I just found out that my daughter will receive no help with travel expenses to St Paul’s Academy, Dundee, due to the fact she lives within the three-mile radius (measured by the shortest, safest walking distance) from the school.
I live in Happyhillock so for my daughter to reach school, she would have to walk along the Kingsway (I feel this isn’t a safe route to walk as there isn’t even a path in parts) or she can walk along the bottom of Caird Park.
Again I feel this is an unsafe route as there are parts which have no path and there are lots of trees along that road where anyone could be hiding ready to grab a child.
I wouldn’t walk that route myself, especially on dark mornings and when it starts to get dark early at night.
My daughter has been attending St Saviour’s for the last two years.
The education department made the decision to merge St Saviour’s and Lawside Academy. I feel they should cover travel expenses incurred through this decision.
I’m sure that there are other parents who feel the same as myself. — Aileern Batchelor.
Law “miracle”
For more than six months the surface of the road up the Law has been slowly getting worse until it was covered with holes.
Despite complaints nothing has been done to rectify it.
Then when the Lord Provost is to pay a visit on a Sunday, the holes are filled and the road is swept and the whole place tidied up.
I wonder what he could do with five loaves and two fishes. — Amazed.
Can Helen Wright explain?
In response to the article in the Tele regarding Towards a Safer Tayside document, Bailie Helen Wright argued that she had written to the Fire Brigade Union asking for “viable alternative suggestions” regarding the Balmossie issue.
In response to the article in the Tele regarding Towards a Safer Tayside document, Bailie Helen Wright argued that she had written to the Fire Brigade Union asking for “viable alternative suggestions” regarding the Balmossie issue.
Can Bailie Wright explain how she expects the FBU to answer to a document when the FBU could only have seen it for the first time at its launch?
It is, I suppose, ridiculous to suggest she may have seen some or all of the document already, which of course could never happen, or has the cat been let out of the bag regarding the direction this supposed consultation may be going? —Ed Thomson.
Parking problems
I agree with Fed Up of Fintry Crescent, who found it difficult to park outside their home.
I have the same problems getting parked outside my home in a sheltered housing complex just outside Dundee, where there are selfish people taking up two spaces to park their car, and not even using their car but using the bus instead.
I now have to park my car on the main road and walk to my home, which I find very unsafe and frightening as I am a single woman of maturing age. — Fed Up And Scared.
Unfair fares
In reply to letter writer, Support Our Troops, the more folk who get free bus travel, the more the fares for the rest of us go up. — Westender, Dundee.
Foghorn puzzle
The Abertay Lightship
Re the query about a foghorn at Buddon Ness. It was in fact on the former Abertay Lightship which was moored at the approach to the mouth of the Tay near Buddon Ness. — Alfie Loudun.
Scotland must go it alone
Prior to the 2007 Holyrood elections, Labour scaremongers said that an SNP victory would saddle Scots with a debt of £5000 each.
Prior to the 2007 Holyrood elections, Labour scaremongers said that an SNP victory would saddle Scots with a debt of £5000 each.
Courtesy of the current financial mess, every taxpayer is now saddled with £48,000 debt.
It really is the British Union that is no longer fit for purpose.
And with the news that Greenland recently voted for a step nearer independence from Denmark, we can only reiterate Winnie Ewing’s famous rallying call: “Stop the world, Scotland wants to get on.”
Scotland cannot afford not to be independent. — The Watchman.
Record number of TV licences
Contrary to comments made by The Watcher (“Time to rethink licence”, December 5), there is no evidence to suggest any recent rise in TV Licence evasion.
Contrary to comments made by The Watcher (“Time to rethink licence”, December 5), there is no evidence to suggest any recent rise in TV Licence evasion.
In fact, there are a record number of licences in force — around 25 million.
Just to be clear, absolutely everybody, celebrity or not, runs the risk of prosecution and a maximum fine of £1000 if they break the law by watching television without a licence.
TV Licensing can confirm that Noel Edmonds’ address is correctly licensed.
If any of your readers would like further information on ways to pay for a licence, they can contact TV Licensing on 0844 800 6732, or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info. — Fergus Reid, TV Licensing.
Thatcher query
We know Mrs Thatcher was ousted as PM in November 1990, but a friend says she was challenged for the leadership the previous November.
Does anyone know if this is true? — Curious, Dundee.
[On December 5, 1989 Mrs Thatcher survived a challenge to her leadership by beating backbencher Sir Anthony Meyer in a ballot.
But it was not the outright win commentators expected, as one in six MPs did not vote for her.
Out of 374 Tory MPs, only 314 endorsed Mrs Thatcher, while 33 voted for Sir Anthony.]
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