SIR, – Mr Stewart, in his letter, “Meaning of flashing lights” (Press and Journal, March 18), clearly has not read the Highway Code, which says, “Flashing red lights – alternately flashing red lights mean you must stop – at level crossings, lifting bridges, airfields, fire stations, etc”.
Highway legislation prohibits anyone, including emergency services, from passing this type of road traffic light when they are showing flashing red aspects, and that includes police officers giving instructions. The Highway Code is now free of charge on the internet.
John Tilly, Eastfield Crescent, Yardley Gobion, Northants.
SIR, – A wonderful evening out at the Aberdeen Music Hall 150th Anniversary Celebration concert on Tuesday, March 16, was soured for four ladies who found themselves stranded, from 10.15pm until 11.15pm, awaiting the recovery of their vehicle after a puncture caused by the front wheel falling victim to one of the many holes in the city’s roads – this time in Crimond Place.
The event was quite distressing for the ladies in question, one in her 70s and one in her 80s, as they surveyed the nightlife of Skene Street, feeling extremely vulnerable, as indeed they were.
On this occasion, the problem was resolved, but one wonders how many similar incidents have occurred as a direct result of the parlous state of Aberdeen’s roads, in and around the city, and whether any have had a less positive outcome. Although the cost of £165 to replace the damaged tyre may not seem a particularly positive outcome, at least no one was injured.
Need we wait until a tragedy is reported in the Press and Journal before urgent action is taken to address this issue and repair the holes?
Mrs Anne Rae,
Earlswells Road,
Cults, Aberdeen.
SIR, – Will any MP/MSP not involved in the expenses scandal please tell me, and your readers, prior to the general election, three things?
Why are we Scottish taxpayers paying for a private jet aircraft for the president of Malawi – of all people? Why are we awarding politicians medals who do a flying visit to Afghanistan? Why are we paying £500,000 a year for so-called armed police protection for “Air Miles” Andy’s two party-loving daughters?
Perhaps my local Gordon MP can answer this, and why we should pay to rewire his London flat after “fire damage”. My house is insured for flood and fire damage. Why was his not, and if not, why should we pay?
Joe Morrans,
Rannes Street,
Insch, Aberdeenshire.
SIR, – I welcomed Nicola Barry’s article (Press and Journal, March 17) on the unsung heroes and heroines in social work all over the world and, of course, much nearer to home.
Sometimes, it is not generally understood that practice in social work is governed by the laws of the land and bound to observe strict confidentiality in dealing with service users’ information. This leaves the professional social worker often with their hands tied and unable to fight their own corner. They will also have to abide by their conditions of employment, which entail not talking about their work – which includes media contact.
It is a complex job with much responsibility and heavy emotional burdens. Often, there is not sufficient line-management support, and supervision can be infrequent or unavailable when it is needed.
The services have been starved of money and many staff made redundant. This leaves too few dealing with far too much – and far too many people to help.
It has always amazed me that, despite the lack of praise and encouragement, social-work students apply in large numbers for their training and go on their practice placements with enthusiasm and determination to fulfil this difficult role. It is a tribute to their positive intentions, and it has been an honour for me to have supervised them when at VSA.
Thank you, Nicola, for an eloquent and sympathetic article which did justice to the people and the task they have to do.
Elaine King,
Rosemount Place,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – Following the recent harsh winter and subsequent heavy deer mortality, Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of land and species management, RSPB Scotland (Press and Journal, March 19), wades into the debate over whether more deer need to be culled by exhorting us to ensure that deer numbers do not exceed the carrying capacity of the land after making due allowance for the stresses that can occur in hard winters. Later in the same issue, you report that the harsh winter may have significantly reduced the number of kingfishers on Britain’s rivers and canals.
The RSPB is well known for pontificating on the management of species other than birds, but in light of their advice on how we should manage our deer, when can we expect to hear them exhorting us to start culling more of our kingfishers?
Andrew Yool,
Croy, Pluscarden,
Elgin.
SIR, – The proposed Netherley windfarm, as reported in the Press and Journal (March 19), is the latest example of PC spin. The quote, “turbines are an attractive addition to the area”, is absolute tosh.
When will it be finally accepted that the only people benefiting from windfarms are the landowners who get a handsome rent for no effort on their part?
Derek Johnson,
Broadhaven Road,
Old Portlethen.