Your letters to the Advertiser this week

To see your thoughts on any issue of interest to the Helensburgh area in our next issue, email editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk.

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It is unreasonable that Hermitage Academy expects a 14-year-old to be able to make the restrictive choice of only four subjects plus compulsory maths and English. It adds unnecessary pressure on youngsters at a time when stress related problems among young people is widely reported to be increasing.

Fourteen-year-olds need the space to make mistakes and to experiment. Parents who had the chance of eight subjects in S4 will recognise the benefits and recount similar experiences to my own.

I took eight 'O' Grades in S4 but three subjects weren’t taken forward to Higher in S5 and contributed nothing of significant to my academic record. An A in arithmetic was useful underpinning for other subjects and confirmed numeracy skills. My B in woodwork gave basic life-long practical skills and a bedside cabinet that still sits in my old bedroom back home. My C in French was sufficient to give confidence to give the local lingo a go in many different countries and helped in my love of French cinema.

Hermitage Academy under-performs other similar schools because the maximum score for the allowed six subjects at Higher in S5 (1,224 tariff points) is less than other schools who allow eight National 5s in S4 and 5 Highers in S5 (1,272 tariff points).

For pupils who want to go onto further education, five Highers at A grade (400 UCAS points) is worth more than six at B grade (390 UCAS points).

Designing a curricular system that is doomed to under-perform against other schools is bizarre. All of our young people deserve a broad education in earlier years that allows them to explore their potential, make mistakes without too much damage and make better informed choices at a more suitable time.

Cllr James Robb (SNP, Helensburgh Central)

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In Letters (27 October, 2016), Ursula Craig refers to the Scottish people voting "decisively".

Unfortunately, the vote was anything but decisive.

A few days before the referendum was held, a poll showed that the number of Yes voters appeared to be greater than the number of No voters.

The three leaders of the main Westminster parties quickly visited Scotland, in an attempt to change the minds of some of these Yes voters.

There were promises of undefined "additional powers" if we voted No.

There were no details of what would happen if the powers offered, did not meet the voters' expectations.

The three leaders did what politicians do well. They muddied the water. Instead of a straight Yes or No vote, we were offered a third option. "No with Powers".

While some voters had a fixed view, regardless of any political offers, there was no attempt made to count the "No with Powers" vote.

I am afraid that the statement of our democratic will was then and is now, anything but "decisive".

Duncan Stirling, Church Avenue, Cardross

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A warm welcome to Sub Lieutenant Jim Gallagher in his new cabin at HM Naval Base Clyde following the completion of the latest accommodation block at Faslane, as reported in the Advertiser (October 27).

We are also told in the article that on completion of the current programme of accommodation blocks that over 3500 cabins will be available on site to naval personnel by the end of 2017 well before the proposed arrival of the UK submarine service in 2020.

Despite the genuine welcome this is nothing short of an economic tragedy to Helensburgh and Lomond.

3,500 cabins means 3,500 individuals not living in our community, not buying homes, not using our shops, leisure and other facilities and not bringing up their families in our midst because these cabins are used as early week accommodation while their occupants' principal homes are elsewhere in the UK.

According to the published rates of pay by the Royal Navy Sub Lieutenant Gallagher earns in excess of £32,000 per annum. The bulk of that is lost to our community. If we multiply it by the 3,500 cabin occupants that’s £120 million lost to this community EVERY year and that’s before we consider the salaries which their spouses and partners would also contribute if they lived here.

Just imagine how much more business our local businesses like car dealers, restaurants and pet shops would do each year with even a fraction of this honey pot.

I have challenged the MOD to provide a relocation package to service personnel but apart from a very few it refuses to do so. There is no incentive to them to come and live with us.

Helensburgh and Lomond suffer from a falling and ageing population. Instead of building accommodation blocks designed to separate the armed services personnel, whom we pay for through taxation from our community the money should be spent on a relocation package so that our armed personnel are part of our community instead of undermining its economic development.,

Graeme McCormick (Convener, SNP Dumbarton Constituency Association)

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I write to comment on the article 'No to HGVs on A814' (Advertiser, October 27). The problem described is not a particularly new one, but is one which it would probably be as well to address.

A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council is right in saying that there are many roads which are just as narrow, but most are not being used in this way.

He goes on to say that a traffic order cannot be promoted due to the effect that it would have on the council's operations and that it would restrict deliveries. He states that such an order could only be enforced by a permanent police presence. Come off it - we live in the 21st century!

I have travelled about a bit in Europe and have noticed many places where there are traffic restrictions preventing access to unsuitable vehicles without specific authorization; sometimes it is by signs only, sometimes by lightweight barrier, sometimes by a barrier that would stop an HGV.

Vehicles needing regular access have a standing authority (often time of day defined) which allows operation of the barrier; occasional access can be given access on demand.

Perhaps what is needed is for Argyll and Bute Council to accept that there is an issue which needs to be addressed and then to apply existing satisfactory ways of dealing with it. Is that too much to ask?

David Sinclair, Suffolk Street, Helensburgh

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World Diabetes Day is on Monday 14 November and we at Diabetes UK are urging the whole of Scotland to turn blue and support people living with the condition.

There are over 280,000 people living with diabetes in Scotland. Yet, despite its prevalence, the condition is very misunderstood. Diabetes is a serious and complex condition which, if not managed well, can lead to life-limiting complications, including stroke, lower limb amputation, blindness and cardiovascular disease. Children and adults with diabetes have to manage the condition 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in order to stay healthy. There is no day off.

That’s why we’re asking everyone in Scotland to go blue for a day. Whether you dress in blue clothes, dye your hair blue or paint your face blue like Braveheart; we want you to embrace your inner Smurf to raise money to support people living with diabetes and fund research towards a cure. Anyone who would like to get involved in our #WorldDiabetesDay activity along with family, friends, school, community or workplace are invited to get in touch with me at Linda.Hamilton@diabetes.org.uk or phone 07585 790 515.

Diabetes UK is the UK’s leading charity supporting people living with diabetes. We offer expert information and advice to help people manage their diabetes effectively and confidently; fund pioneering research into care, cure and prevention of diabetes; and campaign for improved diabetes health care and support for everyone affected by the condition. We rely on donations and the immense generosity of our supporters and fundraisers to continue our vital work which will lead us to a world where diabetes can do no harm. For further information on diabetes please visit www.diabetes.org.uk

Linda Hamilton (Diabetes UK Regional Fundraiser for Central & South Scotland)