Here are some of your views online.
Don't forget you can read more letters and the best in news and sports coverage in the Glenrothes Gazette every week.

Homeless not just issue for the young
I AM writing in response to your article in today's paper dated October 1 entitled 'homeless with little hope of housing'.
Firstly, I would like to sympathise with all the young people under the age of 20 years old, who for whatever reason, find themselves homeless. It is truly tragic in these times that young people find it necessary to be homeless.
I noticed from the article that you focused on three stories from three young women. Each of their stories was tragic and heart wrenching.
I was also interested in the statistics about homeless people and how the council is having to cope with all the families and individuals who are homeless, and how there is not enough stock for everyone.
Surely the council must accept some of the blame for this. Had they kept the flats in Tanshall and Caskieberran in a reasonable state of repair, then they could have kept them, instead of pulling them down and expecting housing associations, like Kingdom Housing, to erect properties to accommodate the homeless.
It seems to me that the article and Fife Council are concentrating on young people under the age of 25 years old. If you fit into this bracket you can approach the YMCA/YWCA. Excellent organisations though they are, they do not seem to cater or be interested in people older.
I say this as I am a 47 year old man, who for no fault of my own, have become homeless, due to a breakdown in my relationship with my partner. Which has meant that I am now, and have been for the last eight weeks, sleeping on a friend's settee.
I approached Fife Council and completed a housing application, which I should hear something back within the next few weeks. They referred me to the Fife Homeless Team, who were sympathetic to my situation, but deemed me non priority homeless.
I am not a priority because I do not fall into various categories, ie a pregnant woman, etc. Under these criteria, I am a non priority.
However much I empathise with people who fit into any one these criteria, it does not get away from the fact that I am homeless.
Just because I am a 47 year old man, in part time employment does not mean that I am any the less important. All I require is a small one-bed roomed flat, is that too much to ask for?
Although the friends I am staying with, have been exceptionally kind, I cannot be expected to stay here indefinitely.
I feel that as a mature man, I am one of the forgotten few, who have found themselves in an unfortunate situation, asking for help, and being told that I am not important or in a sensitively political situation, to be a priority.
Maybe if I decided to start taking drugs, started to become an alcoholic, or both, then maybe I would be a slightly more important political football

KENNETH MACLEOD
Address supplied

Elderly care costs
THERE is without doubt a debate to be had on looking after the elderly and how the costs can be met. Whether that debate can be held now whilst there are shameless politicians milking the issue for personal gain is open to question.
Fife Council were right to bring the charging system into line with the rest of Scotland. The reality is, these changes would have been made no matter who won the elections last May.
The changes will not be as dramatic as made out by some but there will be winners and losers.
The new system ensures those with higher income pay a wee bit more, allowing more resources to be spent on those with greater need and lower income.
What is wrong with that?
Is it right that someone with a weekly DLA of say £70 only pays £4 per week home care, particularly if that individual benefits from a lot of care hours? It isn't.
I think they should pay more. That is what the benefit is for. But, if that individual is used to spending the benefit on other things then obviously he or she will complain if it has to be spent on their care.
There is nothing happening in Fife that isn't happening in the rest of Scotland. That is why the attempts to blacken the current administration of Fife Council is so blatantly hypocritical.
Name and address supplied

Mount pressure on pools
IT LOOKS as though the decision to build a swimming pool on Tollbooth street has been taken. I just want to see what more can be done to reverse this crazy ill informed decision.
I understand there will be a Housing and communities committee meeting held recently.
I would like to add weight to the representations made by sports other than swimmers; I raise the question is it fair how nearly ALL the £5m is being invested in Swimming, what about other sports? Additionally, the unfair allocation of funds geographically, between Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Glenrothes. I appreciate the local community representatives have reluctantly accepted this is a done deal, but I would like to continually challenge this, publicly in a high profile media setting (ie public demonstration). Everything I have read, and the debate with community representatives highlights Kirkcaldy as the main area of need for sports investment. Therefore how can it be, that we receive the least investment.
I would like for the public to be made explicitly clear on the opportunity we are missing out on, not just people from Kirkcaldy, but from all of Fife. The option for the whole £50 million to be invested in one mega sports centre (suitably housed in central Fife). Instead of residents of Fife frequently travelling out of Fife to Dundee, Stirling, Edinburgh, Perth the Time Capsule etc, we could retain these customers and attract inward investment, bring people to Fife. We could encompass an ice rink there too, Skate and Swim.Fitness facilities generate income, Fife encourages (or allows) the private sector to monopolise the market, charging fees that only those on a significant income can afford -fitness poverty! Bannatynes has 180 work stations and swimming, they are raking in profits - How about the Fife Leisure Trust facilitate this and generate income?
The whole process needs to stop and a radical rethink.
We should air our views.

