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Letters - 15 August 2008
Junction putting drivers in danger

Traffic turning right onto East Dock Street and turning right from Peep O’ Day Lane is causing problems for motorists.

I WRITE to complain about East Dock Street. Dundee City Council should make it no right turn on to and off this very busy road.

Every morning, my husband and I drive westwards along the road to work and there are always people turning right to go up Peep O’ Day Lane, causing problems.

Then, on the way home, there is a similar problem with people turning right just after the traffic lights at Gallacher Retail Park.

It’s an absolute disgrace that drivers do not have a care for others on the road and take dangerous risks cutting across in front of traffic.

Just yesterday, we witnessed a car pulling out from Peep O’ Day Lane turning right in front of a lorry in the inside lane.

The driver couldn’t have possibly seen what was coming up on the inside of the lorry and pulled out as a car was coming up the side of the lorry.

After this he pulled into the path of the car in front of ours, causing everyone to brake harshly.

We are very surprised there has not been an accident already on this stretch of the road. Incidents like this happen every day. — Very Distressed Driver.

Ninewells call hard on ears
WHILE VISITING Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, last week, being a bit early and with a sun shining, I decided to spend a little time in the new garden just at the entrance.

Alas, the non-stop repetition of “please extinguish your cigarettes” drove me potty.

The words meant nothing as they soon merged into a monotonous drone, which my ears tried to shut out, without too much success.

In fact, I found it so irritating I nearly picked up the pack of cigs I put down 10 years ago.

A little soft music and the occasional reminder would be more suitable and maybe relieve the stress most of us feel while visiting or receiving treatment. — P. Brady.

Make smoking laws tougher
I WAS amazed when I heard on a radio programme an English MP stating that smoking is permitted within the numerous pubs and bars situated in the Westminster building.

I do not think this is a very good example the MPs are setting.

Maybe a non-smoking MP should put forward a motion to change this anomaly.

In my opinion, the smoking ban should be even more draconian.

Any film whatsoever in which actors are depicted smoking should either have the offending scenes edited out or be shown after 10pm.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the on-line petition to 10 Downing Street in support of introducing fully-enclosed smoking areas has so far only received 5000 signatures. Not much support there then. — Norrie Bland, Dundee.

Privatisation
MARGARET THATCHER did us all a good service by “selling off” our utilities. Many of us purchased these shares at vastly reduced prices.

However, some people then sold their shares and, guess what, the bigger bolder fish bought them, and now utility bills are going through the roof.

A previous correspondent on this subject is lucky his or her direct debit is only £25 per month.

I take it he or she is living in one room because to heat a whole home costs an awful lot more than £25 per month, whether that home is filled with a family, or just an elderly couple, or a lone single person.

Utility companies can get it wrong too, so, in effect, my bet is the letter writer will be in for a shock and can quadruple their bill. — Leccy.

Wheelchair taxis
I RESPOND to Happy Taxi Driver who says he/she will not pick up any wheelchair users.

When will Dundee City Council end this argument and introduce one taxi licence (wheelchair accessible) and not the three-tier system which is in place at the moment?

Happy Taxi Driver should think him or herself lucky he/she isn’t a wheelchair user. — One licence for all.

Judges’ decisions
I WAS disgusted after reading the court case concerning two Perth men, who left their victim needing surgery after a fight in Dundee.

Sheriff Anderson thinks the matter can be dealt with by a compensation order.

It’s time he and other judges realised their actions are one of the causes of trouble on the streets, thanks to their weakness in dealing with those who come before them. — Mrs S., Lochee, Dundee.

Can we afford union?
I HAVE read various articles by the candidates for the role of leader of the Scottish Labour Party and was interested by some of their comments on Scottish Independence.

Perhaps the candidates can tell me why we should listen to their scaremongering about Scotland being able to “afford” Independence when, under their Labour government, the UK deficit is over £550 billion?

If we follow their logic, then Britain as it stands currently cannot afford to remain an independent country. What do they suggest we do? — Political Connoisseur.

Iraq reply
I REPLY to the letter from George Aimer. He refers to ex-leader Tony Blair having to answer war crime charges for his recent role in Iraq.

The British are there to police the country.

I defy him or anyone to say the British Army lined up and murdered thousands of people.

I don’t think our troops should be there, but they have never at any time committed genocide. — Jimmy Borland.

Rafael fan
I WAS wondering if the Tele could tell me of a contact address for tennis star Rafael Nadal, winner of the recent Toronto Masters? — Sportsfan.

[The Wimbledon winner’s mailing address is Rafael Nadal c/o IMG INC. Via Augusta, 200, 4th Floor 08021 Barcelona, Spain.]

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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