READERS might assume from Bob Murray’s letter (Comment, September 29) that the whole of Cardross is as bitterly opposed as he is to disabled veterans’ housing at Bloomhill. Thankfully this is not the case.

Nearly two thirds of council correspondents support the plan.

The points he raises about green belt and conservation area were fully considered by the Scottish government’s Reporter Mrs McCallum, and rejected in accordance with other material considerations in Scottish planning policy.

His concerns about the heritage value of the wall and traffic safety were not shared by Historic Environment Scotland or the council’s own roads department.

Mr Murray repeats his assertion that there are better sites elsewhere for the proposed housing.

In this, he refuses to defer to the expertise of Houses for Heroes who have been choosing sites for disabled veterans for 101 years.

His proposal of the alternative site in Cardross for the veterans would carry more conviction if he did not oppose that development as well.

We will have to learn to live with Mr Murray’s repeated allegations about the sincerity of the Chrystal Trust’s commitment to this commemorative project, and work as best we can to make the plan a reality, preferably in co-operation with Cardross Community Council.

In the meantime we are aware, as CCC convener Tony Davey rightly pointed out in last week’s Helensburgh Advertiser, that council officers may dispute the Reporter’s ruling in the Court of Session if they think she has erred in a point of law.

Colin Donald,

The Chrystal Trust

I SPENT a day in March at the Geilston Hall in Cardross along with 12 Argyll and Bute councillors, representatives of Cardross Community Council and dozens of local residents regarding the location of the Homes for Heroes planning application.

The application was rejected by the planning committee after much debate for and against.

This being the second time it has been rejected, I left and thought it was all over.

But no, on appeal the Reporter from the government directorate of planning granted the application.

What was the point of the meeting?

John Gardner,

Graham Crescent,

Cardross

“WE VOTED as one UK to leave the EU, and we’ll leave it as one UK. There is no opt out from Brexit.

“And I will never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious union between the four nations of our United Kingdom,” – Theresa May.

I can see May’s tactics here, very clever.

By saying she will never allow “divisive nationalists” to undermine the union, she’s decided to beat them to it.

Surely she cannot think for one second that in ignoring the wishes of 62 per cent of the the Scottish electorate will somehow strengthen the union.

If she and the rest of the London establishment believe that they can just ride roughshod over the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland, and the North of Ireland for that matter, they are in for a nasty shock.

At the moment we are in the “Phoney War” period of Brexit, when article 50 is invoked, it is then we will see the hard reality of leaving the EU unfold, it will not be pretty.

Let us see how their precious union holds together then, I suspect it might struggle.

Charlie Sherry,

Hardgate,

Clydebank

Why, oh why must our town centre be spoilt with event flyers on all the posts in the pavements.

Some of the organisations remove them after the event date but rarely are the strings or the plastic cable ties cut down.

This is really litter and if the organisation secretaries were charged with a litter offence by Argyll and Bute Council, the practice would soon stop and the whole place would look tidier.

A great deal of ratepayers’ money was spent under the Chord Project to make our town attractive to visitors and residents but the proliferation of notices spoils this.

There is a perfectly good local newspaper to announce events and there is also a community noticeboard for this purpose.

Please can we do something to stop this ugly practice and keep the town centre looking good?

Kenneth Speirs,

Granville Street

The National Autistic Society is looking for local people and organisations making a difference to the lives of autistic people and their families.

We want to share their stories so we can increase public understanding of autism and inspire others to improve their own practice.

Perhaps it’s a teaching assistant who has helped a child to achieve something great or a business that has made adjustments for autistic employees.

If any readers know of an inspirational individual or organisation, please nominate them for the Autism Professionals Awards 2017.

Carol Povey,

Director of the National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism

As THE autumn nights start to draw in, I’m writing to ask your readers to enjoy a night in with friends and family and raise vital funds for Target Ovarian Cancer.

Around 4,100 UK women die each year from the disease and many are diagnosed too late.

Target Ovarian Cancer is here to change that and we need your help.

Host a movie marathon or board games evening, relax with a pamper party or have a fireworks night and you’ll be supporting women with ovarian cancer.

Raising £10 could give six newly diagnosed women a comprehensive guide to ovarian cancer, and raising £50 could enable 100 GPs to update their knowledge of ovarian cancer help early diagnosis.

Plus you’ll get a November Nights kit, which includes a free gift to get your night off to a great start.

To sign up, readers can visit targetovariancancer.org.uk/november.

Simon Taylor,

Target Ovarian Cancer

Do YOU pop into your favourite coffee shop on your way to work?

Dine at your preferred restaurant with ease? Go shopping for a new outfit stress free?

Most of us don’t give these pleasures a second thought, but I’d like to ask your readers, what if having a disability meant you could no longer go about your day with such ease? Having personal experience of disability myself, I know this is a reality for many disabled people, and I’d like to tell your readers why change is vital.

As a non-disabled person, you would never expect to be denied access to your favourite coffee shop or be unable to use public toilet facilities because there isn’t one available, so why are we ignoring the needs of disabled people?

I work for Revitalise – an incredible charity that provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers.

As an organisation we often highlight issues of importance to disabled people and our latest study revealed some disappointing results.

Six out of 10 non-disabled people admitted to using disabled toilets and more than one in 10 of us use disabled parking spaces either sometimes or habitually.

With the amazing Rio Paralympics still fresh in our minds, we believe that if non-disabled people were to simply make small changes to their attitudes and habits, they will be helping to create a more inclusive society for disabled people and really keeping the Paralympic legacy alive.

To find out more about Revitalise, or to support our vital work, please visit revitalise.org.uk email info@revitalise.org.uk, or call 0303 303 0147. Thank you.

Stephanie Stone,

Revitalise

Every day in the UK, 100 people begin to lose their sight. And right now there are over two million people affected by sight loss here in the UK.

Thankfully, RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) offers a wide range of support, helping blind and partially sighted people to live independently and face the future with confidenc.

That’s why I’m backing RNIB’s “Wear dots... raise lots” – a fun-filled fundraising campaign inspired by the system developed by Louis Braille featuring raised dots, which revolutionised reading and writing for blind and partially sighted people.

It’s all about getting involved in fun activities involving dots – whether it’s wearing a polka dot dress, shirt, or tie to work, holding a dotty cake sale or setting up a dots-themed nail bar

For more dotty ideas and a free fundraising pack, visit .rnib.org.uk/weardots or call 0345 345 0054.

Brian Blessed OBE,

RNIB Supporter