6th of December 2015 - Troubled Bridge

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

6th of December 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

TROUBLED BRIDGE

I see that the Forth Road Bridge's closure also extends to pedestrians and cyclists.

If their minimal extra weight is considered problematic, then the structure is clearly in more trouble than the public is being told.

My guess is that the bridge will never re-open to traffic. But what are the safety implications for people living nearby in the case of total or partial collapse?

John Eoin Douglas

30th of September 2015 - Belching Exhausts

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

30th of September 2015

Dear Sir/Madam, 

 

BELCHING EXHAUSTS

I am unimpressed at the exhibition of new found environmental concern by car owners who feel aggrieved that their German cars' computers have been skilfully programmed to always indicate that emissions standards are being met.

Like most drivers, as long as my vehicle passes the MOT, I don't care what emerges from the exhaust pipe. If I gave a fig about the environment, I'd have bought a bicycle!

John Eoin Douglas

14th of August 2015 - Extend Line And Starve Lawyers

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

14th of August 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

EXTEND LINE AND STARVE LAWYERS

 

I am appalled to hear that Edinburgh Council is to throw yet more money at lawyers in order to provide free legal representation for former staff and councillors at the Tram Enquiry.

 

For the £2M involved, the tram line could have been extended to at least Picardy Place if not all the way to Elm Row!

 

John Eoin Douglas

9th of August 2015 - Regal Steam

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

9th of August 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

REGAL STEAM

It is often said that only the best is good enough for the Queen and this is no doubt why Her Majesty will be hauled by a steam locomotive as she opens the Borders Railway. What is regretable is that the same courtesy and sound engineering principles will not be extended to her subjects for whom the regular service will be provided by unreliable diesel traction.

Yet another missed opportunity by the Scottish Government who should have used part of their investment in the re-opened Waverley Route to support the skills and technology needed for the next generation of steam train construction.

John Eoin Douglas

11th of June 2015 - Arch Demons

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

11th of June 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

ARCH DEMONS

Amongst all the conspiracy theories over the demise of The Arches in Glasgow, nobody seems to have put the blame squarely where it lies: It is the selfish hedonistic users of illegal recreational drugs who caused the Licencing Board to take the action they did. They are the ones who should be hunted down by Police and arts lovers alike.

John Eoin Douglas

1st of June 2015 - Tram Dilemma

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

 

1st of June 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

TRAM DILEMMA

The potential massive cost to council tax payers of yet more pedal cyclists being injured by falling foul of Edinburgh's tram lines can be avoided by but one of two measures:

 

1. Scrapping the trams and removing the rails that cause the problem.

 

2. Banning cyclists from all roads which have tram lines.

 

I am not sure which approach would be most favoured by your readers, but if it saves one child...

John Eoin Douglas

2nd of May 2015 - Invitation To Terrorists

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

2nd of May 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

INVITATION TO TERRORISTS

I was astounded to read in today's Evening News (http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-airport-to-sell-scanners-conveyor-belts-1-3761312) that Edinburgh Airport will include security scanning equipment in a public auction of its surplus assets.

Whilst this type of equipment may no longer be in use at Edinburgh Airport, what about the many airports throughout the world who do still use it? Potential terrorists will now be free to buy some to experiment with in order to devise ways to circumvent its effective operation. How irresponsible can you get?

John Eoin Douglas

12th of April 2015 - Follow The Money

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

12th of April 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

FOLLOW THE MONEY

The Scottish media has been full of Labour, Tory and LibDem representatives united in the view that Scotland will suffer economically in the event that the SNP make significant electoral gains and the Scottish Parliament obtains full fiscal autonomy.

 

The only thing that I can take from this is that Scotland must currently be being subsidised to the hilt by the rest of the UK. If this be the case, Scottish voters would do well to vote for unionist parties and hope that the rest of the UK doesn't notice until the Union has been bled dry!

John Eoin Douglas

11th of March 2015 - Saving Our Nation

7 Spey Terrace

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

11th of March 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

SAVING OUR NATION

If, as seems increasingly likely, neither the Conservatives nor Labour are able to obtain a parliamentary majority after the General Election, what better way for Alec Salmond to serve our United Kingdom in its hour of need than by accepting the post of Prime Minister?

He is the only politician of sufficient stature and wisdom to undertake the task and I feel sure that the Queen would be delighted to invite him to form a national government of real unity which would meld our nations together in the spirit of the settled will of the Scottish people as demonstrated through the referendum!

John Eoin Douglas

25th of February 2015 - Taking Steps

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

 

25th of February 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

TAKING STEPS

 

Whilst there is nothing intrinsically offensive about the neo-fascist facade of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and its adjoining steps, it is the littering thereof with grubby and inebriated refugees from Paddy's Market and other remnants of long gone and unlamented manifestations of working class culture and politics that have detracted from efforts to re-invent the city.

 

The removal of the steps is long overdue and the City Council is to be congratulated on this brave move to help create a bright and modern city for the New Millenium.

John Eoin Douglas

20th of February 2015 - Police Veracity Essential To Justice

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

 

20th of February 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

POLICE VERACITY ESSENTIAL TO JUSTICE

 

The gay abandon towards truth and accuracy exhibited by Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House when dealing with MSPs on Holyrood's justice sub-committee on policing does not augur well for his force's conviction rate.

 

If his attitude is shared by his subordinates, jurors in any criminal trial where the veracity of his officers' evidence is at issue would be well advised to give the accused the benefit of the doubt and return a not guilty verdict.

John Eoin Douglas