Name and address supplied

Drop scheme and bring back public ownership

It's a shame that Mr Anderson cannot get help with his heating, and it would be a greater shame if his problem simply becomes a 'political football', 'kicked around by electioneers', then dropped after the Election.
This 'government scheme' has proved to be grossly unfair, inadequate, and unworkable and something urgently needs to be done to replace it. And the Labour MSP reported as saying that until May this year any person over 60 would have qualified for a free replacement central heating system, was wrong. Otherwise I for one, in that category, would be a lot better off, having had to replace and pay for a new boiler or freeze near on two years ago.
This scheme goes back to the Labour regime, and bears all the hallmarks of a Chancellor's skullduggery. Initially it was aimed at Pensioners over 80 and without any central heating system at all, which in a 'new build town' like Glenrothes is not that common - as with the question of loft insulation in the latest 'government plan'. So eventually, the rules were bent to cater for older citizens whose 'central heating systems' were totally beyond repair.
This should have been good news for all, but the main benefactor was a leading 'Gas Provider' who quickly went round condemning a lot of so called obsolete boilers, in need of say a switch, that it had noted during expensive annual checks. And then picked up a 'big grant' to rip out and replace, total systems, boilers, radiators, etc. A bit like taking your car to a garage, with a broken fan belt, and being told as they can't get one to match, you will get a new car paid for by the government instead. So any wonder this scheme runs out of money. Hardly value for taxpayers money.
I think these electioneers should stop talking a lot of old gas, and promise to get rid of this unfair and unjust scheme. And replace it with something fairer such as 'free central heating systems and annual maintenance', for all in cold Scotland, paid for by the Power Suppliers from their massive profits, made from us the paying public - or by the Treasury, from the huge Tax Revenues they are taking in from the Power Suppliers, and the North Sea, on our behalf.
Or return thess services back from Private to Public Ownership.
Alexander Lawson, Greenwell Park, Glenrothes

Loss of Parks
WELL done everyone responsible for making Glenrothes the most clean, sustainable and beautiful community in Scotland but I cannot help feel sadness at the cost to Auchmuty kids.
The terrible eyesore? (but great fun) park across from Warout School had to be removed (we got told to make better access to the new war memorial once a year). Children from St Luke's had raised money themselves for one of the items in the park. It was removed with no consultation with them or church members so I read. There was no warning whatsoever of the much loved playpark being removed. It just went overnight. Upon enquiring, I was told there was to be no replacement.
My son was devastated since there is nowhere else to play in the area. Since a lot of the children in this area live in flats and maisonettes often in single parent households with no care even to get out and about this was a particularly cruel blow for them.
A toddler area appeared however (after months of nothing at all) further along and is quite a pretty and colourful sight to see beyond the war memorial – very nice for the judges or the Beautiful Scotland Awards to see that is, but not at all equipped to suit the many seven to 10 year olds in the area. It breaks your heart to see them trying to squash themselves into the low hung baby swings without success.
I see in last week's Gazette article the judges were shown the wonderful play areas in Gilvenpark and Magnes Drive, Collydean, which got there through community involvement yet when children in Auchmuty put in great effort to raise funds for play equipment it is ruthlessly ripped out without even consultation! With one goal in mind – to win the coveted Rosebowl Trophy!
Name and address supplied

Less war, more heating
I READ the Gazette article last week on the failure of Mr Anderson's central heating system. While I sympathise, I hope that Mr Anderson is aware he is being used as a political pawn. Is Mr Anderson one of the pensioners whose pension plan was plundered by Labour. This isn't mentioned.
Many citizens, though their heating systems work, were seriously affected by Gordon Brown's pension debacle. Was Mr Anderson?
Claire Baker, a member of the party who wrecked the pension plans, says she is shocked Mr Anderson does not qualify for free central heating.
I'd like to point out to Ms Baker that, like health care often touted as free, the central heating scheme is actually paid for by the tax-payer.
Politicians are good at throwing the "free" word around.
If we weren't spending billions of taxpayers' money on this military adventure in Iraq, perhaps everyone throughout Britain could have had a brand new "free" central heating system.
Name and address supplied

