Readers' letters

BIG FAMILY PULLS TOGETHER

Dear Ed, — Our thoughts are with Natasha Paton's family and friends.

We cannot begin to imagine what her parents must be going through and we are deeply sorry.

We are also thinking of everyone else who has been affected — the injured, the survivors, the teachers, the driver, their families, their friends.

We wish them all to recover as well as possible from this tragedy.

Lanark Grammar is a big family and, at a time like this, families ought to pull together and look after each other. This is what is happening — encouraged by the school.

Unfortunately, the national media seems determined to pull the school

community apart. It seems determined to blame the school for what was a tragic accident.

"Why were they allowed to go?" They were allowed to go because the school authorities thought it was safe enough, because the bus company and the driver thought it was safe enough, because their parents thought it was safe enough (it seems there was only one parent who thought it wasn't, and she didn't take her son to the school that morning) and because the young people themselves thought it was safe enough.

With hindsight, it wasn't, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

That same morning, my children's taxi didn't come for them because he thought it wasn't safe and I drove them to the bus stop because I thought it was safe enough, and I was proved right — I got home safe.

And yet it was the same decision.

Let's leave the questions about the circumstances of the accident to the accident investigators. They'll also no doubt come up with recommendations.

The only question we should be asking is "what can we do to help and support the people who are suffering? — Yours etc.,

DR AND MRS FLOWERDEW

Glentaggart Farm,

Glentaggart,

Glespin.

NO GRITTERS SEEN

Dear Ed, — I am writing with great sadness, in response to the Lanark Grammar bus tragedy to disagree with claims by South Lanarkshire Council that all roads in the area were fully gritted (as stated on the STV Scottish news on the evening of March 31).

After spending over an hour on the morning of the accident trying to reach work in Carnwath (normally a ten minute journey) I find it hard to believe that the road on which the bus crashed was fully gritted and safe to travel on.

The main road from Lanark to Carnwath was treacherous and residential streets virtually impassible.

I witnessed many abandoned cars and I, personally, did not see one council vehicle attempting to clear the roads.

As a result, I became stranded in Carnwath along with many other motorists and it was only due to Skanska construction workers from the State Hospital site, who not only directed and controlled traffic, but used their own JCB to clear the roads, that I was able to make my way home. I would like to thank them all for their help!

I found South Lanarkshire Council's failure to prepare for forecast weather conditions over the Christmas period unacceptable, as it was yet again last week. — Yours etc.,

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

MEMORIAL THANKS

Dear Ed, — Further to your article in the Gazette of March 25, about the restoration of the War Memorial at Crossford, thanks are due to my colleagues on the Restoration Group, Janet Stewart and Edith Ryan.

Thanks are also due to Jim Turner who provided the financial support from the Crossford Inn Memorial Fund that allowed us to qualify for the grant aid; to Ken Ryan of Permag for providing the sealant for the trough; to Jim McInnes and friends who saw to the pipe work and to Goulding's of Rosebank for so generously providing men and materials wherever necessary.

To all these friends and everyone who supported us in this project over the years, thank you. — Yours etc.,

DAVID ROBERTS,

Chairman,

20 Holm Road,

Crossford.

MOTORISTS TARGETED

Dear Ed, — I would like to warn any motorist going to Lanark to be very careful of parking in Bernard Wynd Car Park.

There is a small notice warning you to park in the ''parking bays''.

I noticed at least ten cars parked illegally but not causing any obstruction at 60 per car (30 if paid within 14 days).

This is another example of the motorist being an easy target.

Could I suggest painting yellow lines, or would this be too simple! — Yours etc.,

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED