Letters Page

Published:

New road tax rules ‘unfair’

SIR, – For the past few days, I have been trying to make some sense of the new road tax regulations.

This Machiavellian piece of legislation is so full of obfuscation that it must rank as Gordon Brown’s finest deception.

Designed, he said, to encourage us all to drive small, economic vehicles, he did not explain to those who have large families how to shoehorn them into a Mini. Perhaps he will suggest they consult the Guinness Book of Records; perhaps he will suggest giving all the food they waste to those made poor by his previous legislation, or perhaps he will just disappear abroad and pretend it wisnae him.

Whatever, the new rules are unfair, seriously overcomplicated and certainly not Green in the ecological sense.

As more people try to understand the reality of this new system, it becomes glaringly obvious that it is no more than another assault on the pockets of the motorist, especially the less well off rural motorist with a family, the very people Gordon Brown’s party was formed to protect.

John Rogerson,

Mill of Durno,

Pitcaple.

Windfarm photomontages

SIR, – Highland Council must be applauded for questioning the accuracy of photomontages presented by windfarm developers (the Press and Journal, July 9)

Lewis residents complained for years about Lewis Wind Power’s misleading photomontages for the now-rejected Lewis windfarm, but the developer insisted its visual representations were accurate, right down to the floating, sylph-like structures, poised like ballet dancers on an otherwise pristine, undisturbed moorland landscape.

Often, these delicate alien impostors looked the same height as the 10-metre electricity poles already on the landscape. Had they been an accurate representation, they would have been 14 times taller, as they were meant to portray giant 140-metre turbines.

In Lewis, we had the Butt-of-Lewis lighthouse against which to judge the visual impact. At 36 metres high, we knew that a 140-metre turbine would be four times higher. It was difficult to visualise what 234 super-lighthouses strewn across our moorland would look like, but they would look nothing like the dainty ballerinas depicted on the montages.

Photographic techniques used in the misleading visual images a developer includes in his planning application, which are not subjected to the same strict regulatory tests as other parts of the application, are a misrepresentation of public interest and could ultimately call into question the validity of some planning consents issued already.

Dina Murray,

49 North Galson,

Lewis.

Giving youngsters purpose in life

SIR, – Having read of the disturbing increase in knife crimes by young people and listened to politicians “tut-tutting”, waffling away without any idea of what to do, does anyone really give serous thought to the root cause?

We have a section of the younger members of society who are forgotten, neglected by parents, failed by teachers and, more important, disregarded by politicians and now abandoned by society.

The root cause is boredom; no means of exhausting their energies.

There is a failure to provide guidance, little or no available training and a lack of job opportunities leading to very little prospect of a future.

This leads to disrespect of their peers and society in general.

Many say national service is an answer. Well, it could be. What this service does is turn young people into a team, gives a purpose to their lives, leads to direction, provides training and turns a lost, bewildered group into members of our society of which we can be proud.

This national service doesn’t need to be about guns and war, but about human resources and experience of life.

Many who read this will have done such service and, from my experience, they look back fondly at the camaraderie established. It could be so again. These young folk need help and it is up to government and society to provide it.

R.J. Tucker,

2 Munro Place,

Tain.

Tap water in restaurants

SIR, – I read with great interest your story (July 9) regarding tap water not being provided at Banchory's Falls of Feugh Restaurant and Tearoom.

I had a similar experience in a small restaurant in Ballater last September. My family and I had a lovely meal there, which was spoiled by the fact that they would not give my 13-year-old daughter a glass of tap water, insisting instead that we bought bottled water.

She could have been served some tap water, but only if we purchased a bottle of wine. What a bad example to set to a child, especially when sitting in a restaurant on Royal Deeside, where we are lucky that tap water is still a pleasure to drink.

As a born-and-bred Deesider, currently living abroad, I find this shocking. I’m embarrassed to imagine the impression it must give our foreign visitors, especially when the first thing you receive in a continental European restaurant or café is a pitcher of tap water with glasses for everyone.

Are we really the mythical mean Scots? Beware, restaurant owners, it’s false economy.

Out of principle we won’t be returning to that restaurant, and we’ve spread the word.

Come on, Scotland, buck up. A glass of tap water is not much to ask for when it accompanies a purchase in a restaurant or café.

Isobel Bannerman,

c/o The Granary,

Cluniebank Road,

Braemar.

Trying to get in touch with friend

SIR, – I am trying to get in touch with a friend who lived at Dyce, Aberdeen, but is not at the two addresses I have for her and is not on the electoral roll for the area.

Her name is Elma Perie, maiden name Gill. Elma had two sisters, Sylvia and Barbara.

If anyone can help me get in touch with Elma, I would be most grateful.

I can be contacted at the address below.

Thank you.

Doreen Dossiter,

73 Poole Crescent,

Harborne,

Birmingham B17 0PE.