Proud of area but floral pots hide cracks

AS SOMEONE who has lived in Glenrothes for as much of my life as I can remember I was very proud to learn of the shoal of awards recently picked up by the town as part of the Beautiful Scotland campaign.
As a new town we have always bucked the trend of the concrete jungle and I know that our visitors from down south have always been impressed by how attractive the town looks and how lucky we are to have so many green spaces. There is no doubt that the new displays around the town centre and bus station have greatly added to the first impression many get on arriving in Glenrothes. I do feel, however, that as our much publicised by-election approaches (whenever it is!) the pretty floral pots and neat grass is merely a window dressing exercise to hide some of the real problems the town is facing, not least of which is a lack of facilities for the younger population.
It has always been seen as somewhat of an excuse for teenagers who roam the streets and get in trouble – they are bored and have nothing to do – unfortunately in Glenrothes there is every chance this is true. Over the last few years we have seen the loss of an ice rink and a cinema and the running down of what was one of the best facilities in the town – the sports institute. Having visited Aberdeen recently I couldn't help but compare the activities available to their youngsters with what ours have on offer to them. Obviously economies of scale come into it, but as the politicians strive to improve our diet and get our youngsters more exercise, shouldn't they be looking at giving them some facilities to encourage them away from the playstation and the TV – and which they don't have to travel half way across Fife to get to!
I can't help but feel that the voice of the younger generation is frequently forgotten, especially by politicians, as they don't have a voice, no vote to entice the would-be MPs and MSPs to listen to them and deliver what they need. There is every chance that the voice of the older generation will win out in this by-election as our population of over-65s grows in number, makes themselves heard and reaps the benefits. My message is for the prospective parliamentary candidates to remember that everyone in Glenrothes matters – even if they can't vote for you yet!
C Low, address supplied


Council use of empty house 'outrageous'

IT WAS with a feeling of disbelief, tinged with incredulity that I read in this week's Gazette of our town's current housing crisis.
Last week we had an article on page three of the Gazette about a house in Dura Park being used as a welfare facility for council workers in that area carrying out renovations. This misuse is is to save the expense of a portacabin.
Where are the figures to support this assertion? Is it not correct to say that the expense of hiring in a portacabin would have been factored into the expenses long before the tenant of this house vacated? So really, the funds were already allocated.
In my view the example of misuse of property as outlined here is a prime example of why people are finding it hard to access a home. I can only come to the conclusion that, yet again, Fife Council seem to be placing finance over people.
By withholding the house at 24 Dura Park from being used for its proper purpose as a home, Fife Council is deliberately denying someone's right to that house.
That is indefensible, not acceptable and outrageous.
Name and address supplied


Taxi fare rise not the answer

I HAVE recently read your article regarding the taxi fare increase.
I would like to point out that the statement "The suggested increases – which is likely to be controversial – follows meetings with taxi operators and consideration of inflation and the price of fuel." is not necessarily true.
The council meet with so called taxi association representatives. These representatives very rarely consult with taxi operators and drivers.
Contact any operator they will tell you they are against such price increases.
The decision makers think that inflation and fuel increases such be met with similar rises in taxi fares to cover extra cost.
Such a large increase will only deter the public from using taxis. This was demonstrated a couple of years back at the last increase.
The taxi industry is still trying to encourage the public back and rebuild.
Increasing fares by 7.5% this year will kill of a lot of taxi businesses in Glenrothes and Fife.
Few operators/drivers will come forward due to fear of backlash from the council.
Voice anger at the council and not the taxi driver who is just trying to earn a crust.
Taxi operator/driver
Name and address supplied


Serious
discontent

I refer to recent comments from Peter Grant, leader of Fife Council regarding complaints about Council Officials.
It is very obvious that there is serious discontent among the people of Fife to generate such a large amount of complaints/debate about this subject.
These complaints aren't about the principle of speed humps nor the need for roadworks but the mismanagement in the timing and appropriateness of the /location/design in various localities (not to mention the money spent) with little or no consultation with the local populace.
Could I suggest that Mr Grant starts asking questions of his officials as to why we have got to this situation where it is obvious the council are not being seen to be doing the job.
Fife is now recognised as rated as having the 29th worst roads out of 32 Local Authority Regions in Scotland, therefore Mr Grant should be addressing this matter rather than trying to beat down the democratic right of people to voice their opinion.
Colin Nikolic
Pitcairn, Glenrothes

