Your letters to the Helensburgh Advertiser: March 1, 2018

To have your say on any local issue, just email your views to editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk with 'Letter' in the subject line. Please include your name and address and keep your views as short and to-the-point as you can. 

We also need a daytime telephone number in case we need to check any details with you at short notice, though this will not be published.
Happy writing!

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I agree that proposals for pop-up stations at Rhu and Shandon on the West Highland line are probably unrealistic. 

However, it would seem much more sensible to re-open Craigendoran Upper. 

This is the end of town where most new development is and where people from up the line might want access to Hermitage Academy and Waitrose. 

Most of the infra-structure is already there on the lower platform, including a shelter, ticket machines and announcement board and speakers. 

Nowadays a disabled access ramp would probably be required from the lower platform though.

There is also already parking which could potentially be expanded by agreement with the owners of the old pier. 

With sensible timetabling a commuter train from Arrochar could serve school pupils from there and Garelochhead, reducing the number of school buses on our roads.

On the subject of public transport I would also ask why there is no “joined up” bus service between the peninsula and the academy and Waitrose? 

Surely instead of turning around at Helensburgh Central buses should continue and turn at the Waitrose roundabout?

Bob Floyd, Helensburgh

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The news stands last Thursday had an interesting juxtaposition of stories.

The Helensburgh Advertiser led with a first glimpse at new-look Helensburgh pier head in an exclusive.

The Herald had a front page story “Cities face severe flooding in 30 years”. Glasgow is one of the cities expected to be worst affected. 

Professor Richard Dawson, lead investigator of the study said: “Even in the most optimistic scenario, 85 per cent of the 58 UK cities in the study are predicted to face increased river flooding”.

Helensburgh was not included in the study but already experiences severe flooding with a neap tide and strong south west winds. In such circumstances, West Clyde Street and Colquhoun Square are flooded
Is the artist rendition out of date before it is even published? Should it show the £18 million project under ten feet of water?

There are those who deny climate change, including the noted expert President Donald J Trump of the USA. However, is it prudent to hang £18m of taxpayer money out in the middle of the Clyde waiting for the next named storm to arrive?

Stewart and Shields are digging a great big hole in Hermitage Park. It looks about the size of a swimming pool to me. 

Move the new leisure centre to the safety of Hermitage Park where it should have been located in the first place.

John Black, Helensburgh

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The Scottish Conservatives have won a great victory and struck yet another blow to the separatists over their botched attempt to merge the British Transport Police into Police Scotland which has been delayed indefinitely.

This is hugely embarrassing for the SNP, with ministers previously claiming the timeframe was a ‘luxury’ and SNP MSPs insisting only weeks ago that a delay would be ‘preposterous’.

But while this SNP merger may have hit the buffers, it’s time it was derailed altogether.

We in the Scottish Conservatives have campaigned to stop this flawed plan for some time, and we’re glad there’s at least been a delay which might allow the SNP to do some proper planning and strategising. 

It’s an unpopular move that virtually nobody is in favour of, with ideology and dogma seemingly the motive.

There have been numerous safety concerns about this proposal, any of which should be enough to force the SNP into a rethink.

It is clear that anything with the word British on it is like a red rag to a bull when it comes to this separatist government but they should have more pressing priorities at hand that need dealing with.

Cllr Alastair Redman (Conservative, Kintyre and the Islands), Portnahaven, Islay

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The recent awareness-raising campaign for the Vale of Leven Hospital is a welcome step because it will help promote the services available in our local hospital, increase patient numbers and avoid unnecessary and difficult journeys south of the river. 

This is not a campaign targeted only at residents of Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh but will extend to all areas of West Dunbartonshire, ensuring the much-needed increased footfall to make services more ‘sustainable’ in the eyes of health board number-crunchers. That is why this issue was supported on a cross party basis by all councillors.

The only criticism I hear from Jackie Baillie is that the campaign should be more ambitious in its scope by extending the catchment area to Bearsden and Milngavie and promoting all current services at the Vale, including the clinics and GP out-of-hours service.

We hear all the time about how people are not offered appointments for clinics locally and are having to travel much further afield to see a specialist not knowing that the same service is available at the Vale. 

Let’s work with GPs to encourage them to refer patients to the Vale and give people the power to demand to be seen locally.

As for the attack on Jackie for standing up for local services against cuts, isn’t that what she is meant to do as our representative in the Scottish Parliament? 

Without her work on exposing the health board’s plans to cut maternity services and out of hours, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde would slash services at the Vale without a second thought. That’s good work in my book and I hope she keeps it up.

Betsy Milcairns, via email

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This month we celebrate Student Volunteering Week.

As many young people strive to get ahead in the world of work, I’d like to tell your readers how volunteering can be a great way to inspire development and provide an insight into your chosen career.

In recent years we’ve conducted research of our student volunteers and found evidence of some remarkable development in the young people that we welcome, both personally and professionally.

Around 93 per cent of students we asked said that their volunteering experience improved their self-confidence, with 95 per cent saying it made them more tolerant towards others.

And, it’s clear that pledging time to charity can often inspire young people to increase their participation in wider society too. 

Around 79 per cent said that their time as a volunteer inspired them to take a more active part in their communities.

I work for Revitalise, an incredible charity that provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers from all across the UK.

We are also blessed with the largest residential volunteering programme of any UK charity, welcoming thousands of vibrant volunteers from around the world every year.

In many ways, our volunteers are our magic ingredient, helping to create the lively, social atmosphere that so many of our guests know and love.

For everything that our volunteers give, we aim to ensure that they gain just as much in return, and have plenty of inspirational opportunities waiting to be discovered. 

To find out more about our charity or to become a Revitalise volunteer yourself visit: www.revitalise.org.uk or call our volunteer team: 0303 303 0163.

Stephanie Stone (Revitalise)

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I used to be one of the four out of five women in the UK that can’t name bloating as a major symptom of ovarian cancer.

Then my role model, the wonderful comedian Linda Smith, died from the disease.

Now as an Ambassador for Target Ovarian Cancer, I am calling for more awareness of the disease during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March.

I want everyone to know the four symptoms which could save lives: persistent bloating; feeling full; tummy pain; needing to wee more.

I’m asking your readers to join us to raise awareness and money to support Target Ovarian Cancer this March. It’s time to TAKE OVAR.

Together we can make sure every woman knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Join us at your workplace, school or community: Bake Some Noise with a cake sale or coffee morning, join us on Friday, March 9 for The Big Colour Clash by wearing your loudest outfit for a donation, or Challenge yourself to tell 50 people about the symptoms and raise £50.

We’ll send you everything you need for free – stickers, symptoms leaflets, badges and wristbands. Call 020 7923 5474 or visit targetovariancancer.org.uk/March 

Raise awareness, fund research, and save lives this March.

Susan Calman (ambassador for Target Ovarian Cancer)