10 LEADER The Courier and Advertiser, Monday, December 10, 2007 HE OURIER T &C Advertiser KINGSWAY EAST, DUNDEE, DD4 8SL NO MEETING TTunnelunnel visionvision withwith OF MINDS UROPEAN Union leaders who hoped for a series Eof deals with African Union officials and heads of government have been sent home from a conference in Lisbon to think again. anan eeyyee onon futurfuturee Reaching back into a history of grievance and self- pity, AU commission president Alpha Oumar Konare CCORDING TO John Carson, John was made a senior member of Metropolitan Bonds it remains in accused the EU of persisting with a colonial approach there is only one option for a a team set up by the Labour Government control—although given to trade. That is unfair. A replacement Forth Crossing that Government to take Railtrack out of the state of the existing bridge, that’s The EU operates preferential trading pacts with is future proof, and that’s a tunnel. administration and turn it into the not- not always a good thing. former African colonies. Pressure for change is The man behind the Skye Bridge for-profit company Network Rail. “The SNP have picked up on this coming, in the first instance, not from European has set up a pressure group, Forthtag He went on to become director of bonds idea, and I believe that’s how countries but from the World Trade Organisation. (Forth Tunnel Action Group), which he maintenance for Network Rail before they plan to finance the new crossing.” claims influenced Transport Scotland going into semi-retirement. He now However the Forth crossing is It is the WTO that is urging the two sides to end into including tunnels in their public does part-time contracting and financed, John has strong views on special arrangements that favour African countries exhibition of options this summer. consultancy work. what format it should take. He is of the selling produce to Europe. It says that other trading “Without Forthtag,” John says, “All Despite his involvement in so many strong opinion that the Scottish nations should not be excluded. you’d have seen were bridge options.” PFI projects, John has his own Government must build a tunnel. John Carson of Forthtag. An impression was created in Lisbon that African John reckons a tunnel is the only reservations about the financial model, His reasoning is simple—he reckons countries were united in their rejection of a new affordable way of incorporating heavy which has been criticised for taking that by the time a new bridge opens it rail, and that is the Oresund Bridge that Forth SPA, which is a RAMSAR area regime for trade, but that is not accurate. It is more rail into a new crossing, which he sees costs “off the balance sheet” but will be as congested as the current links Denmark and Sweden. Yet it’s and contains two SSSIs (Site of Special a case of east versus west in Africa. as essential to stop it becoming as leaving future generations to pay for one. only 490 metres long. To cross the Scientific Interest).” congested as the current bridge. the project. “Currently, 37,500 cars cross the Forth the bridge would have to be In the summer of 2005, John set up Last month, five members of the East African “I don’t believe that PFI is always the more than 600 metres. Community—Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Born in Ormiston, East Lothian, bridge from Fife into Edinburgh each the Forth Tunnel Action Group along John (58) left school at 16 to train as a way to go and I certainly don’t believe day, the bulk of them during the “According to Transport Scotland’s with Keith Giblett from South Tanzania—signed up to a deal in which they under- draughtsman, before getting an in PFI when it comes to the railways. morning rush period. The annual own reports, constructing a bridge that Queensferry Community Council, took to open their markets to EU goods over 25 years honours degree in civil engineering “Railways on the continent are all growth in traffic has been a steady could take heavy rail would cost twice architect Douglas Fleet and, providing specified local industries remain protected from Heriot Watt University. still nationalised, and many of them 2.5 to 3% since the current bridge as much as one for cars and trams Queensferry councillor George Grubb. by customs barriers: in other words, a compromise. He went to work for Ove Arup then have fares that are cheaper during opened. only.” The group are lobbying for a tunnel Aside from WTO strictures, the EU also wants a joined Miller Civil Engineering, where peak times. Scotrail increases fares “By the time a Geological problems, including a option, and John has had meetings deal to restrain Chinese influence on the continent. he led the team responsible for the during peak times. new bridge opens 120-metre trench cut by glacial ice with Transport Minister Stewart At present EU investment goes to African countries construction of the Skye Bridge. We need a change the number of melt, and mining for coal, oil shale and Stevenson and Finance Secretary John of thinking if we’re that claim not to be corrupt, but the Chinese have no “The project took six or seven years vehicles crossing on limestone, make boring a tunnel under Swinney. going to encourage to take from the cradle to the bridge each side of the the bed of the Forth problematic and As all Forthtag’s members are such scruples and this is giving them the edge as they more people out of you see today,” he says. “It was the bridge every day will costly. connected with South Queensferry, siphon off raw materials to fuel their economy. their cars.” first PFI project in Scotland.” be 50,000. John would like to see an immersed however, the accusation could be Needless to say, even the limited progress on this John thinks the John was also on the board of the “According to tube tunnel, which he says could be levelled that they don’t want yet front was not centre stage in Lisbon. That dubious railways were safer Skye Bridge Company Ltd, set up to Transport Scotland’s constructed in Rosyth then floated out another bridge, with its noise and honour revolved around the presence of Zimbabwean before privatisation. oversee the running of the bridge and reports, the existing and dropped into 12-metre deep intrusion, built on their doorstep. “In the old British President Robert Mugabe. He it was who asserted that the tolls. Tolls were scrapped in 2004 Forth Rail Bridge trenches in the bed of the Forth, before “That is an accusation that has been Rail days, they Africans had fought for human rights from oppressive when the then Scottish Executive, could be upgraded being buried to protect it from damage. levelled at me, but it’s not the case.” employed guys that rule while he presides over a country that is oppressed acting on a Lib Dem manifesto pledge, to add another 2000 “The tunnel would include three knew one or two John pulls out a map of the in just about every way you can think of. paid the company £27 million to buy seats by 2026. If the existing bridge is lanes in each direction for cars, a proposed route for the new bridge, miles of track like the back of their converted to carry trams, which is far Immigration was high on the agenda. This reflects back the bridge. corridor for pedestrian access and two which is further to the west than the hands. from certain as there have been no John, however, says there was a tubes for high-speed rail.” current road bridge. the pathetic convoys of ramshackle craft that are “They lived in the local village and pronouncements made on what the clause in the contract capping the But surely, even if heavy rail is paddled north from African countries by desperate they would walk their stretch of track future of the current bridge will be, then “The bridge will actually take traffic amount the company was allowed to included, Waverley and Haymarket families hoping to reach the promised land of EU every day. If there was something they could carry an additional 2500 per away from Queensferry,” he reckons. make from tolls. “Once the bridge was stations could not accommodate all “From my upstairs window I can just largesse. But Mr Mugabe himself perpetuates a wrong, it would be fixed immediately. day. these extra trains? paid for, that was it,” he says. “Had see the span of the current road bridge. variation of the same humanitarian disaster: it is from “When privatisation happened, the “So improvements in current rail and they waited another four or five years “No, they couldn’t. We are limited by The proposed new bridge would not his rule that tens of thousands flee by any means they first thing they did was shed staff. the addition of trams could carry an they would have been able to scrap the our Victorian infrastructure. But the even be visible from my house.” can to South Africa. tolls without paying out anything.” These old British Rail guys, who lived extra 4500 passengers. Yet, there will business centre of Edinburgh is moving and breathed their job and walked the be 12,500 more cars crossing. So why has he put so much of his Prior to this summit, Gordon Brown was ticked off After leaving Miller in 1995, John west, so we should be building with the track every day, were fired and Assuming each car has one passenger, time, effort and engineering expertise by the EU Commission President Barroso for worked on the Kinnegar Sewage aim of linking up with a new, purpose- replaced with regional guys.” that’s an extra 12,500 people at least. into investigating and pushing the Works, one of the first PFI projects in built station to the west of Haymarket, boycotting a conference that allowed Mugabe to The trams and trains won’t even be tunnel option.? Northern Ireland, then for the English John admires the funding model to be built sometime in the future. We attend. In the event, it is the prime minister’s judg- able to cope with the additional Highways Traffic Information System. used to build New York’s metro