SIR, – It was interesting watching Mr Ford making reference to the geese flying overhead and how they would be affected by the golfers. He should have been in the area a few weeks ago when teams of shooters were blasting the geese from the sky and exporting the carcases to Ireland.
He doesn’t appear to be concerned about that.
After the decision about a local public inquiry, I also wonder how long the Trump organisation are willing to wait before they follow the dead geese.
Brian Gray, Hill of Menie, Balmedie.
SIR, – Your leading editorial today (Press and Journal, February 29) was indeed well timed given that Holyrood has decreed that a decision on the Menie Project be made the subject of a public inquiry.
Why on Earth has this taken three months? What are our elected representatives paid for to pass the buck in what, in modern parlance, is largely a “no brainer”?
John Swinney has done the north-east no favours today. And what about the meddling Nicol Stephen and his ilk?
Well don’t expect Donald Trump to tread water for the next 12 months, or whatever, as you can rest assured that the opposition will drag this one out for as long as it can.
The only person that has good reason to sleep soundly tonight is Ian Paisley. I wonder why?
Charles Reid,
Bressay Drive,
Ellon.
SIR, – As a retired widow, I had considered applying for sheltered housing.
However, now that I have read some of the letters in your paper exposing the cavalier manner with which Aberdeenshire Council treats residents, especially in the imposition of “supporting people” charges, there is no way I would take up a tenancy of such property.
I am grateful to your correspondents for highlighting the unjustifiable way the local authority treats its senior citizens.
If I hear of friends I know to be self-supporting contemplating a move to sheltered housing, I will do my utmost to dissuade them.
Isobel McGillivray,
Gellymill Street,
Macduff.
SIR, – I disagree with the kilt “designer” who says that our national dress is being hijacked by imports. He is alleged to claim that real “kilts” should be of pure wool, hand-sewn and made in Scotland.
He omitted to say that they should be tartan, which is the most important of all. But then some of us have been campaigning for years to have a proper tartan register, while it is only recently that anyone has taken notice. Commercialisation rules.
If the MEPs, SNP and kilt-makers wish to be successful in convincing the EU that kilts should be recognised as Scottish under Product Geographical Indications, I hope they note that kilts were the garb of Highlanders, not lowlanders.
You won’t find a Highlander prancing along in a pleated skirt made from leather or some other fabric.
Incidentally, the last tartan item I had tailored came back with the label “Made in England” and it was “perfik”!
Christina M. Palmer,
Carnyx, Aultvaich,
Beauly.
SIR, – I read with interest your article on Doonies Farm. I think Keith Marley should be given every support with his plan to run the farm. He has the experience needed for these animals.
I am sure there would be financial help and support from like-minded animal lovers.
Sandy Duthie,
Hilton Drive,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – I refer to your excellent article in the Press and Journal (February 26) about the new licensing costs for all licensed premises.
I think every responsible person would accept that something has to be done to control the binge drinking, and especially the underage drinking, that is taking place in our society.
However, it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that when you can buy, (or send someone aged over 18 to buy) lager or cider at 23-25p per can from a supermarket, that this is where the majority of the problem lies. Very often, our binge drinker will drink cheap alcohol at home or in the street before they go to a pub or nightclub where the drink is often comparatively expensive.
Why is it then that remote hotels and guesthouses in the Highlands are being penalised when we do not cause drink-related problems?
This new tax called “polluter pays” is yet another stealth tax copied from Gordon Brown and now seemingly being used by the SNP as a revenue raiser.
In west Sutherland, we have already seen two well known, reasonably sized hotels close in the last year. Soon we will not have enough accommodation to service our visitors who, if they cannot get a bed for the night, will stop coming, and all the much-needed cash that the visitors spend will dry up.
Patrick Price,
Scourie Hotel,
Sutherland.
SIR, – So the Government thinks cutting benefits to drug users is a good idea.
Is it completely beyond them to realise crime will go up and our jails will become even more crowded?
Then what will they do? Let more murderers out early?
These people are governing us. Scary, scary.
Bob Ross,
Blackpark Terrace,
Inverness.