IN RELATION to the story on houses in Kirkton, Dundee, with solar panels and nobody knowing how to use them. I know how the people feel as I have had a similar experience.
I was lucky enough to be housed at one of the new Servite Housing homes in Monikie two years ago. They are all electric with solar panels.
On moving into the house, nobody would give me any information on how to use the solar panel system.
My first two electric bills were very high and I started to query this with Hydro and Servite Housing.
I had to have a meter fitted and could then regulate how much I was paying, which came to about £50-£60 per week.
I am a single parent and this was supposed to be affordable housing. I was struggling to afford the electric, so my dad then took over constantly phoning, waiting in for Servite electricians to check wiring etc.
Two years later, after rewiring I now pay between £20-£30 per week.
Servite have offered me £100 compensation, and no apology for the two years of inconvenience.
I have still not been shown how to use the solar panels effectively and, on asking other residents, neither has anybody else.
Many residents, half of whom are elderly, have been complaining of high electric bills.
I think this is a disgrace. — Jackie King, Wemyss Houles.
Anger over poor state of Sandy Park
The deteriorating climbing frame.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY support the call in the Tele for something to be done about the state of Sandy Park in Balgillo Park.
It’s been in a poor state for a while, but has recently deteriorated even further.
First railings were kicked in, then the basket swing was destroyed and now the climbing frame has been badly damaged.
Every time I take my kids to the park, I spend the first five minutes picking up broken glass out of the sand.
There’s very little left of what was once a great facility for local kids — it’s now just an eyesore and an embarrassment.
I believe that once a place has started to be vandalised and look uncared for, it becomes a target for further abuse.
The management company needs to make some big changes in the park, or the council should take over responsibility.
Equivalent facilities have been provided in nearby Whitfield, which are of a much more robust nature — soft top surfaces instead of sand, which hides the broken glass, metal and plastic equipment instead of combustible wood and rope.
The blame for the state of the park lies squarely at the feet of the vandals, who enjoy wasting other people’s money and spoiling small children’s fun.
But the solution lies with the council and the management company. — Lindsey Reid, Balgillo Park Resident.
Pupil ignored as bus drives past
AS WE recently moved house, my 13-year-old son, who comes to stay with me once a week, was a little concerned at getting on the right bus to get to school in an area he is not familiar with now the schools are back.
I made sure he had all the necessary information.
I was furious when I received a text from my son to say that the number 7, due at 7.56am at Clepington Road, Dundee, had simply driven right past him leaving him in an unfamiliar area with just enough money for his bus and lunch, miles away from school and locked out of the house as I had left for work.
The bus was not full at the time.
Before questioning whether he was at the right stop or had made himself visible, he told me that, by coincidence, one of his teachers was also awaiting the same bus, but that the driver had simply ignored them.
He could have waited 30 minutes for the next one, but it would have made him late for school. That’s if it had bothered to stop at all.
My son was lucky the teacher was there as they very kindly allowed him to share a taxi to school from halfway across the city.
I am outraged that my lad could have been left stranded had the teacher not been at the same stop. — D. Adamson.
On the case?
KENNY MACASKILL, the minister in charge of Scotland’s prisons, and first minister Alex Salmond, tell us they “are on the case”.
Since these wise words there has been a glut of escapes, including one murderer and another violent offender, who went on to rape a teenage schoolgirl.
The Scottish Government’s own figures talk of prisons under serious pressure as the numbers of prisoners reach the highest ever.
These revelations point to an SNP government failing to deal with an increasingly desperate situation. — Politico.
Pram stolen
THIS IS to the thief who stole my pram, which my single mum saved up for seven months to buy and was my only means of transport.
It was stolen from the bottom of my granny’s (secure entrance) close in Court Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It’s a good job I just started to walk two weeks ago, because now I have to walk everywhere in all weathers. — Arran (aged 1).
Working agreement
READER DISILLUSIONED complains about a possible working arrangement between Labour and the Tories at Holyrood.
Agreements between parties are what politics is all about.
Alex Salmond demonstrated that quite effectively when he let it be known he agreed with Thatcher’s policies.
When do the SNP intend to change the record and start behaving like a party that is no longer in opposition? — Dundee Reader.
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.*