need to think outside the box on this “Because it’s in the best interests of ment that has been vindicated, not that of Mr Barroso. demand, never mind making a dent in He was also involved with the system. “They used what they called one. Even if facilities for rail aren’t Scotland. If we get it wrong, we’ll be the numbers currently using the introduction of TGV high-speed lines Metropolitan Bonds. needed for 10 or 20 years, at least they doing our country a disservice. We’ll bridge.” into Amsterdam. “They were bought by large will be there.” have to live with the results of what we John believes the only solution is an build for the next 120 years—so we He then became a director of institutions for 30 years for a A tunnel would cut across two immersed tube tunnel that can carry have to get it right. No-one’s going to HEART OF GLENROTHES Network Tube Lines, where he worked guaranteed 5% return. The aggregate RAMSAR (protected wetland) sites. heavy rail. come along and build a third crossing.” It is difficult for anyone much under 50 to realise on the privatisation of the Jubilee, in terms of PFI is regularly 7.5%. However, because it would be buried, Northern and Piccadilly lines of the “And with PFI you give up control of “There is only one bridge in the the ground would heal in time. A bridge ■ For more information, visit how many hopes were invested in the generation of world that takes both cars and heavy would permanently destroy part of the www.forthtag.co.uk new towns built from the end of the 1940s onwards. London Underground. it for 30 years, whereas with the They were to set new standards in purpose-built urban development, often inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s brilliant garden city concept. The early precincts so characteristic of Glenrothes were intended to be a complete break with the fetid over- crowding of the past and in that they succeeded. More on the life of Burnbank’s feted matron A few of the original assumptions, such as mining RITES J. D. PIRIE of Dundee, Mrs Symington adds, “Another article, Street or, if we were feeling flush, at at Rothes and overspill from Glasgow, proved short- “In your article on Burnbank BY about Lady MacRobert, also brought Franchi’s in the Overgate. lived but there was a brave attempt to retain a human Nursing Home, Broughty back memories, as one of my best scale in housing without diluting the influence of a W “In those days, when evening classes Ferry, the name of Connie Jump was friends at The School of Domestic powerful modernity. finished at the same time as the last mentioned. Science in Aberdeen in the early ’50s train to Arbroath at 9.30, we used to In some ways this has been beneficial. The town is “I remember my late mother telling me Craigie lived in Alastrean House at Tarland, run down the closes, by the opticians rich in parks, open spaces and striking public art. The that she was a bridesmaid to a Connie which was an RAF convalescent/ on Meadowside, then Peter Street, then Kingdom Shopping Centre is a big draw. Jump when she was married in India. holiday home gifted by Lady Candle Lane, to the East Station. MacRobert. On the negative side are town centre examples of My late mother and Connie were “It was not to be a big wedding; my “Then, if you were lucky, you got a brutal and unloved architecture, hideous mistakes children’s nannies, both with charges in mother was a bridesmaid and some of “My friend’s father was manager there compartment. If not, you threw your from start to finish. New Glenrothes House is just one India. the other nannies were guests. until a fire closed the house down for a books in the guard’s van and he number of years.” spectacular example of an undistinguished genre that “Connie’s fiance’s name was Jackson but “Connie bought a very expensive dress dragged you aboard just as the train is all too common throughout Britain. Its demolition everyone just called him Jacko. He was for the occasion but then changed was leaving. as part of a revamped town centre will be cheered. Running for train in the army and when Connie went to her mind and bought something “At the first stop (West Ferry) you Even a multi-storey car park on the site can hardly India with her charge, Jacko asked for considerably cheaper the day before “REGARDING RECENT correspondence transferred to a compartment. Happy be more offensive to the eye. In fact, Fifers are a transfer so he could be near her. the event. concerning the Overgate/Nethergate Days!” entitled to expect that it will a considerable “They did, however, make a nice-looking (Dundee), I remember well the Cafe improvement as part of the overall redevelopment. couple with Jacko smart in his kilt. Royal in Thorter Row,” writes What goes around. . . The same goes for the £35 million foodstore and D. M. Clark. “I think that the wedding took place in “KEEP A thing seven years and you’ll find expansion of the Kingdom Centre. Barrackpore, India in 1935 and that “It was owned by Mrs Henderson (whose a use for it” used to be a common Jacko was in The Black Watch.” husband used to play for Rangers, I believe). saying. Another stalwart “As a young engineer in Timex, Milton of It still applies if the shop windows are COLD HILL MISHAPS Craigie, myself and a colleague Jim anything to go by, says one reader. MRS HELEN SYMINGTON contributes, Balmer, used to get the No 28 bus If the ’60s generation had held on to their Two walkers were caught out by the weather in “My mother always referred to Miss separate incidents at the weekend, one in the downtown before catching the train, Mary Quant-style clothes, they would Jump at Burnbank Nursing Home as after working overtime. have been right in fashion. Lomonds and one on Ben Vorlich. Caution, which Dolly. need not imply being unadventurous, is needed. “I remember a pint of Ballingall’s heavy This reader says she can see very little “After suffering a stroke, my great-aunt (surprised no one has resurrected difference between the patterns and The new ranger base in Glen Doll, when completed, spent some weeks in Miss Jump’s care should have a role in explaining sensible safeguards. Bally’s). Also I was introduced to styles of some of the dresses on sale but always spoke about ‘Jolly Dump’, Lawson’s pork pies with French today. which used to cause great amusement. mustard, which cost 8d in sensible Even Twiggy has made a comeback and The Third World is an artificial “Another midwifery stalwart, Cis money (3.33p now). I also remember, QUOTE: construction of the West. looks even better than she did in her Morrison, wielded a rod of iron at while doing day release at the ‘Tech’, heyday, she says. —Shiva Naipaul. Westbay Nursing Home about the same having lunch of ‘peh, beans and chups’ “Dad—can’t you just READ me a story?” time.” for 2/6 in Wallace’s peh shop in Castle Email: [email protected] THE COURIER Less from councillors for more taxpayers’ money 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL Sir,—In case anyone What are they do not want to experience the planning authorities to course through the robust A triumph Tel: Dundee (01382) 223131 Fax: 01382 454590 hasn’t noticed, our Perth that kind of distress again. No help keep our beach front process of the planning and Email: [email protected] and Kinross councillors are budgeting for? matter what assurances are free from such development. licensing bodies. in planning given, it’s what happens after Internet: http://www.thecourier.co.uk now in receipt of salaries V. Tait. I can see no need to form and associated pensions— Sir,—For a new Forth closing time that matters. an independent residents’ ac- Sir,—What a triumph of ADVERTISING crossing to cost about the That’s when troubles begin. 14 Castle Terrace, planning and foresight, by at taxpayers’ expense. One tion group when there are Telephone: Dundee (01382) 455666. Fax: 01382 454599 of the reasons given for same as the Millau Viaduct in What I find so terrifying is Broughty Ferry. stronger, more vibrant bod- whichever authority is re- these rewards is the alleged France (about the same the size of the proposed ies within the wider commu- sponsible, in closing one of CONTACTING OUR BRANCH OFFICES length as the present Forth building. The ground floor is Deserves a nity (the community council, Fife’s busiest arteries over a Arbroath, 26 Keptie Street (01241) 872118 [email protected] additional time commit- weekend to cut down tree ment now required to fulfil Road Bridge, but much almost three times larger Broughty Ferry Traders’ As- Cupar, 108 Bonnygate (01334) 652166 [email protected] fair hearing branches. Dunfermline, 28 Chalmers Street (01383) 724226 [email protected] their responsibilities. higher), and be completed by than the present one and is sociation, Broughty Ferry 2016 at a cost of £2.8 billion, Community Safety Panel The A92 was closed be- Forfar, 9 Osnaburg Street (01307) 462003 [email protected] to seat 94 diners. The top Sir,—Re recent articles re- Kirkcaldy, 14 Hunter Street (01592) 260385 [email protected] Why, then, do we read that inflation would have had to tween Preston and Balfarg floor is to have a function garding local businessman etc.). These bigger commu- Montrose, 20 George Street (01674) 673649 [email protected] P&K councillors have just be running at an average of causing all traffic to drive room, bar and dance floor to Mr Nazir Ahmed Kashmiri nity groups would be able to Perth, 18 Hospital Street (01738) 622273 [email protected] voted in favour of reducing 15% per annum since 2002. raise any concerns this rela- through the myriad of Glen- their full council meetings cater for approx 300 people. and his proposal to refurbish The present rate is about Can you imagine all these tively small group of resi- rothes roundabouts to con- From The Courier files . . . from every six weeks to the former East Coast Water- tinue their journeys north or 2%. If FETA’s figures (The people