Letters: Shame on those who cut crucial services for old

Published on Tuesday 22 September 2009 09:06

WHAT are we coming to when frightened 96-year-old Jessie Hutchison may have to leave her sheltered housing home in Dalkeith because cut-backs mean that Midlothian Council can no longer provide sufficient on-site warden cover (News, 16 September)?

If this is a sign of what's to come across Britain if public sector redundancies and service cuts are implemented then those who promote these measures and those who defend them should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Elderly people like Jessie have sacrificed and given so much to the social wellbeing the rest of us take for granted today. They are not to blame for recession so shouldn't be victims of it in a rich country where some have much more than they require. And what's the point of telling Jessie that she is safe from the Russians –oh sorry, it's Al Qaeda now – while we waste obscene amounts of money on armaments and Trident? This money should contribute to real safety for Jessie.

Wardens in Dalkeith and other public sector workers across Britain whose jobs are under threat because council budgets are intentionally kept short by central government must be pleased to know that funding for privileged royals, an illegal war in Afghanistan, and bonuses for greedy bankers and pay rises for grasping politicians isin place.

So, can we really blame politicians for cutting public sector jobs and services when all this lot has to be funded and public opinion reportedly supports these cuts? I don't believe the British people would like to see wardens lose their jobs and Jessie having to move from a place that has provided safety and a feeling of independence for the last 27 years.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh, East Lothian

A fine solution for missing patients

THE answer for missed appointments is easy (NHS is losing patience with hospital no-shows, News, 18 September). Just fine those who do not attend (that is providing they HAVE received an appointment) with a promise that they will go to the back of the queue for any future attention they require.

Anyone who is too scared to attend should immediately cancel any planned surgery in time for the place to be given to someone else, otherwise they should contribute to the costs involved and apologise to those behind them on the waiting list.

The reason we are having this problem is down to the fact that the general public "think" they are not paying for the NHS. This doesn't happen in the private hospitals!

Alice Lauder, Hopetoun Street, Edinburgh

High-risk gamble is misrepresented

KENNY MacAskill's recent pledge (MacAskill vows to clamp down on gangsters targeting taxi trade, News, 17 September) to target organised crime trying to infiltrate the taxi sector is welcome, although this latest initiative does seem to have more than an element of recycled news about it, as befits contemporary political news management.

Indeed, the use of the words 'crackdown' or 'clampdown' often seems to relate to a scenario where the powers that be are merely endeavouring to clean up a mess caused by previous neglect, but spinning this to their advantage.

Also, perhaps misleading is Mr MacAskill's reference to "cabbies who borrow from the bank or mortgage their home to buy a cab". He is perhaps referring to the purchase of a taxi licence rather than a vehicle per se, since the former often costs significantly more than the latter.

Which perhaps explains the reference to "mortgaging their home", because the value of the licence depends on the regulatory decisions of local authorities and/or central government, not to mention the possibility of adverse legal decisions, therefore banks won't accept the licence value as collateral in view of its inherent risk, thus a loan may be secured against the purchaser's home.

But the point is that many people like to portray a taxi licence as some sort of gilt-edged investment, whereas the banks' stance on related lending clearly demonstrate that this is not the case. It is thus arguably irresponsible of Mr MacAskill to in effect misrepresent what can amount to a high-risk gamble on the family home.

Stuart Winton, Hilltown, Dundee

Thanks Edinburgh, have a Texas coffee

MY SON serves aboard the USS Philadelphia and had the honour of visiting Edinburgh about two weeks ago.

My wife Janet and I thank all who made his visit a pleasant one. As many of your veterans know, the "needs of the Navy" rarely allow for such sashays, but Uncle Sam was feeling generous and gave our son a couple of days off to see the sights.

Tyler and a couple of his friends toured Edinburgh and surrounding area and were very appreciative of the hospitality accorded them during their visit. I hope that when we have as much history behind us here in Texas as you all do, we will be as gracious. Of course, we're fairly hospitable now. Just imagine what 2,000 more years might do!

He really liked the weather in Edinburgh. Here in Alvin, where he was raised, it is typically warm and humid so the cool weather was quite welcome to him. In fact for the past several years he has lived mostly north of the Mason-Dixon line and is getting spoiled with real seasons.

I wish you all success and if you are ever in Alvin, give me a holler and I'll spring for coffee!

Scott and Janet Horn, Michael, Alvin, Texas