Wednesday, September 28, 2011

28th of September 2011 - End Of The Road For Women Drivers

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

28th of September 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

END OF THE ROAD FOR WOMEN DRIVERS

Whilst the Saudi authorities are clearly going too far in administering corporal punishment to women drivers, the underlying prohibition seems sound.

Were the UK to ban women drivers, the societal benefits would be manifold. Roads budgets could be slashed due to less wear and tear on the resulting empty roads, unemployment would be cut at a stroke as the more afluent rushed to employ male drivers, and the school run would become a thing of the past leading to increased juvenile fitness.

That it would also make a major contribution to road safety goes without saying!

John Eoin Douglas

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

21st of September 2011 - Single Ivory Tower

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/


21st of September 2011


Dear Sir/Madam,

SINGLE IVORY TOWER

It is high time that the Scottish Government took on the vested interests of the educational establishment by creating a University of Scotland in order to rationalise the current distressing mishmash of Universities and former Polytechnics masquerading as such.

The ongoing saving in the emoluments of Principals alone would more than pay for any re-organisation costs and the resulting ability to keep fees down could encourage more students from England to seek the advantages of a traditional four year Scottish education thereby increasing the cultural diversity of our fair land.

Such a move would certainly be as logical as the proposed national Police and Fire Services and would be likely to have even more public support.

John Eoin Douglas

Monday, September 19, 2011

19th of September 2011 - Drawing A Line

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

19th of September 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

DRAWING A LINE

With estimated costs of the Edinburgh to Galashiels railway steaming rapidly towards £300M, surely now is the time to pull the plug on this White Elephant?

The savings would more than cover the shortfall in Edinburgh's Tram Budget thus allowing trams to reach the Waterfront at Newhaven. This would benefit many more people than a few Liberal Democrat voters in the Borders - most of whom will, whether or not the Border Union line re-opens, continue to drive into Edinburgh to partake of vital facilities largely absent from their rural idyll like decent supermarkets, shopping malls and gainful employment!

John Eoin Douglas

Friday, September 2, 2011

2nd of September 2011 - Tram Vision

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

2nd of September 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

TRAM VISION

Edinburgh Council's grudging decision to build the trams to St Andrew Square does not go far enough. Having suffered so much disruption, the people of Leith are entitled to see the whole scheme built.

Serious consideration should now be given to building the rest of the line using voluntary labour. After all, many miles of so called "preserved" railways (not to mention the Crich Tramway Museum) have had their lines laid or re-laid by volunteers and Leith Walk could soon resound to hordes of tram enthusiasts happily clinking away in their leisure hours with picks and shovels.

The Community Councils in Leith have amongst their members many persons of skill including retired civil engineers who I feel sure would be happy to contribute by supervising the project. It could also be an opportunity for persons subject to Community Service Orders to assist their community.

Judging from the previous progress made by the professionals, if a start was to be made before Christmas, the St Andrew Square - Leith section could be in service long before the portion running to the Airport.

John Eoin Douglas