This week's East Lothian Courier letters: October 31, 2024

Warning signs

Alex Galloway’s letter in last week’s edition is a timely reminder of the importance of promoting and sustaining good mental health, especially at a time when public services are so stretched.
Although Alex has had his own health issues, it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows him to read of his selfless efforts to make a difference by addressing an issue which, partly because of its ‘invisible’ nature, receives far too little attention and funding. Congratulations to Alex, and to all those who have helped him, in raising this worthwhile sum.
Whilst there is no single solution to such complex problems, one area where improvements could and should be made is in the workplace. Many employers actively encourage staff to be physically fitter and this almost certainly has mental health benefits.
However, employers, and especially individual managers, need to improve their understanding of and response to early warning signs of stress or other indicators of poor mental health. A careless and/or callous response will have long-term impacts, both on the health of individuals and on the viability of employers.
As Alex says, it is not too late to join him in making a difference in memory of Johnny. Donating is easy by clicking through North Berwick Youth Project’s JustGiving pages.
John Jenkins
Eweford Cottages
Dunbar

Bin your litter

I recently spent a great deal of time picking up litter opposite the new Euro Garage at Macmerry.
The litter consisted of building materials from the site but the bulk of the litter was associated with fast food from the various outlets within the petrol station.
I am saddened that people feel it is alright to open their window and throw litter out and blemish our countryside.
Surely the companies who profit from the sales could perhaps litter pick occasionally too. I note their tattered signage on lampposts, etc, is just left to disintegrate and therefore turns eventually to litter as well. You would think that the garage would want to ensure that their entrance is attractive.
At the time of writing, I have yet to litter pick the three roundabouts which are a favourite spot for throwing out litter too.
Can I also take this opportunity to thank the Wombles and individuals who litter pick on our behalf throughout the county? Without these caring individuals, the county would be awash with litter.
But to those who litter – please just don’t. Take it home.
Jacky Baillie
Elvingston Cottage
Gladsmuir

Bowls names

I always look forward to your Down Memory Lane feature in the Courier and was interested to see a fine selection of photographs of East Lothian bowling clubs in last week’s edition.
I would like to add a couple of comments to the photo of Aberlady Bowling Club in 1975. The trophy they are pictured with is the East Lothian Bowling Association’s County Cup and the shield is a memento of that success presented to the winning team to keep. The player referred to as ‘Stew’ is Stuart Greenwood, whose father Jackie (fourth from left) and brother Charlie (extreme right) are in the back row.
Garry Menzies
East Linton

Buck stops...

Before the council PR machine starts to implement its pre-budget playbook, I thought it worth highlighting a number of items, most of which, I suspect, will not be covered by them and their political masters.
I was dubbed a troublemaker and nutjob for raising my concerns on most of these following issues back in 2017-2019 and, as many will know, I have continued to highlight these consistently in the letters page of this newspaper since then. Nothing I have raised and predicted has been addressed and, absolutely no surprise to me whatsoever, as to the outcomes we are currently seeing, I predict they will only get worse.
First of all, the democratic deficit whereby the Labour group have assumed power (and therefore responsibility) still remains in place. In short, they have absolutely no mandate to hold this position on the council.
The borrowing levels have spiralled out of control, now reaching £500m, with the resultant interest payment costs ballooning on the back of the overall global financial situation. What are the plans to substantively reduce this high level of borrowing?
A total lack of true leadership to manage a growing county and address what I have continually called an inappropriate organisational culture, which is primarily inwardly focused and on self-preservation; little or no accountability or responsibility by anyone for anything ever.
Little or no focus on improving operational productivity and efficiency – in other words, trying to do more or the same with less costly human effort. This is where the unions have frankly been allowed to run amok.
Inappropriate management of property assets, particularly by way of identifying rationalisation opportunities, including sale and leaseback of many properties – this also extends to substandard property maintenance over many years, hence why we see the recent issues at the Brunton Hall and Loch Centre, etc. The impact on local communities on the back of this is substantial and ever-increasing.
Last, but not least, a total lack of high-quality oversight and governance by many councillors and, in particular, those in the Labour administration group – the primary reasons for this are due to most councillors not having the skills, expertise and knowledge to do the job properly and, fundamentally, not actually knowing what their job is. This situation has been exploited by senior management for too many years and any dissent, as I know to my own personal cost, disregarded and ignored.
It breaks my heart to see the county I live in and love being so badly treated and managed by so many faceless and very highly paid bureaucrats and substandard politicians. The buck has to stop somewhere and, no matter what they might want to think, it stops with them.
Brian Small
Pencaitland

Winter fuel cuts

There will be deaths among poorer pensioners due to Labour cutting the winter fuel allowance in England and the SNP following. 
Some 4,000-5,000 are likely to die over winter as a result. This is well known by governments. 
Cutting the allowance was done without formally assessing its impact. 
This prompted a Scottish couple to take legal action to be heard in January. It may be that this action halts the cuts for good.
Cutting the allowance may save about £1.4 billion. This is just over 0.1 per cent of the total budget. 
Lucy Powell, a Government minister, has claimed that if the winter fuel allowance had not been cut there might have been a “run on the pound” and “we might have seen the economy crashing”.
PM Starmer says it is to “stabilise the economy”.
The cuts will affect 10 million mostly English, also Scottish, pensioners on very low income, including an estimated 71 per cent of disabled older people. 
Nine in 10 pensioners aged between 66 and 79 will lose their allowance and eight in 10 over 80.
Now Labour is advising some 880,000 pensioners eligible for pension credit (but not claiming) to claim that benefit so they will avoid the winter fuel cuts. 
Policy in Practice (PiP) says the DWP underestimates the take up of pension credit. Applications have increased by 152 per cent in eight weeks. The trend, says PiP, could potentially erase the £1.4 billion savings.
If money is to be taken away from those who may not need it (though the Governments can’t tell), what about a wealth tax?
Sam McComb
Dunbar

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