Alcohol is a problem mainly for the young and poor who are ill-equipped to handle its effects and will greatly benefit from any enforced reduction in consumption caused by a rise in its sale price as well as the age at which it can be purchased for off-sales.
The middle aged higher earners, who can largely handle their drink, are unlikely to be found engaging in the nightly fracas in our city streets at closing time. They may well quietly destroy their livers but will continue to do so unhindered in the privacy of their own homes.
The Scottish Government’s consultation document is a proportionate response to a very real problem.
I note that the British Medical Association has been quick to lend its support to the proposals. — John Eoin Douglas.
Set fuel prices
Because of a minority of people who abuse alcohol, the SNP want to set alcohol prices.
Their time would be better spent setting prices on fuel and energy bills at the rate of inflation. The fuel prices are the reason for food price increases and energy costs. — Real Labour.
Scruffy grass issues
Part of Dalmahoy Drive.
Park Lover complained about overgrown grass at Swannie Ponds, Dundee. That person is fortunate to see lots of grass.
I live in Dalmahoy Drive and have not seen a blade of grass in the surrounding gardens for the last six years.
Council gardeners have been running over these once a month and over that period of time they have prevented the grass from growing.
Where there is grass, it is scruffy and covered with weeds.
The footpath too leaves a lot to be desired.
To make matters worse, rain water runs off the bare gardens and onto the footpaths.
It also forms puddles outside tenants’ houses. — J. Cooney.
Grateful for MSP’s donation
As a member of a community group which received a donation from Joe FitzPatrick MSP, I have only gratitude for his interest.
However, as the £10,000 being discussed is actually Mr FitzPatrick’s own money, he can dispose of it as he sees fit.
It is a damning indictment of today’s society that a man who has donated £3000 is being chastised for not donating more, when we see vast sums wasted on illegal wars and nuclear weapons. — Grateful.
Water quality
I respond to the letter headed “Tap water not what it was”.
Scottish Water wants customers to enjoy the look and taste of their water and are investing £2.4 billion across Scotland between 2006-2010 to improve services.
The £5 million refurbishment of Clatto Water Treatment Works is the final link in a programme upgrading the whole system.
This has seen more than £16 million invested to secure and ensure the quality of water supplies to the Dundee area.
All this adds up to clearer, fresher drinking water for the people of the city that is delivered 24/7 by a secure, modern and safe supply network. — Helen Lennox, Head of Corporate Affairs, Scottish Water.
Radio does help launch local stars
I respond to Equal Opportunist. Your reader is correct in that Tay AM do broadcast fifties and sixties programmes which are two of our most popular specialist shows and these enjoy high audience figures.
However, I point to Tay FM’s Weekender programme.
Hosted by Graeme Ogston and Frank Mills, they give air play to new or local artistes and music.
In fact, Dundee lads The View were playing on this show long before they became well known.
The Law, Page 6 and The Hazey Janes also featured when they were just starting up.
I remember several years ago Graeme and Frank were shouting about a great unsigned band called Snow Patrol.
Radio stations have in the main to play to the mass majority, but there is a place on local radio for this type of programme. — Lorraine Stevenson, Programme Director, Radio Tay.
Lawside OK!
As Lawside Academy prepares to become part of the new St Paul’s, staff and pupils are certainly doing the old school proud.
At Saturday’s Friends of Wighton Cappuccino Concert, a group of very talented young singers, under the inspiring leadership of Glynis Bromage, took to the stage in the Marryat Hall and wowed the crowd!
From Oklahoma through madrigals, motets and Mozart, they were superb.
The highlight of an excellent programme was a beautiful Ave Verum Corpus but as one enthralled member of the audience said, “I kept thinking they can’t top that one — but they did.” — Sheena Wellington
Tax row
Jim McGovern claimed he had helped force Gordon Brown’s climbdown on the 10p tax fiasco. Why then has he sat on his hands and done nothing when the Government has taken civil service jobs out of the city?
Trying to blame other parties demeans his position. — Political Connoisseur.
Car alarm
To the inconsiderate person who lives in the Dochart Terrace area of Menzieshill in Dundee ,whose car alarm is going off at least three times during the night, I ask please have consideration for others and either get your alarm fixed or disabled. — Disgruntled.
Deported outrage
The lunatics have taken over the asylum. Osama Bin Laden’s right-hand man is not to be deported.
Yet a young Broughty Ferry woman, who has achieved a successful career, is to be torn apart from her family. It’s an outrage. — Fair’s Fair.
Deported
The lunatics have taken over the asylum. Osama Bin Laden’s right-hand man is not to be deported.
Yet a young Broughty Ferry woman who has achieved a successful career is to be torn apart from her family. It’s an outrage. — Fair’s Fair.
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.*
