Helensburgh Advertiser letters page: April 30, 2020

To have your say in the Advertiser on any topic of local interest, just email them to editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk or get in touch with us via the Send Us Your News section of this website.

Please try and keep your contributions as brief and to-the-point as you can, and to provide us with your name and address.

We also require a daytime contact phone number in case we need to check any details at short notice, though this will not be published.

Happy writing!

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I WAS rather disappointed at the front page headline in last week’s Advertiser regarding the spike in fly-tipping in Helensburgh and beyond.

I was particularly unimpressed by the comment in the accompanying article by Councillor Robin Currie, stating that “our staff will have to wear full PPE to protect themselves from possible infection and cuts as they remove this rubbish – wasting time and resources we don’t have at the moment”.

At an early stage in this present lockdown, and following the withdrawal of the normal refuse collection, I wrote to Councillor Morton suggesting a safe and suitable alternative to the problem highlighted above.

I have never had the courtesy of a proper reply from Councillor Morton on this matter, and what did come took a time to be sent.

I suggested that skips be put on the pier by outside contractors, who operated the site within the guidelines as laid down by the government and disposed the refuse at suitable disposal sites approved of by the council. This would alleviate the problem of ‘fly-tipping’.

Instead we have the present situation.

I did wonder, as I stood in the queue waiting to get into Waitrose at 8.45am today, keeping the two-metre social distancing rule as I did so, whether police resources were being properly used, as an unmarked police car drove round the car park and inspected us all, with two uniformed police officers sat in the front seats of the car.

Neil L. Smith, Helensburgh

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READ MORE: Your letters to the Advertiser: April 23, 2020

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At this time we hear many stories encouraging us all to support our local businesses; however this is a story of a local business showing support for the local community and the NHS in particular.

Across the last four weeks the Ginger Bread Man has shown amazing support of our local NHS staff and asked for no publicity or thanks.

My wife is a physiotherapist working at the Victoria Integrated Care Centre, and three weeks ago the Ginger Bread Man van turned up with a load of cakes for the NHS staff. They asked for no thanks and no recognition.

Today, as my wife was walking past the Ginger Bread Man shop in West Princes Street, in her uniform, she was stopped by an employee who handed her a bag of bread just because she was working for the NHS.

It’s a small story; however, it’s a hidden act of kindness and support which should be recognised by the community.

Stewart Lawrie, via email

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READ MORE: Helensburgh Advertiser letters page: April 16, 2020

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Have you noticed that politicians are increasingly saying “not for the foreseeable future”?

Given the uncertainty created by Covid-19, that sounds a reasonable expression.

However, at the same time they seem keen to make promises and commitments. What about the 100,000 tests per day by April 30? Or the promise that there would be sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for everyone in the health and caring sectors?

And what about the timely delivery of wages for employees on temporary leave (furlough)?

Even when policy makers and politicians are able to foresee the future they often ignore it.

We learn through the Advertiser that the most recent construction repairs to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be completed very shortly. Given the frequency of road closures due to ‘faffing about’ and inadequate investment, I predict that in the foreseeable future there will be more closures.

I equally foresee traffic jams and accidents due to poor road maintenance. Surely it’s not beyond engineers’ ability to design safe and healthy maintenance and repair schedules while optimising the current low traffic flows.

The one thing we can all foresee and respond to is life after death. By this I mean making a will.

Many of us do not like the idea of wills because we don’t like to think of death. However, there are many times when we are prompted to think about the future – on reaching 21 years; on marriage; birth of our first child; birth of our grandchildren; and on retirement.

There are many other things which prompt us to make a will. For example, you may have attended a great book festival in Cove Burgh Hall and would like to secure its future. Or enjoyed your weekly lunch club.

An endowment in your will is clearly a way to promote and foresee a bright and positive future.

Finlay Craig, Cove

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READ MORE: Your letters to the Advertiser: April 9, 2020

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Over the last few weeks we have been inundated with messages and pictures from our customers across the west of Scotland in praise of the extra lengths our postmen and women have been going to during the coronavirus crisis.

Thank you to your readers for taking the time to show their appreciation.

We know how much people like to say hi or have a chat with their postie on the doorstep, but during this time, we need to find new ways of staying connected whilst also protecting our communities.

This is why we’ve launched our ‘Thumbs-up’ campaign. It’s a simple way for the public to say thanks and stay connected with their local postie, while respecting the government’s social distancing rules.

This safe distance is just over the height of a Royal Mail postbox away. Giving a thumbs up is also a handy reminder not to reach out to try and take parcels direct from your postie to ensure contact free delivery.

We’ve made it easy for your readers to become involved and show their appreciation. ‘Thumbs- Up’ templates are available from royalmail.com to download, decorate and put in their front windows.

The bolder, the more creative and colourful the better. And we’d love to see your Thumbs Up selfies, using the hashtag #ThumbsUpForYourPostie.

We’re really proud of what our postmen and women are doing in these challenging times, and we know you’ll want to join us in thanking them for everything they’re doing. We look forward to seeing your colourful creations, and stunning selfies.

Shane O’Riordain (managing director of regulation, corporate affairs and marketing, Royal Mail)

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READ MORE: Readers' letters to the Helensburgh Advertiser: April 2, 2020

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The coronavirus crisis has led to financial hardship for a great many people across the UK.

However, work here at the RAF Benevolent Fund hasn’t stopped. In fact, we have awarded more than £1.5 million in individual grants since lockdown measures were announced on March 23.

These grants help support retired and serving RAF personnel and their families at this challenging and uncertain time.

That’s why we have launched a new online application system to allow members of the RAF Family to access financial assistance more easily than ever before.

But beyond the immediate threat to our nation’s health, the coronavirus pandemic does not pose financial concerns alone. Many older members of the RAF Family struggle with social isolation and loneliness on a daily basis; a problem that is compounded by the necessary social distancing rules.

To tackle this issue, we have introduced a weekly Check and Chat service, and our welfare team are currently contacting vulnerable members of the RAF Family to invite them to use this.

We have also expanded our Telephone Friendship Groups service to allow more veterans to join in a weekly chat.

Last year we launched an awareness campaign, Join The Search. Change A Life, aiming to get more veterans and their partners back on our radar. This initiative is more important now than ever before.

I urge your readers to consider their neighbours, their family, and their friends; if they previously served in the RAF, or are the spouse of someone that once served, they are eligible for our support – be it financial, practical, or emotional.

To refer someone to the RAF Benevolent Fund, please visit rafbf.org or call 0300 102 1919.

Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot (Chief Executive, RAF Benevolent Fund)

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READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news headlines from across Helensburgh and Lomond here