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Letters - 08 April 2009
PCs TURNED BLIND EYE
ON Saturday, March 28, I had the misfortune to be stuck in a traffic jam at Gallagher Retail Park in Dundee. Nothing was moving and tempers were beginning to fray, mine included.

After 30 minutes I was relieved to see a police car make its way through the deadlocked traffic trying to exit the park and park up on a cobbled area. Thank goodness I thought, two of Tayside’s Finest come to sort out this mess.

A policeman got out of the car and made his way through the stationary cars and irate drivers and I assumed he was going to sort out the traffic jam at the lights as he had obviously passed it on his way into the park. The female, however, remained in the car.

Meanwhile, a woman who had got out of her car so she could try to stop the traffic to let her get her car out, was threatened by a driver and almost knocked over. This happened in full view of the female police officer.

The policewoman, however, was doing her best to gaze into space and ignore what was happening in front of her eyes.

The male police officer then returned to his car carrying a bag from a nearby shop.

Then, to add insult to injury, they proceeded to nose their car into the traffic jam, in front of me I may add, and got out of the jam before people who had been waiting for at least an hour.

The traffic jam was caused by selfish drivers refusing to allow cars to filter, the problem was compounded by two police officers who actually had the means to resolve a volatile situation acting in exactly the same selfish manner. — R. W.

Dangerous parking

The area, which can become congested with parked cars.

ON an almost daily basis, cars are parking dangerously near street junctions and on double yellow lines on Upper Constitution Street, Drummond Street and North Somerville Place, in Dundee.

One regular offender is a driving instructor — you would think that he should know better.

I have made repeated complaints to Dundee City Council’s parking division to be met with complete indifference and inaction.

Must we wait for an accident before action is taken? — Exasperated.

Teen drinking warning
DISCARDED beer tins and bottles have been found in a grit bin in Pitalpin area of Lochee.

I ask parents in this area to be aware of Dundee teenagers drinking and be more vigilant. — Concerned Parent.

Suzzane will inspire others
WE are confident Suzzane McCusker will make a positive commitment to help and inspire young people to make good in their lives. Keep up the good work, Suzzane. — Gran and Grandad McCusker.

[Suzzane turned her life around following her release from prison, and was last month recognised with a national award.

She works as a peer volunteer at Xplore Dundee and was named Peer Educator of the Year at the Youthlink Scotland Youth Worker of the Year awards dinner.

She was presented with a crystal trophy, a certificate and a cheque for £50 by finance secretary John Swinney, during the ceremony at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel.

Her success follows on the back of the Inspiration To Others Award she won at the Evening Telegraph Youth Awards last year.

Senior youth worker Carie Burns said, “Suzzane has turned her life around, and we are all very proud of her.

“She draws upon her own experiences to advise young people about their behaviour to try to keep them on the straight and narrow.”

Suzzane was just 16 when she was sent to Cornton Vale women’s prison in Stirling.

After falling in with a bad crowd, she had become involved in drink and drugs and her behaviour resulted in a four-week stint in the jail.

“Suzzane knew when she was released from prison she never wanted to go back there, and she hasn’t looked back since.”]

Overturn decision
AS we now have an SNP administration in Dundee, will it overturn the conditions the previous Labour authority imposed on council workers, by taking away six public holidays and paying them straight time when they work them?

The six days will be incorporated into annual leave.

The council gave departmental managers £7000-a-year pay rises, but is paying flat rate on overtime, claiming the SNP Scottish Government did not give it enough money to pay for the Council Tax freeze.

Our SNP councillors argued they did, so will they overturn this decision? — Real Socialist.

Constant queues
I have cashed my Giro at Dundee General Post Office for the past two years and I agree with the letter writer who complained of constant queues there.

On Wednesday past, I waited for 25 minutes to be served with my three young children.

Everyone in the queue was complaining as there were only three staff serving. The Post Office is a disgrace. — Young Dundee Mum.

Bagpipes found
A set of bagpipes was found at the bus stop beside Dundee’s Gala Bingo on Thursday, April 2. Please phone for return. — 07706 309626.
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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