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Big on spin and short on details

DON’T get me wrong, I still think we should knock down the City Halls and create a continental-style square in the centre of our Fair City.Read

Public not reassured in slightest

CAN I thank the many PA readers who wrote, phoned or emailed me their opinions on plans to site a waste to energy incinerator on Shore Road.Read

Illumination implications

Mr McDonald makes an interesting suggestion in today’s PA when he proposes the illumination of Smeaton’s Bridge to enhance Perth’s iconic riverside during the long, dark, winter months.Read

Dr Richard Simpson: Help for addicts must be a priority

I WAS pleased to read recently in the Advertiser that Perth and Kinross Council are going to provide specialist help for children in families with Drug and Alcohol problems.Read

Beautiful Glen Lyon walk with fine mountain views

SPRING is the time when a walker’s thoughts turn to more distant places. After a winter of short walks close to home, it’s refreshing to venture further afield and to step out across new ground.Read

PKC must rethink its planning processes

PLANS for a 114ft power plant on Perth’s iconic riverfront would be laughable ... if only this sorry affair wasn’t so serious!Read

Prescription charge cut is huge deal

IN her PA column today, Roseanna Cunningham MSP mentions that prescription charges have now been reduced from £5 to £4, effective immediately.Read

Mike Beale: Unemployment statistics hint at Scottish resilience

RECENT published unemployment figures made interesting reading for Scotland. It would appear that we have not experienced as rapid an increase in unemployment as other areas of the UK. One thousand additional unemployed in the three months to January 2009 making a total of 135,000 (5.1% as opposed to 6.5% in the UK) hints at a welcome resilience, difficult as the personal circumstances of those concerned will be.Read

John Swinney: Forum positive about the future

THIS week I took part in the National Economic Forum, a gathering of business people, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and Government which meets twice a year to advise Ministers on the steps we can take to improve the performance of the Scottish economy.Read

Pete Wishart: Privatisation is now in the post

ONCE again our mail service is under threat.Read

Yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s challenge

SPEAKING in advance of this weekend’s annual Ramblers’ Conference in Pitlochry, the group’s President, Dennis Canavan, called on Scottish Government Ministers to reject the proposed Beauly to Denny power line and choose alternative means of transporting electrical energy between Scotland and England.Read

Roseanna: Tourism week is aimed at MSPs

IT sometimes seems as though there is a special day or week for just about everything these days, and there is always the danger that a sort of boredom can set in.Read

Should our Judges be elected?

IN the last few weeks, a father has been jailed for flushing a heroin dealer’s stash down the toilet, a rape trial witness sent to the cells after breaking down and fleeing the court, and the judge in the Dolina MacLean trial has told a jury to discount a murder verdict for so-called legal reasons.Read

Beware, your Twitter will find you out

CHECKING references used to be the final stage in the recruitment process. But in these days of Facebook, Bebo and Twitter, the smart employer would do well to check out their successful candidate’s on-line postings…particularly if said candidate is under the age of 20.Read

Murdo Fraser MSP: Does Perth need a Boris?

THE whole City Hall debacle has thrown into focus the issue of leadership at Council level. The one complaint that I hear regularly from the business community is that they feel there is a lack of leadership from the Council on key issues such as economic development. Where is the vision for the future of Perth and Kinross?Read

Exploring our Roman and medieval past by bike

THE Gask Ridge was the earliest fortified land frontier in the Roman Empire. It predated Hadrian's Wall by 40 years and the Antonine Wall by 60 years, and consisted of a road – lined with signal towers – that connected strategic forts. In later centuries, the area was an important centre of Christianity in medieval times. Although Inchaffray Abbey to the north of the ridge is now an ivy-covered ruin, several old chapels are still in use today. Their churchyards contain some ancient gravestones, engraved with symbols.Read

Snowdrops are stunning

IF you get the chance to get out and about this weekend, can I recommend a trip to the Innerpeffray Library (five miles from Crieff and seven miles from Auchterarder – look out for road signs!) to see their wonderful display of snowdrops.Read

President’s curtain call

FIRST it was the Super Bowl Sporran...now it’s the President’s Curtains.Read

Looks who’s taking a bath

CAN I thank all the PA readers who have been sending in their wildlife pictures this week.Read

Let's go outside: Guide to those peaceful back roads and tracks

IF the credit crunch is encouraging you to look for an inexpensive way to spend your time, how about going cycling? It won’t cost you much if you already have a bike or hire one for the day, and it’s great for your health.Read