund. Admission free. All welcome. — Organiser, Gaiety Lounge.
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.*