leaving at the pro- sports Pavilion. The premises dents may have with regard every eight weeks—or six to this development with the south. This work undoubt- times a year? The somewhat Courier, December 6), are posed time of midnight, and in question are an eyesore 100 relevant parties. edly has to be done and when YEARS AGO pathetic excuse given for this correct they must be expect- the noise and chaos that will and have lain derelict and ing massive overpricing and abound? Almost every other town better than when everyone is reduction is that their diaries been habitually vandalised trying to finish their Christ- THE SALVATION ARMY’S ‘Anti-Suicide Bureau’ in for Wednesdays (the tradi- graft—probably par for the The waterfront is not a over the last 10 or so years. in the United Kingdom, in- New York reports that more distressing appeals have come course in this country. cluding Dundee, has max- mas shopping a couple of tional meeting day) are be- place for a building of this I appreciate there may be weeks before the big day? under its notice recently as a result of the financial crisis coming “congested”. size. It would be an absur- imised their potential to than at any time since its establishment. The chief of the Sandy Henderson. concerns as to the impact a develop their waterfront Shopkeepers in Glen- dity. The planners have been commercial business may bureau has collapsed under the strain. It is estimated that Are they not aware there Faulds Farm, esplanades and boulevards. rothes and Kirkcaldy must the unemployed in New York City now number 125,000. are another four working trying to make the beach a have on the residential have been slightly aggrieved Braco, Dunblane. children’s play area and so Broughty Ferry needs to days in every week? Perhaps amenity, but surely develop- evolve and grasp the oppor- knowing people living north far have done a good job. ment of a derelict property 50 one of these councillors (if Been through tunities it may have to en- of Glenrothes would be head- YEARS AGO they have time!) could ex- They do not want to spoil it will enhance it and bring ing away from the mayhem by having the surrounding hance the residential plain why we are getting less all this before prosperity to the community? amenity of the Esplanade towards Dundee and Perth. MR J. W. TAYLOR, Ministry of Supply, was asked yesterday for more taxpayers’ money? area choc-a-bloc with traffic in the Commons when it was intended that rubber should I note that Castle Terrace waterfront. It’s this kind of superb Sir,—In a recent article, e.g. delivery vans and lorries. residents have engaged in replace leather for the soles of soldiers’ boots. He said a G. M. Lindsay. This development is not planning which make our boot with composition sole had been developed, and Nightclub vow from devel- Anyone approaching the some investigation into the going to be a night-club, it is road and transport system Whinfield Gardens, oper, the developer main- waterfront will be faced with business credentials of the 500 pairs were scheduled to go on trial for 18-20 weeks. Kinross. a restaurant which fits in well what it is, among the worst in Two types, an ankle boot and a high boot, are being tested. tained his proposed the rear of the building which developer and his past busi- with the area and can only Europe! Esplanade development is will be like a huge wall hid- ness and realise they have Forthcoming enhance the residential John Strachan. 25 THE COURIER not to be a nightclub. May I ing all sight of sea and sand. valid concerns, but they have amenity, community safety Marriages add ‘not at the moment’. Any construction on this site acted like a kangaroo court. 23 Beechwood Avenue, YEARS AGO AND ADVERTISER are published in this position and architectural aspects of We have been through this should be in accordance with They have passed judg- the existing buildings in this Glenrothes. THREE ARMED men made a daylight raid on a Rosyth at a charge of £8.05 per the conservation area and sub-post office yesterday, on a busy thoroughfare within a line including VAT with a all before. The Chalet was just ment before there has been a area. a dance hall, unlicensed at serve as a beach amenity. fair and balanced public air- few yards of the naval base. About £4000 was taken. Two minimum of six lines Letters should be accompanied men armed with firearms and a third brandishing a blunt required. first, and over the years be- I appeal to Dundee and ing of the matter. I firmly be- Grant Edward. by an address and a daytime instrument burst into the shop, held three female assistants The notice must be signed came a proper nightclub, with Broughty Ferry people to put telephone number. lieve the proposal deserves 647A Arbroath Road, at bay, and robbed the post office section. by the engaged couple. all its attendant miseries. We their objections in writing to such and it will be done in due Broughty Ferry. Email: [email protected]