Sir, - Yes, it’s the trolleys-in-the-river issue yet again. Has it been noticed by any other Merkinch residents that the solution to this problem is right here on our own turf?
When have you ever seen a discarded Lidl trolley? How often do you see Lidl’s plastic bags littering the district?
From personal observation, the answer to the first question is “never” and to the second, only rarely. Why is this so? Easy! Lidl charge a deposit for trolleys and a small sum for plastic bags.
Because of these charges, customers are encouraged to return the trolleys and redeem their deposit. In the case of the plastic bags, most keep them and remember to bring them back to use again and again.
If other stores and outlets used this system, not only the River Ness would be tidier, but the whole of the city. In fact it would probably halve the litter problems nationally. Yours etc,
J Richardson
Rosmarcar, Abban Place.
Sir, - You would not have to be paranoid to wonder why the local press - particularly the Highland News - seems to have it in for the Merkinch area. Three weeks in a row last month their front page trumpeted some “scandal” about the area.
On the first occasion, the concern was fair enough - asbestos had been found at Glendoe Terrace. This is a material which, when disturbed, can give off dust which endangers health and people are rightly concerned. It was widely used for a couple of decades last century and if left alone it presents no problem. Highland Council appear to be going by the book on this one, so presumably as long as records are kept as to where asbestos might be problematic - and it could be all over the city - if refurbishment calls for its disturbance, then suitable steps have to be taken.
Admittedly it must have been quite scary to see workmen dressed in silver suits tramping round the place - but that’s regulations for you.
The next week the HN’s front page highlighted a find of drug-abusers’ needles , again in Glendoe Terrace. As if this doesn’t happen in umpteen places all over Inverness.
The hat-trick was complete with the revelation the following week that there was an “illegal” brothel with “illicit” sex in Telford Road. Well, they must be running their business very discreetly for it came as a surprise to many residents round about.
And if primary-aged “kiddies are being forced to walk past” this now highly-publicised den of vice on their way to school, how on earth would they understand what it was all about unless their parents are frequently overheard discussing such matters. Quite frankly it would make more sense to campaign for brothels to be legalised and for the women to receive regular health checks - but that’s another issue.
When will the lazy press stop stereotyping Merkinch and running it down. It is fact that Dalneigh and Smithton have higher levels of crime, that South Kessock housing is of good quality and its services second to none, and I understand that there is a brothel in the Crown.
Yours etc, Weary Merkincher
(Name and address supplied).