Letters Page

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Impact of council decisions

SIR, – Further to the letter (the Press and Journal, August 30) from Alistair and Mary Melville, we would like to add that it is not a surprise that once again our illustrious Aberdeenshire Council chooses to decline an application which would benefit Fraserburgh, as it is quite obvious that the council is biased towards Peterhead and Banff.

In the strategic draft plan, a corridor runs along the A90 stopping in Peterhead, when the actual end point of the A90 is Fraserburgh.

Also, the day after rejecting Esk Properties’ proposal which would have only a beneficial impact on Fraserburgh, the council allowed a far larger development in Peterhead which includes a hotel when the town has several already.

Fraserburgh cannot attract visitors when there is nowhere for them to stay.

We wonder if the councillors who reject plans for anything we actually need in Fraserburgh have even been to the Broch or have the faintest idea of the impact of these bizarre decisions.

Elaine and Malcolm Brown,

Waul Park,

Fraserburgh.

‘Deterioration’ of north-east town

SIR, – The letter headed “Automatic no for Fraserburgh?” (the Press and Journal, August 30) sums up the Broch situation well from a resident’s view.

As a frequent visitor to Fraserburgh, it is sad to see its deterioration and very little being done to address the problem.

Buildings have been demolished in the name of progress, but nothing has appeared in their place to regenerate the town.

The lethargic approach that Aberdeenshire Council and planners have taken towards the problem is well described, but others are responsible as well.

The core industry of Fraserburgh – fishing – has been depleted and what we see is the fallout from that, due to the inept efforts of Ross Finnie and others representing our fishing industry in Brussels. Control of the fishing industry of the north-east was given away to mainland Europe.

I trust the damage done by this can be repaired and Fraserburgh can regain some of its dignity.

Ian Murray,

46 Fyfe Park,

Kemnay.

New policing statistics

SIR, – It is little wonder that Yvonne McRobert, mother of the latest victim of a knife attack, challenges the new statistics unveiled by Northern Constabulary (the Press and Journal, August 30).

Was there ever a more clear attempt at self promotion and spin by Chief Constable Ian Latimer?

None of the figures makes sense and, frankly, they are unbelievable.

A report can hardly be described as glowing when they admit to 16,000 victims of crime, much of which, as any ordinary person in the street realises, remains undetected.

I do not believe I am alone when I say that Northern Constabulary should forget the PR exercises and self-praise and return to good policing within our communities.

By doing so, it would quickly regain the public’s respect and admiration.

Michael Campbell,

Leanaig,

Conon Bridge.

Spiralling energy costs

SIR, – I was pleased to hear Alistair Darling finally admitting that the country is facing a tough time ahead, with production stagnant, unemployment growing and energy costs spiralling. These are the clear indications of a recession.

I would be even more pleased if he had announced some real help for the elderly in raising the household heating allowance from £200 to £500 to avoid what could be a long, cold winter ahead for many with no means of paying the extra heating costs they will incur and facing the severe and life-threatening consequences of inadequate heating.

Dennis Grattan,

3 Mugiemoss Road,

Bucksburn,

Aberdeen.

Putting museum on back burner

SIR, – Jimmy Gray has been elected as the new provost of Inverness and a new controlling majority on the council is apparently making some sensible noises.

I hope they put the proposed museum — which no doubt would have finished up grossly over budget, like Eden Court and all the new schools — on the burner at the very back. With a bit of luck, it will fall off into oblivion.

Ian J. Fraser,

6 Oldmill Lane,

Inverness.

Overheard at garden centre

SIR, – I overheard two women talking in a garden centre the other day. One said to the other that she could not remember the name of the plants she had bought on a previous occasion.

To this, the other woman replied: “Weren’t they called amnesias, dear?”

Marjory Gordon,

Muirtown Street,