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Letters - 17 June 2008
Craigowl school flawed from start
I respond to the “Recipe For Disaster” article which appeared in Friday’s Tele. As parents of a Primary 6 pupil at Brackens, we are extremely disappointed and angry with Dundee City Council.

This new school project has been flawed from the very start and the latest claim regarding class sizes has really annoyed us.

Can the education department not do simple arithmetic? It has been known that the combined rolls of Macalpine and Brackens were never going to fit into Craigowl, and now a major problem has arisen.

We don’t want our child taught in a class of 47 or 48 as the way forward in primary education is smaller class sizes.

If, as stated in the article, there are four teaching areas, why can’t we have four smaller classes? — Angry Parents.

Dispense methadone away from shoppers
When visiting Boots in Dundee I often encounter junkies waiting for their methadone outside the lift.

When you have two kids and a pram there is no other option but to use the lift to get to shop for children’s clothes and toys. I feel strongly a private place should be found to dispense methadone and that should definitely be away from my children.

I have approached a member of Boots’ staff about my concerns and he promised to look into the possibility of further security, but sadly bumping into zombies is still a regular occurrence. — Concerned Mum.

[A spokeswoman for Boots said, “Our customers’ shopping experience is our upmost priority and we are concerned by the letter received.

“Careful consideration is always given to the location of the pharmacy counter within our stores to ensure customer privacy.

“We will continue to liaise with the store to ensure our customers receive the best shopping experience whilst shopping in the Dundee store.” ]

Parent patrol needed
I read about the state Dundee is in with under-age drinking, especially when you see a 13-year-old being virtually carried to the police van.

The parents of this girl must have been shocked.

Parents should start to patrol areas where they know their kids might be. — Jimmy Borland, Dundee.

Cemetery theft
Some sick person has removed a large pot of plants, planted by my grandchildren, where my husband’s ashes are interred at the Eastern Cemetery, Dundee.

This was either a week past Sunday or Monday. — Sheila Boath.

Stars not worth pay
Sharon Osbourne was quite correct in saying that they are grossly overpaid.

Many stars such as Jonathon Ross, Graham Norton, Davina McCall, Bruce Forsyth, Terry Wogan and even some news readers are paid obscene amounts.

I hope the BBC and ITV heed the comments from the public and bring these and others to a realistic wage. Let’s face it, there are dozens of people who could do just as good a job of presenting than some of the so called stars.

Instead of the best of British talent, let’s have the best of British presenters and see what comes out of that. But then the overpaid presenters of the moment would object to this kind of show in case they were upstaged. — B. C., Monifieth.

Cupar test centre should be saved
I suggest saving the Cupar test centre and maintaining the highest standards for new drivers by closing the Dundee one.

My daughter has failed her test three times in Dundee.

The first she acknowledges was her fault, for crossing a give way sign by a few inches; the second, for being a few inches short of the give way line; the third, for stopping to allow an oncoming vehicle priority.

I am convinced the Dundee centre operates a quota system for fail/pass numbers.

How else could it explain the number of very dangerous young drivers around? Can anyone tell me if there is an appeals procedure against these decisions? — Fintry Dad.

Young dog walkers
I respond to the concerned letter writers about young children walking dogs.

In the Kinghorne Road area of Dundee, there are two young children who walk two young dogs.

I am horrified parents allow them to walk these dogs as children have no control over them.

The dogs drag them up the road, to the point that the little boy was hanging on to a lamppost one day to try to stop and the little girl was sitting on the pavement with her heels dug in to stop the dog she had from pulling her.

These dogs also yap, bark, growl and lunge at any other dog.

The children do not pick up after the dogs either.

As an owner, I always clean up after my pet and think it’s disgusting there are some people who do not clean up after their pets. — Concerned.

Finlathen mystery
Can anyone tell me what species of bird I have seen several times down at Finlathen Park in the Dighty Burn area? It has long legs and looks like a heron. I have witnessed a pair of these birds on different occasions. — Fintry Nature Lover.
Summer festival
The Summer Festival in Douglas takes place on Sunday from 1-4 pm in the old Claypotts Castle Primary School, Balmoral Place and Community Centre.

The parade starts at 12.30 pm in the car park in Balmoral Terrace.

There will be a lot going on such as horse and carriage, tea cups, inflatable slide, climbing wall, football, bands, magician, dogs, wild birds and demonstrations including taekwondo. — Rena Smith.

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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