Readers' letters

Find out what our readers think of the stories making the Gazette headlines.

MSP BACKS CAMPAIGNERS

Dear Ed, — In recent weeks it has become clear that there is considerable opposition to Scotgen's plans to build a waste

incinerator on land at Stonehouse and I'm grateful to Dovesdale Action Group and constituents who have raised this issue with me.

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Whilst there may be some small place in the grand scheme of waste reduction, recycling and disposal for energy from waste plants, they should only be used for the small percentage of waste that can only be processed in this way and only where there is a proven, direct and significant energy benefit.

It seems to be quite clear that in this particular case, the proposal breaches local planning policies and is not an appropriate development for the countryside.

Indeed, the Scottish Government's own Zero Waste Plan states that "potential sites should only include industrial areas; degraded, contaminated or derelict land; working and worked out quarries; sites that have the potential to maximise the potential for the re-use of waste heat through co-location with potential heat users; existing or redundant sites or buildings that can be easily adapted; existing waste management sites, or sites that were previously occupied by waste management facilities".

People might argue that the site's easy access to the main road infrastructure is a justification for this application but local planning policy breaches should certainly not be overshadowed by roadside convenience.

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I believe that there are significant grounds for this application to be refused and will be preparing a letter to the Council in the coming days. I would urge anyone else to do the same. — Yours etc.,

JIM HUME MSP,

Liberal Democrat MSP

for the South of Scotland.

SHOP NOT DERELICT

Dear Ed, — I write to you concerning various inaccuracies in your front page story last week in which you describe the condition of Brooks building in Hamilton Street Carluke as 'derelict'.

Brooks was informed, and became aware for the first time, about the falling slate by the boy's mother mid-morning on Monday.

We had no communication from the police whatsoever on the Sunday in question.The property, which is not derelict, is used presently as a store for our furnishing business.

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The recent commercial revaluation for Lanarkshire in April revealed that the assessor had increased our rateable value from 15,400 to 20,500 in respect of this building.

Most properties in Hamilton Street have been reassessed upwards, in several cases by 10 to 40 per cent, while most of High Street properties have benefited by small reductions of 3 to 5 per cent.

I wonder what would have been his assessment for our building if he had been as knowledgeable as your reporter.

My dictionary states that derelict means 'deserted by the owner' or 'abandoned'. The word derelict is clearly unaccepable.

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You also state that the reporter contacted me about the problem. That was also inaccurate.

It was I who phoned the Gazette to speak to the reporter after my manager in our furnishing shop informed me that the boy's mother had appeared when the shop reopened after lunch.

She informed our manager that she would then proceed to the Gazette where I was able to speak to her about the progress of the problem. I then informed your reporter about the relevant facts concerning the complaint.

Permission from the council is required for contractors to complete various works on roads/pavements etc. This takes time but hopefully rectifying work will be completed quickly. — Yours etc.,

ROBERT BROOKS,

Lanark.

HELP US CELEBRATE

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Dear Ed, — Alzheimer Scotland's Dementia Helpline is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year and the charity wants to track down as many former helpline volunteers as possible to join in the celebrations.

The 24 hour, freephone, Dementia Helpline has been running since 1989 and has provided information and support to many thousands of people with dementia, carers and others.

It is the only one of its kind in the UK and is funded almost entirely by donations.

Alzheimer Scotland would like to include as many former Dementia Helpline volunteers as possible in the celebrations for the 21st anniversary.

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However, many of the contact details for former volunteers are likely to be out of date, so the charity would like people to get in touch.

If you were a volunteer on Alzheimer Scotland's Dementia Helpline, please call 0131 243 1453 and ask to speak to Elaine Harley or email [email protected].

ELAINE HARLEY,

Dementia Helpline Manager.

IT'S OUR SCOTLAND!

Dear Ed, — Selling Scotland isn't just VisitScotland's business, it's everyone's.

Tourism brings in 4 billion every year — that's money which gets ploughed into your local community, your town's hotels, B&Bs and your corner shop.

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No-one said it would be easy — we've had everything from snow to volcanic ash in the space of a few months.

But as someone who has worked in the industry for 30 years, I know that when you see a problem you try to turn it into an opportunity.

VisitScotland is doing just that with its 'My Scotland' campaign.

With ash clouds, striking airlines and rising costs for a foreign trip, there has never been a better time to explore what's on your doorstep.

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So we're investing 5 million into four domestic campaigns which we expect to generate at least 100 million for the Scottish economy.

We've listened and we've responded quickly and this campaign confronts the current challenges head-on.

It's time for a renewed domestic push to help get tourism growth back on track. This is our chance to prove that there's no place like home. — Yours etc.,

MIKE CANTLAY,

VisitScotland chairman.

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