Plenty of cash

With regard to the article entitled 'I will take care fight to the top', would I suggest that the activists working on changing the council's mind on their care policy, take a look at the surroundings of Fife House and they will see that there is no shortage of money in Fife Council.
New grass has been laid, new shrubberies planted and new furniture being taken into Fife House itself.
In the event that Fife Council come away with the reply that the monies allocated to the social work department are ring fenced, could they explain what had happened to the monies allocated by the Scottish Government for the purpose of road maintenance, because there is little evidence that it has been used for this purpose.
Allan Murray
Napier Road, Glenrothes

Road signs easily missed

Regarding the turning onto Cadham Road (Gazette, April 16). The signs are not adequate at all.
I turned right a few weeks ago (I never noticed the signs) and only found out that you can't turn right by reading my Gazette, so thanks Gazette and no thanks to the signs.
They are too far from the turning itself, and, as one driver mentioned, it is quite a fast road and they are easily missed.
I'm sure there are some drivers making the right turn with the knowledge of no right turn. But, in my opinion, the majority of drivers miss the signs.
Why not just write it on the road! It would be quite a simple solution.
And I have also waited quite a time (15 minutes at least) waiting to turn right out of Cadham road.
It needs something done. Roundabout please!

Jo Halsall
Cumbrae Park, Glenrothes

Get in touch

As far back as early March I wrote to Transport Scotland voicing concern about the new arrangements of "No Entry" from the north into Cadham Road, this on behalf of the Glenrothes Area Futures Group (the GAFG), while accepting this in principle.
Your readers should know by this time that the A92 adjacent to Glenrothes is being pursued by the GAFG as a major issue since its inception last September.
Indeed, the joint local community councils have been seeking remedies for several years.
Fife Council is now on record as not supporting the A92 with any need of priority, and the MSP gives only moral support to any campaign the GAFG might take.
I would invite local people who are interested in action to make contact with the Futures Group.
Representatives attend GAFG from local community councils, churches and tenants and residents groupings, hence we are in no doubt that we "express the views of the communities in Glenrothes and surrounding area", as stated in the constitution.
Note the website: www.glenrothesfutures.org.uk.

Ron Page
(Press Officer, GAFG)


Road neglect

With reference to Councillor Grant's letter published in the Glenrothes Gazette of April 9, is this him defending the third poorest performing local authority (Scottish Government figures, not mine) and in particular incompetent officials within the Roads Department, who appeared to be fixated on speed cushions, to the obvious neglect of the road systems in Fife?
I would suggest that your newspaper run an article on this subject.
In their employment adverts, Fife Council exort the benefits of residing in Fife, but their senior officials don't practice what they preach as it is well known that they leave Fife every working evening via one or other of the road bridges.
Could I suggest that the Head of the Roads Department adopt the title of Head of the anti-transportation department.

Allan Murray
Napier Road, Glenrothes

Roller coaster ride for care

It seems that service users and hapless care workers are not alone on that ride which is Fife Council's Home Care Charging Policy.
The council's own documents, culminating in the deliberations of the Social Work Committee meeting of March 4, suggest that many of our councillors have also joined 'the Rides of March.'
At that meeting, the last strands of the safety net of an already depleted home care service were firmly cut. The primary purpose of the policy, is not the care of the elderly and disabled but, and I quote, "to recover the full costs of the service provided." It is against this background that the importance of individual impact assessments must be viewed.
Council officials continually cite a consultation process it claims has been ongoing since 2004. This is gravely misleading.
Between 2004-2007 such consultation as did occur with groups concerned only general principals. The relevant date is October 9, 2007, when specific proposals were first placed in the public arena.
Since then, only five meetings with groups have taken place, with a number of comments from unspecified individuals on a largely unpublicised website.
This is a far cry from a serious examination of how those charges will impact on individuals and is consequently, a flagrant perversion of the intent of Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act.
At Thursday's council meeting Councillor Ross asked Councillor Brett the following questions:
1) How many individual impact assessments had been done?
2) How many remained to be done?
3) What would be the average amount a service user would pay?
Councillor Brett, though fully aware of the answers, declined to give figures. Well let me enlighten the good Councillor Ross. The answers are; 1) None 2) All 3) Too much.
Little wonder the public lack confidence in the efficacy of the, yet to be undertaken, financial assessments.

