PROPERTY developers must be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of a prime site becoming available in central Glasgow. Let’s disappoint them, and demand that the Mackintosh School of Art be rebuilt. Few buildings can have been studied so closely – so a faithful a re-creation is entirely possible.
Mackintosh’s great building was forward-looking and inspirational, and it is entirely appropriate at this time in Scotland’s history that we should preserve what remains and faithfully recreate what has been lost.
Miles Glendinning’s comments (June 18) about the rebuilding of the Frauenkirche in Dresden really strike a chord.
Les Wilson
Isle of Islay
“CAN the Mackintosh building rise from the ashes once again?” (June 18). This fire hazard has burned down twice, fortunately as no lives were lost no lessons need to be learned. Build a new modern Charles Rennie Mackintosh building somewhere with plenty of light, space and scenery to inspire young artists of the future.
The media has been choked with expressions of support from around the world by admirers of his work, however the worldwide significance of Charles Rennie Macintosh does not appear to extend as far as dipping hands into pockets to preserve his works, as the National Trust for Scotland is trying to raise millions to build a protective box around its Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Hill House.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
I’M sure we all are devastated by the total destruction of “The Mac” in Glasgow. No doubt the SNP are to blame for this! FM Questions on Thursday will go something like this:
Tank Commander: To ask the FM why, when this building was being renovated, her government didn’t have Scottish Fire and Rescue fire appliances standing by outside the building 24/7. This is yet another example of the SNP saving money at the cost of this iconic building and it proves the inefficiency of the Scottish Fire and Rescue, who could only muster 140 fire service personnel. And why did it take the first fire appliance four minutes to arrive from the first call?
Leonard: To ask the FM, why, when a large fire was on going in Glasgow, she didn’t have any NHS staff brought in from surrounding areas close by, like Inverness and Aberdeen, to deal with possible large-scale casualties. Is this just another cover-up by the SNP government, who are running our NHS into the ground?
Rennie: To ask the FM why it’s only Glasgow that gets big fires. We’ve never had one in Strathmiglo and this is yet another example of the SNP government ignoring the voters in outlying areas.
I bet I’m not far off the mark!
Ian Heggie
Glenrothes
THE last wildlife corridor in the south-west area of Greenock is currently under threat.
Inverclyde Council have placed the grounds of Ravenscraig Hospital on their Local Development Plan with a view to building up to 200 houses on this natural corridor. In doing so they would be destroying the habitat of many songbirds and also goldfinches, redpolls, siskins, woodpeckers, owls, buzzards and kestrels (not forgetting the egret who has recently taken up residence).
The watercourses where damselflies and dragonflies can be seen are home to newts and frogs. Hedgehogs, fox and badgers roam the grounds at night, and at dusk a family of roe deer make their way to the lower policies to graze.
Creatures from bats to pine martens can be found in the parkland of Ravenscraig Hospital. Bees thrive thanks to the wild flowers growing beneath the canopy of oak, lime and horse chestnut trees.
This natural wildlife corridor which stands next to the very busy A78, serves as a “lung” for the neighbouring communities, protecting us from the harm caused by carbon emissions.
Please support our wildlife and green space by placing an objection to the inclusion of the former grounds of Ravenscraig Hospital on the Inverclyde Local Development Plan 2018/2019. Objections can be registered by e-mail at ldp@inverclyde.gov.uk or by written objection at Planning Policy, Regeneration and Planning, Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock PA15 1LY. Objections must be made by the end of this month.
Alan Cumming
Greenock
IN these times of every need for every child and inclusion, why is Cartvale, a school with specialist teachers, closing to make way for a new Gaelic school? I found out from STV news. My school teaches the broad curriculum to children who for whatever reason have behavioural needs. They have not, as reported, come from the “former” Cartvale. It is still open! It has S2 children. Where will they go and when will they be consulted? When will the remaining staff be told the truth? I am risking the wrath of Glasgow City Council because I do care about the right of every child.
Kevin Kelly, teacher of the still very present (not former) Cartvale High School
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