As someone who has paid my way all my life, I find the discrimination against smokers disgusting.
True we have a bad habit, but while the Government continue to take revenue from tobacco and not ban it altogether, I think it’s my right to receive treatment and be able to smoke in the vicinity of Ninewells Hospital.
If it wasn’t for the taxes smokers are putting into the health service, the public purse things would be much different for everybody, so either make tobacco illegal or leave us alone please. — P. C.
Where should we smoke?
To the people complaining about the smell of smoke and the noise that smokers are making outside pubs, I ask what you think people who choose to smoke should do?
Are you suggesting that people who smoke should not be allowed in the pubs?
The smoking ban is, in theory, a good idea, but at the same time it hasn’t been terribly well thought out considering the climate in Scotland and Britain as a whole. Standing outside in all weathers is only going to cause health issues that the smoking ban is designed to stop.
It would have been much better if they did something like only allowing smokers in the public bars and keeping lounges for non-smokers or only have a no smoking policy in pubs that serve food.
People should get off smokers’ backs and just accept the fact that, until the Government withdraw the ban or introduce alternative measures that mean smokers don’t get victimised by society in this way, they are going to make a fair bit of noise especially after they’ve had a few drinks. — Cigar Smoker.
Time to get tough
It’s about time the NHS got tough on people smoking on its premises.
It’s wrong that members of the public can’t be penalised for smoking on grounds. Get the security guards round to turf them out as would happen anywhere else.
And if they just happen to be staff and fail to return to their jobs after being thrown off premises, sack them.
People are smoking around the air inlets for the air supply in offices and we regularly get the smell of Regals coming through into the University offices. — Get Tough.
Parking concerns
The new pavements on South Tay Street look good, but are causing parking problems.
I was very pleased to be informed Dundee Council was improving the pavements in South Tay Street and I agree they look very good.
However, since the new road markings were put in place, it seems that we now have less on-street parking for visitors to the Cultural Quarter and a taxi rank that has yet still to be used by taxis.
Do taxi drivers know that they have a rank there? It seems that they would prefer to park outside the DCA on double yellow lines.
As the pavement outside Tay Square has been widened, this is now a problem for delivery drivers who have no loading bay in this busy street, causing them to mount this lovely brand new pavement.
South Tay Street has a number of businesses including bars, restaurants, The Rep Theatre, salons and offices and it is now more difficult for customers, delivery drivers and clients to park nearby.
Does the council plan to monitor the parking/traffic situation in this area? — Cultural Quarter Watcher
Dog mess issue too
In reply to the many letters regarding dogs being allowed to foul on the streets, I agree it is a problem. Where are the dog wardens when you need them?
Some disgusting person, or people, has decided to bag their dog’s mess and thoughtfully leave it in a hole in the wall at the back of the Dundee Rep/Bonar Hall. There were about 30 bags when I last looked.
Sometimes they toss it on to the roof of the Hydro Electric site next to my house.
Or for an extra treat, these bags have also been tossed into our communal garden.
This is truly vulgar behaviour. — Disgusted, Tay Square.
We will look into Crescent Street parking
In response to Another Angry Resident regarding parking in Crescent Lane/Street, it has to be acknowledged and appreciated that any road tax-paying law-abiding vehicle owner has the right to park his/her vehicle on any given public road where there are no parking restrictions.
At present, there are no parking restrictions in Crescent Lane/Street.
However, it goes without saying that the residents in Crescent Lane should have their concerns listened to.
I would, therefore, be grateful if the letter writer could make contact with me and I will, of course, look into matters on their behalf. — Cllr Craig Melville.
More police powers needed
Regarding the rogue travelling people causing problems with leaving rubbish, etc.
I have nothing against law-abiding travellers, however, it is about time the authorities got tough with anti-social travellers who repeatedly break the law.
For example, the Scottish Government may wish to consider introducing legislation whereby any travelling person who refuses to move on when requested to do so by the authorities may have their caravans seized immediately by the police and the courts given powers to order the caravan to be crushed. — K. Brannan.
Out the window
I read with interest the litter problems around various travellers camps in Dundee and Dundee City Council’s rapid response team cleaning up the mess.
I wonder if Dundee City Council would send the rapid response team to come clean up my rubbish if I throw it out the window? — Jocksbairn, Macalpine Road.
Cash concerns
As the number of jobless rises ever higher, folk are anxiously wondering what the future holds.
Serious pressure is being brought to bear on public sector jobs. So it is disconcerting to learn that the SNP Government has just presided over a £3.4m overspend on temporary agency staff.
Add to this reports that the housing minister has made over £100,000 from the sale of his second home and it’s proof that the need for prudence hasn’t filtered through to Holyrood.
The message this sends out to ordinary Scots falls little short of contemptuous. — Politico.
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