Carluke and Lanark Gazette readers’ letters

LOCAL CUSTOM

Dear Ed, – I have observed that most of the published comments in your paper are against the continuation of the relaxed licence laws on Lanimer Day. The latest, given half a page, from a doctor in Monklands Hospital.

She states that 90 per cent of the injuries treated are facial ones.

I fail to see the relevance of this to Lanimer Day.

The police say that the number of incidents on Lanimer day was greater than on the previous Thursday.

I am sure that if a statistical survey was taken based on the relative numbers in Lanark on these days it would show that things were not as bad as made out. Lanimer Day attracts people from all over and in particular it brings ex- Lanarkians back home.

It seems a pity that the ordinary law-abiding people should be deprived of what has become a custom by the bad behaviour of a few.

The public houses become full on Lanimer Day and the only way that people can get a refreshment is if those inside bring their drinks outside to let more people in.

How do the police know that the drunken behaviour observed is caused by people drinking in the street? There is drunken behaviour almost every weekend as testified in your reporting of the court cases. Was this caused by drinking in the street?

I think that more publicity should go to those who are in favour of continuing the relaxed laws. Someone has said that this brings people to Lanark for the express purpose of drinking outside; if this is the case they must be a very tiny minority.

It appears that some of the trouble could be caused by unruly youths buying cans from supermarkets and over- indulging; perhaps they could be monitored to prevent this. – Yours etc.,

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.

Energy targets

Dear Ed, – News that the European Commission has decided to bow to reality and scrap binding EU-wide renewable energy targets from 2020 should come as a welcome relief to the many millions of beleaguered energy consumers here in Britain who have borne the burden of subsidising expensive, inefficient and nearly entirely useless renewable energy technologies like wind.

No doubt British industry will also be breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to competing again on an even playing field against their competitors from Asia and America.

It’s a shame that it has taken the Commission this long to realise its error in committing to these foolish targets in the first place. We must hope that the tide is now turning against the dominant green energy orthodoxy in Europe and towards a more sensible approach to meeting our energy needs.

The fact that the Commission has also published guidelines for the exploitation of shale gas is also encouraging and demonstrates clearly that they realise the huge gains for Europe in creating jobs, slashing gas prices and cutting CO2 emissions.

Flexibility is key in the fight against climate change and it is heartening to see the Commission finally recognise this. – Yours etc.,

STRUAN STEVENSON, MEP,

The European Parliament,

Rue Wiertz 60,

Brussels.

flooding Gullies

Dear Ed, – Where have all the gully cleaners gone?

I think that I have only seen one gully cleaner working in the last five years.

I used to see them all the time years ago even out on estate roads. Because the gullies are not being emptied, the water is not getting away off the roads. This is what is causing the roads to flood.

When you see the rain water running down an incline in the road like a river overshooting all the gullies, it is because the gullies are full of rubbish. When the water gets to the bottom of the incline it becomes standing water. This is the area which, if it starts to freeze, becomes black ice because the water is not able to get away.

I hope someone can tell me why the gullies are not getting cleaned. Is it a result of cutbacks by the councils? – Yours etc.,

BILL BARTLEY,

Glencoe Road,

Carluke.

Barnardo’s plea

Dear Ed, – In May 2011 we launched ‘Cut Them Free’, our Scottish Parliament petition on the sexual exploitation of children. We got a great deal of interest in the petition from people in Lanarkshire, who signed up in our shop in Main Street, Wishaw and online.

Nearly three years later, in January 2014 the Public Petitions Committee produced its final report on the petition, recommending a new National Strategy for tackling the sexual exploitation of children in Scotland. This recommendation, along with 27 others, was included in their report to the Scottish Government and represents a major step forward in tackling this horrific abuse wherever in Scotland it takes place.

This would not have been possible had it not been for the support of our customers and your readers who backed the campaign. Our petition received over 3,000 public signatures and the backing of around 30 MSPs, including local MSP Clare Adamson, Central Scotland SNP.

We would like to thank each and every one of the signatories for their support. This process has also demonstrated the effectiveness of the Scottish Parliament’s petitions system in ensuring public concerns are acted on at the highest level.

Our campaign continues, but we hope that continuing public support and concern on this issue will help ensure that in future every child in Scotland leads a life free from sexual exploitation. – Yours etc.,

MARTIN CREWE,

Director, Barnardo’s Scotland.

A Quarry saga

Dear Ed, – The ongoing saga of Hyndford Quarry has produced a host of conundrums, puzzling unaswered questions. First and foremost is, Is there no alternative source of aggregates?

What need is so desperate that such a travesty is justified?

Lurking in this morass is the future of Robiesland peat bog.

Has SNH produced a positive answer? Why has there been no credible explanation of the policy change of several agencies?

Why when Historic Scotland has been described as “intellectually weak” has its opinion been the mainstay of granting planning permission?

These are just a few examples.

Is it the case that yet again Big Business is too powerful?

A final question. Are Quangos and local politicians the most effective way of dealing with such issues? Is there need for change? – Yours etc.,

MARGARET YOUNG,

Castle Yett,

Biggar.

Charitable move

Dear Ed, – Aberlour, Scotland’s children’s charity has just launched the WoofWalk which runs alongside The Kiltwalk, a series of five charity walks taking place across Scotland, and we’re looking for dog owners, individuals and groups of friends to take part in this unique event.

The Kiltwalk is a series of five charity walks which take place across Scotland and help raise funds for Scottish children’s charities, so why not bring along your four legged friend and make it a WoofWalk!

There’s a choice of three WoofWalks at each of Kiltwalk (26 miles, 13 miles or 10km) taking place from Glasgow to Loch Lomond (Sunday, April 27), then Edinburgh (Sunday, May 11), Aberdeen (Sunday, June 1), Speyside (Sunday, September 14), Dundee (Sunday, October 5).

Why not find out more on our website? Visit www.aberlour.org.uk/WoofWalk. – Yours Etc.,

GARY ROBERTSON,

Ambassador,

Aberlour Child Care Trust.