Letters Page

Published:

Increasing allotment rents

SIR, – I am writing in response to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg’s comments that Aberdeen City Council leader Kate Dean isn't to blame for the council’s budget crisis (the Press and Journal, November 29).

The council decided to increase city allotment rents by 80% across the board last February to be the highest in Scotland by some way.

The increase was accompanied by a reduction in services. Allotment holders have still not been advised of the increase.

On reading through the list of proposed budget changes posted on the council’s website, it is clear the council proposes to further increase allotment rents by a similar percentage.

Aberdeen is the only Scottish council to charge more for a part plot than a pro rata proportion of a full plot rent.

Plot holders aware of the previous increases rightly complained and the council’s response to right that wrong is to impose further huge increases on full plot holders and not reduce the rents for part plot holders to an equitable share.

Well, Mr Clegg, put all the spin on that you can. It is not justifiable. I suggest you contact Kate Dean and recommend that allotment holders be treated fairly. The allotments legislation was, after all, drawn up originally for the benefit of the poor in the community.

Frank Taylor,

acting secretary,

Bucksburn Allotments Association

44 Cruickshank Crescent,

Bucksburn, Aberdeen.

Resignations by politicians

SIR, – The resignations of the Indian home affairs minister and national security adviser following the Mumbai terrorist attacks impresses in an age in which the political resignation appeared to be gone for ever.

No one would reasonably say that the two were directly responsible for failing to prevent the attacks, but the strength of feeling in India demanded that someone take the fall.

The actions of the Indian minister and adviser are in stark contrast to the behaviour of the political leaders on Aberdeen City Council. For well over a year, the headlines for Scotland's third city have been appalling. It’s not just the astronomical level of cuts necessary to avoid bankruptcy, but even with all that overspending the city still has a child-protection service described as “totally unacceptable” by inspectors.

We can debate the degree to which Councillors Kate Dean and Kevin Stewart are personally culpable, but I am certain that their joint resignation would be a great boon to the all-party efforts to rebuild the city's tarnished reputation.

Sometimes the most effective contribution a politician can make is to lay down his or her office. It's a pity that it takes two Indian politicians to remind us of that.

Stewart Whyte,

25 Crombie Acres,

Westhill,

Aberdeenshire.

Student nurse training

SIR, – After reading Amelia Y. Tunley’s letter (the Press and Journal, November 29) regarding student nurse training, I would like to say “hear, hear".

Having done my training from 1978 to 1981, I believe the powers that be have gone too far down the academic route.

No patient I ever met thought the ability to access information, assemble an argument and reference quotations correctly were priority requirements in a good nurse.

Commonsense, knowledge and a good bedside manner allied with good practical skills are what’s needed.

I agree that many of today’s student nurses are short of the necessary practical skills due to the bias towards academia that appears to be the hallmark of their training today.

Lay the foundations, get them out on to the wards with experienced nursing staff and pay them a living wage.

Karen Paton,

11 Rowan Place,

Fraserburgh.

Importance of self-sufficiency

SIR, – After reading your piece headed “Time to get wise over food security” (the Press and Journal, November 29), it seems to me that the writer was only stating the obvious.

You would have thought that as a country we would have learned from the experiences of two world wars. We should have in place a programme which would allow us to be self-sufficient in food, or at least able to provide ourselves with a fair percentage of our requirements.

However, farmers must feel that bureaucratic meddling has reached the point where it is economically unrealistic to go on farming.

Your writer summarised the present food predicament very well, and the comments could also apply to other aspects of our lives.

For example, where do our gas supplies originate, and how can we safeguard them against the vagaries of the marketplace or economic terrorism?

In today’s “global economy”, no country is an island in economic terms, but however much we may be reliant on others, self-reliance cannot be a bad thing.

Utilities such as water and power appear to be in foreign hands. I do not believe that such services should ever have been allowed to fall into private hands, British or foreign. Privatisation of some of these has given the “fat cats” and shareholders indecent profits.

Brian Young,

39 Leslie Crescent,

Alford.

Conservation project

SIR, – I was flabbergasted to read (the Press and Journal, November 28) about the £120,000 given to RSPB Scotland by Scottish Natural Heritage which will go to helping conserve capercaillie. That is more public money being thrown at this very expensive conservation project.

I do wish the capercaillie to survive, and all other birds as well, but what chance do any of them have when there are too many pine martens and foxes everywhere?

Instead of providing a capercaillie project officer, project assistant and a woodland grouse manager with this money is it not time there was a specialist who could trap and relocate pine martens and dispose of excess foxes?

Most folk who have birds or small mammals know what damage these predators can do and regardless of how well they try to save their stock they find it nearly impossible because of large numbers or protection on rarity value.

I feel it is about time money went to sorting out wildlife problems, rather than having loads of conservationists counting and tracking the unfortunate creatures and telling us they need more money.

Money is not the problem here, just a bit of commonsense.

J. Reid,

Ardnastaing,

Strontian.