Frances Turnbull
Keith Drive, Tanshall, Glenrothes


Vote out dross

It is easy to agree with Mike Grubb's criticisms of the ineptitude and profligacy involved in the traffic-calming measures for Thornton High Street.
And he will 'strike a chord' with many people with his allusion to 'incompetent officials who are never held accountable' (last week's letters).
However, I would suggest that he misses the real point. In a healthy democracy, officials only make recommendations; it is for elected politicians to actually make the decisions.
Therefore, if some officials have offered inept and/or money-wasting advice, then the relevant politicians should decide to get rid of them. And the same applies to any specific issue (such as Thornton High Street).
The responsibility for implementing bad decisions lies fairly and squarely on the relevant politicians. Therefore, it is up to voters to get rid of them.
This may seem a small point to some people; but I would suggest we should take it more seriously. The ongoing lowering of political standards is mainly caused by apathy of far too many voters who seem to think that 'we can do nothing about it'.
Of course we can: if we took the trouble to exercise our basic right on polling days; and thence invest some energy in bringing elected representatives to account for their actions, then, as if by magic, the political 'dross' would be eliminated; and more competent people would come forward.

Jim Parker
Banchory Green, Collydean, Glenrothes


Price war

Whilst I am delighted (perhaps like many other Glenrothes residents) to have a new supermarket built in town, I would like to know if other supermarkets placed a bid?
Why was Sainsbury's picked? Who decided on Sainsbury's?
I think it would have been more of a challenge to Morrisons if Tesco or Asda had come to the town of Glenrothes, as it would have been competition between the supermarkets.
By Sainsbury's moving in, this is not going to worry Morrisons (I cannot imagine that Morrisons will have to reduce their prices) as Sainsbury's prices are very expensive in comparison!
Has anyone seen the recent adverts on TV re the difference between Morrisons and Asda prices?
Surely, this tells a story! Asda is far cheaper than Morrisons (as is Tesco) so, why not have an Asda or Tesco supermarket in Glenrothes – this will force Morrisons to reduce their prices! Let the battle begin!
If Sainsbury's move into Glenrothes – it will be a shame and a waste of money!
Who is going to shop in Sainsbury's? I for one will not enter into the store as I am not prepared to pay the price of their goods! Come on Asda and or Tesco – is it too late for you to put bids in?

NAME and address supplied

Change needed

I was so angry to read on the front page of the Gazette about the insufferable behaviour of some local youths who have turned their malign eye on the business premises of Riccardo Ghirardello.
I recently visited Riccardo's shop and almost fell into a crater on the pavement I hadn't seen. The local dearies had been out to play and removed the barriers placed there by the workmen to prevent such an occurrence.
I hesitate to attach blame for the failure to deal comprehensively with Riccardo's problem – and other social problems of a criminal nature – solely to the police.
My son is a police officer and sweats blood and tears trying to do his job.
The blame, I feel, lies squarely with the politicians who are failing all of us who become victims of crime most shamefully.
What is the observation that the police `can't do anything' all about? Because they – the miscreants – are teenagers.
Are we to understand from that that teenagers are ethnically exempt from accountability?
Are teenagers somehow licensed to create all kinds of mischief and mayhem? To behave like obnoxious, anti-social brats?
Well, of course, they are! Silly me!
But who gave them all this carte-blanche? Erm....we did. So, let's not worry about it too much eh? They'll grow up and out of it – won't they?
And the movers and shakers have got it all under control so we're over-reacting to normal teenage angst and high spirits. Aren't we? This whole country is a dysfunctional swamp where teenagers can take a life as easily and swiftly and mercilessly as one might swat a fly, and with as little remorse. Is that normal?
It can be argued that Glenrothes is not on the same par as many inner-city sink estates but – does it have to be?
Is it not true that we are, as a society, becoming ever more isolated from the effects of crime on the individual and ever more inured to daily reports of violence and atrocity.
We shake our heads, tut, and move on. The behaviourists and the theorists all have erstwhile opinions as to the causes but the victim is only interested in justice and looks to the state to serve his interests.
Perhaps the antics around the local chippie might be construed as relatively harmless in comparison to stabbings and mob-attacks, but people are still suffering fear and stress because of another person's failure to behave acceptably.
We should all be challenging our politicians to stop all their `hug-a-hoodie' maunderings and implement radical changes to the way our criminal justice system works. Is that not abundantly clear by now?
Is Britain to become one of the most dangerous countries to be `free' in on the planet? I have theories and solutions aplenty but they would not be printable.
I hope Riccardo's problem is soon resolved but it will, I fear, only move to become someone else's.
Perhaps the balance will finally shift for the greater good when judges and politicians learn to feel the stones in another man's shoes!

