Hospital parking anger

Sir,— I am extremely angry at the deliberate restriction of parking places at our super new hospital in Larbert, in order to force patients and staff to walk, cycle or use public transport. This is outrageous.
This insane idea will make life extremely difficult for a lot of the staff denied parking permits. Nurses work hard and after their shifts they just want to climb into their cars and head home, they may have to stop off at a supermarket for food. They should be able to do so.
There is plenty of land for parking, so why should the nurses and other staff be persecuted in this way? No wonder they are angry and feel under valued.
Have the ‘powers that be’ even considered the safety, welfare or convenience of the staff? Obviously not.
Would those who thought up this scheme like to leave their cars at home? I think not, especially during our very cold and wet winters.
Does the Health Board consider it safe for nurses to be walking home or waiting at bus stops along after dark?
Think again Health Board, support your staff, put their safety, welfare and health first, they should be your priority.
There is plenty of land for adequate parking – use it!—Yours etc.,
JANICE BROWN
Fountainpark Crescent,
Bo’ness.

Daffodil Appeal

Sir,— There are just four weeks to go until the registration deadline for this year's Marie Curie Cancer Care Daffodil Schools Challenge and Mini Pots of Care fundraising activities.
Daffodil Schools Challenge and Mini Pots of Care are educational activities that encourage creativity and industry in young people of all ages.
Daffodil Schools Challenge tasks pupils aged 11 to 16 with designing, planning, and creating a visual display based on the charity's daffodil emblem, either at their school or elsewhere in the community.
They are also challenged to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care in the process For Mini Pots of Care, children aged three-11 receive a free pot and a daffodil bulb to plant in the autumn term. The children then care for their flower over the winter months to reflect the work of Marie Curie Nurses.
In spring, when the daffodils bloom, the children have fun on Mini Pots of Care Day by learning, and painting their pots before taking them home to someone they care about in return for a donation for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The funds raised through both activities will help Marie Curie Nurses care for terminally ill people in their own homes at the end of their lives, surrounded by their loved ones.
Registration for both activities close on September 30, so to find out more - including free downloadable lesson plans and activity resources for youth groups – please visit www.mariecurie.org. uk/schoolsandyouth or call 08700 340 040. —Yours etc.,
FIONA BUSHBY
Marie Curie Cancer Care Edinburgh and the Lothians

Many thanks to helper

Sir,— I would like to say thank you to the carer of Rose, who helped guide me back to my husband and two children when I became ill on a busy Ferry Fair promenade. Also the young man who from that point made way through the crowds for me and two very distressed children, to am ambulance waiting at the RNLI station.
Many thanks to Gina who cared for the children while I was being attended to by medics before going to hospital.
As to the woman who complained we bumped into her – words fail!
From myself and family, thank you.—Yours etc.,
DAWN LAING
South Queensferry.

Changing of RBS policies

Sir,— "Not in our name" goes the anti-war slogan. The same words could have been used by those who protested earlier this week outside the Gogarburn Headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland. We bailed that Bank out of its nation-shaming bankruptcy and they thank us by investing our money (we own 84 per cent of it) in planet-polluting ventures.
Prior to the baleful bailout RBS had provided over $10 billion in oil and gas loans, advised on a further $30 billion and was involved in $16 billion worth of coal-related loans. After bailout they have continued – providing another $13 billion to oil, gas and coal industries.
This is outrageous. What is a smashed window and a daub of liquid compared to the enormous damage caused by these companies around the world?
In the week that we have been reminded of past brave events, I reckon Churchill would have been happy to proclaim the climate campers as the gallant few protesting on behalf of the quieter many and that Jimmy Reid would have been proud of their conduct also – responsible, dignified and not bevvy-driven.
Previous annual camps have had their successes (Kingsnorth, Heathrow etc), lets hope that RBS changes its lending policies spurred on by their staff who had to work at home last Monday. What if similar sums had gone into alternative sources of energy? What if we were all to reduce our own energy consumption?—Yours etc.,
WILLIAM ROSS
Friars Brae,
Linlithgow.

Not on view!

Sir,— We all know that young people are influenced by what they see around them.
It is ridiculous that cigarettes are openly on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, often next to the sweets and crisps by the counter.
The brightly lit, colourful displays show off rows of cigarette brands like huge adverts for tobacco.
Cancer Research UK’s Out of Sight Out of Mind campaign calls on the new Government to get shops to cover up their displays. It would not cost them very much and would take away one of the ways that tobacco companies market their deadly products to children.
I hope the Government takes this opportunity to stop today’s children becoming tomorrow’s smokers.—Yours etc.,
CATRIONA MORRICE
Hillpark Loan,
Edinburgh.