I am very disappointed in the new Craigowl Primary School in Dundee.
Parking is an absolute nightmare. We are all encouraged to walk to school, but there are a lot of working parents who have no choice but to drive and the streets around the school basically come to a standstill twice a day.
Also, whoever thought of a grass playground with our climate? It is water-logged and has a permanent large puddle attracting children before 9am who must then sit all day with wet socks and shoes.
The school has now decided to lock a gate that runs alongside the staff car park into the little ones’ playground and will not allow parents across to drop off and pick up their kids.
It was open all day when the school first opened, but I was told by a classroom assistant that kids were using the gate at lunch times and leaving the school, so now it is permanently locked. It means people who live right opposite or get off the bus there have to walk all the way round which is worse when its pouring rain.
Why can’t the headteacher allow the gate to be opened for 10 minutes at the start and end of the school day?
He would not then have parents and kids climbing the five foot fence to get to school. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Last week the janitor was standing there looking at his watch, swinging the padlock and telling us we were lucky he was in a good mood for him to let us through.
Make parents’ lives that little bit easier and open the gate. — Bring Back Macalpine.
Doing just fine
Now Craigowl Primary is open, I would like to say the school seems to be doing just fine.
However, we were promised by the council speed bumps would be in place on Laird Street which have not appeared.
Also the main crossing at bottom of St Clements Place is a danger as there is a 10 foot hedge to the left. — Tax Payer.
Full Monty hits the spot
The cast of The Full Monty ’in training’ for their successful show.
I went to the Whitehall Theatre in Dundee to see The Full Monty recently, and to put it quite simply, it was wonderful.
I have never had such a laugh. A real tonic. I would love to see it again.
The film version is great fun but to see it all come together on the stage was even better.
Downfield Musical Society has done itself proud. Everyone involved in this fantastic production deserves a big pat on the back. — C. Kennedy.
Volunteering could be the way forward
I read the letter from the person who had got him or herself sorted out and was trying to find employment but because of their history I was unable to do so.
The person said he or she didn’t know what to do next.
I suggest they might try a little volunteering and the Volunteer Centre in Constitution Road has many opportunities.
One such opportunity might be Mid-Lin Day Care, a local Day Centre caring for the elderly. If they were to contact Michael Murphy who is the Volunteer Development Worker at Mid-Lin on 01382 506451 or email volunteer@mid-lin.org.uk he or she might find something to do and volunteering is always a good way into work.
Mid-Lin volunteers have a good track record of finding work. — Fay Lamont, Ex Volunteer Development Worker.
Give it a go
I read with interest the letter from “Trying to Stay Positive” and I felt sorry the writer has not been given a chance, but he or she might also have read the rest of the Tele the same night and noticed the article about volunteering.
The writer should try it and might get something out of it.
Find out about something that you could do to help somebody worse then yourself. The Volunteer Centre in Constitution Road might be able to help. Why not give it a try? There’s no harm in asking. — Dundee Volunteer
Jury will benefit from experience
Regarding the public’s view that 70 being too old for jury duty, I think it is a good idea because older people have lived longer and they are more experienced in matters of life.
Furthermore they can be more understanding when it comes to making a decision on hearing the facts.
I think we should value their opinions, which are very important, as they are senior citizens. — Jimmy Borland.
Tesco Lochee
Why is there such a fuss about Tesco in Lochee closing? There are other supermarkets like Asda, Morrisons or Sainsburys in Dundee.
Why can’t one of these supermarkets move into the store in Lochee and give Tesco some competition? It would increase choice to the consumer. — Morag Walker.
Car boot sale
St Columba’s Church in Derwent Avenue, Dundee, is holding a car boot sale tomorrow at 10 am. Cost is £5 per car. All proceeds to Church funds. To book telephone 01382 532559 or 826733. If it’s raining it will be held indoors. — B. Ward.
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