Letters Page

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Revelationsat council

SIR, – I refer to recent reports that Aberdeen City Council has been selling off property at less than market value.

In this connection, I understand that a member of the property staff has been “sacked” as a result of an internal inquiry.

Various accusations have been bandied about, including incompetence, negligence and lying. With regard to the latter, it is difficult to see lies being perpetuated over a period of six or seven years. If that is, indeed, the case, what were the council’s internal and external auditors doing all this time? Surely it was their joint responsibility to ensure good governance and best value at all times.

In view of these revelations, is it at all surprising that such deep concern was expressed at their judgment regarding their decision to embark on the Marischal College project?

George S. Morrison,

53 Overton Circle,

Dyce,

Aberdeen.

‘Depressing’situation

SIR, – Enough is enough. The latest revelation about the monumental incompetence of Aberdeen City Council and its off-loading of prime pieces of real estate for a £5million undersell brings to mind the phrase “It is a muddle not a fiddle.”

These words preceded the departure of a former politician and will no doubt be the swansong of Douglas Paterson, the council’s chief executive.

The current leaders of the council should also consider their positions. The council is now effectively neutered and does not carry the confidence of citizens.

It has been suggested that the Trump refusal sends out the message that Scotland is not open for business. This debacle must surely send out the message that Aberdonians are easy prey for the financially unscrupulous. We need action. We need a strong chief executive to run our city.

This situation is depressing and debilitating for taxpayers who have to work hard, earn cash and budget for their futures.

How can you get it so wrong when all you have to do is receive money and spend it on public projects?

This administration should leave all current projects well alone, including the bypass and Marischal College revamp, for public confidence has evaporated. They should do the decent thing and fall on their collective sword.

P. Macari,

Queens Road,

Aberdeen.

‘Yet another scandal’

SIR, – It appears that when things are so bad in Aberdeen that it cannot possibly get any worse, surprise, surprise, it does just that, with yet another scandal, regarding city-owned properties being sold off for a fraction of there true value.

It’s a bit late calling in the police. This story broke last year and the culprits responsible will have had lots of time to cover their tracks and lead the police a merry chase.

The sad fact in all this is that the money lost in all these “bargain-basement” property deals could have kept Glencraft, Doonies Farm and the other charities going for years to come.

I hope that the citizens in Aberdeen will remember well the current administration team that has led the city into such a mess. The next local elections are not that far away.

Dennis Grattan,

3 Mugiemoss Road,

Bucksburn, Aberdeen.

Attitudesto windfarms

SIR, – Andrew Charles (Letters, April 30) is miffed that Scotland’s future prosperity (and not, as he also claims, as if he cares, Lewis’s future prosperity) has been dismissed by islanders’ “selfish inward attitude”.

What exactly has Mr Charles done for Scotland’s economy to make him so self-righteous and pious towards people who do not outwardly seek to offend? It is arrogant individuals such as Mr Charles who blatantly fail to understand or, indeed, respect a culture that quietly promotes so much that is rich in unspoilt, unpolluted, natural prosperity and it is selfish in the extreme to feel it is mandatory to exploit it.

If an energy company sank a generator into Mr Charles’s garden in Aberdeen which would generate power for use only by people in Dundee, would he feel a sense of generosity or indignation? It is not “backward” to protect our environment from something that will bring jobs for only a few people in the short term and even fewer in the long term.

Our economy is reaching rock bottom already without the need for Mr Charles’s accusations that this condition could be attributed to the people of Lewis. The people of Lewis were not the only objectors to the windfarm.

Lynn Cadger,

15 Woodhill Place,

Aberdeen.

Spoiling the view for visitors

SIR, – My family have travelled the long distance to Scotland for many years, to enjoy our holidays in the beautiful Highlands. We missed our trips for a while, due to personal circumstances, and returned recently.

We travelled towards Stirling and Dunblane and with the snow on the distant mountains it is always a beautiful sight, but not this time. A third of the mountain vista had been filled with wind turbines.

I realise the pressures are on to erect these monstrosities, but I can think of no simpler way to drive away the return tourist trade who travel long distances for unspoilt beauty. The reason we come is to escape the blight in our own areas. Please keep what you have that is special.

J. Merrill,

Chapel Street, Chester.

Sepa’s septic tank request rankles

SIR, – Living in the sticks, as I do, means that a septic tank is a necessity. However, as I now need to move, I am told that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has put in place a legal requirement that I register the exact whereabouts of the tank.

I am happy to supply them with this information, which presumably is for their purposes only, as I already know where it is.

What really rankles is that they require me to pay a fee to give them this information.

My experience is that if I require information I have to pay for it or it is given free. I have never been given what I require and paid for asking. What a cheek.

Robin Harrison,

Easter Loanburn Croft,

Boyndlie, Fraserburgh.