(Name and address supplied)


Unit research

I'm researching a unit formed during the early days of WW2.
It was one of the Auxiliary Units, which was a cover name for a resistance network that covered the whole of the UK, mainly in east coast areas.
Members were recruited locally and sworn to secrecy by the official secrets act of the time.
Training consisted of weapon handling, navigation, demolitions, as well as other skills.
Members wore civilian clothes during those early days but as they grew in numbers they were given battledress uniforms and wore Home Guard shoulder titles, they were also given battalion status.
Three battalions were formed, 201 battalion covered Scotland down into Northumberland.
Most members were in a reserved occupation and came from a wide and varied background.
Operating from underground hides known as Operational Bases (OB's) they would work in six or eight man cells and be tasked with causing as much mayhem as possible to the movement of the German occupation force.
Life expectancy for an auxiliary member during the occupation would be approximately two weeks; they were all too aware of this as the threat of invasion got closer by the day in those summer months of 1940.
The units in Scotland covered areas from as far North as Shetlands down to the Borders.
They were commanded at the time by Eustace Maxwell, who had an HQ near to Stirling, he was tasked to set up and organize training for the Scottish Auxiliary units, the east coast being one route that the enemy would likely come from.
Wives/girlfriends and mums would not be aware of the task that lay ahead for their loved one, as even they were not told what they were involved in.
Auxiliary units were stood down in 1944, many went on to volunteer and work with Special Forces as was the extent of the training they received.
My research into this unit is focusing on the part played by Scotland and I would like to be able to record the unknown work done by this organization.
Any information, no matter how trivial it may be to you, could be the missing piece of the jigsaw.
I can be contacted at the address below or email: aux201@btinternet.com

DAVID BLAIR
54 Younger Gardens, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8AB


Political football

It will be interesting to see whether the SNP/LibDem coalition on Fife Council holds its nerve over the plan to increase home care fees and introduce a charge for shopping delivery and community alarms.
Certainly its public relations over the entire matter has been woeful. Fife Labour Group leader Alex Rowley may be chuckling with glee over the administration's difficulties, but he should pause for reflection over Labour's record on this crucial social work issue.
In trying budgetary times under a Conservative government in the mid 1990s the Labour council he then led in Fife was forced to introduce a system of charges for home care.
In the run-up to the last local authority elections his colleagues in the old Labour administration did not prove up to the task of controlling the always volatile social work budget. The question of an increase in charges was something they shirked with a marked degree of political cowardice.
It is only fair to point out that charging on the scales proposed have been introduced by many Labour controlled local authorities throughout Scotland. It's equally valid to say that something has to be done to put social work finances in Fife on a stable footing.
Maureen Closs and the Campaign against Charges have the right to highlight genuine cases of distress. But their cause is not helped by exaggeration, scaremongering and the use of the elderly and disabled as a political football.
Bob Taylor
Shiel Court, Glenrothes


Is this not hypocritical?
SWEET 16! When you are 16 you can: join the military, fire a rifle, be trained to kill the enemies and die for your country.
You can get married, have sex legally, rent your first house and get a licence to drive a moped.
The labour government must be struggling for votes if they want to lower the voting age to 16.
What I cannot figure out is why give the 16 year olds all this when they find that at 16 they are not 'mature' enough to know that smoking is bad for them so they are now not allowed to buy cigarettes and are not allowed to buy alcohol.
I do not agree with selling alcohol to under 18s but is it not a bit hypocritical of this government to say that 16 year olds are mature enough for some things but not for others?
They are now planning to stop under 18s using sunbeds, but you are okay, you may get to vote at 16.
According to this government you should be mature and responsible enough for that so you can get the chance to vote these hypocrites out.
Ian Robertson
Solway Place, Glenrothes