Highland train services and council investment priorities
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Public transport not enough of a priority
There’s a number of aspects in reaction to ScotRail deciding against providing a late service to Tain from Inverness.
Scotland’s difficult financial position means that if there are not the passengers to make enough revenue for ScotRail, you can understand their position.
However, pull back and look at the larger picture.
This decision will only push more younger adults who seek nights out in our city into seeking housing in Inverness, increasing prices and demand whilst continuing the depopulation of areas north.
Equally this does nothing to help Scotland’s faltering climate targets – and in turn nothing for reducing cars.
Car usage has increased over the decades (apart from the years of the pandemic).
Bus and train usage is down since the pandemic – and for buses there have been decades of declining passenger numbers.
If we’re to encourage a quick “modal shift” away from so much car reliance, we in the north of Scotland need better public transport options.
Sadly this is rarely the priority for too many politicians of late.
James Rorison
Skye Court
Inverness
Could you become a living kidney donor?
I am writing to you in response to Kidney Research UK’s and Give a Kidney’s new research yesterday which reveals how people across the country feel about living kidney donation.
The results are quite significant; 13 per cent of people in the UK would consider becoming a living kidney donor for someone they don’t know, 55 per cent for a family member and nearly a third (30 per cent) for a friend. This is against a backdrop of 80 per cent of people believing you can change someone’s life, even if you’ve never met them.
These findings come as the waiting list for a kidney transplant in the UK sits at more than 5500, with six people dying each week whilst waiting.
Last year, Kidney Research UK warned that cases of kidney disease and failure were growing so rapidly, the country faced a public health emergency.
Kidney disease is a huge problem globally. Worldwide, kidney diseases are the tenth most common cause of death and the number of people developing kidney disease in the UK is growing significantly, driven by risk factors such as health and economic inequalities.
Our report published last year warned that the rapid rise in kidney disease and kidney failure meant the NHS could be overwhelmed in just 10 years’ time. The report also revealed that increasing the numbers of transplants from living donors would not only save lives but would also save the NHS money compared to expensive and life-limiting dialysis treatment.
Given this stark reality, this poll comes at a vital time and is part of a new UK-wide campaign, Make Your Mark, launched by Kidney Research UK and Give a Kidney to encourage more people to consider becoming a living kidney donor alongside support through a new website www.donateakidney.co.uk.
The campaign has been made possible thanks to significant support from David Dangoor CBE, who is himself a living kidney donor, and we are hopeful the results of this poll will have a profound impact on those considering donating and help everyone gain a better understanding of the process involved.
If there is one message that we take from this research, it must be that it’s time to make kidney disease and transplantation a priority.
Sandra Currie
Chief executive
Kidney Research UK
Moving more can help with mental health
Moving regularly and being active is important to nurture and protect good mental health but many of us are not moving enough.
That’s why ‘Movement: moving more for our mental health’ is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week .
We know that it can be difficult to be physically active when you’re busy with work, childcare or caring responsibilities.
We know it can be tougher still if you’re living with a long-term health condition or struggling financially.
That’s why we’re sharing information and advice throughout the week to help people move more for their mental health.
People are invited to find their #MomentsForMovement and talk about how it makes them feel.
Whether it’s dancing around your living room to your favourite music, doing chair exercises while watching television, or going for a walk in your local park, it all counts, and the Mental Health Foundation want to hear about it!
We invite your readers to share what they’re doing and tag the Mental Health Foundation to be part of the #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek conversation. www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw
Julie Cameron
Associate Director for Scotland
Mental Health Foundation
What makes our area special?
We ran a story about Highland Council’s new spending plan, seeking to invest £2 billion over the next 20 years, raised through loans and possible council tax rises, to meet some of the shortfalls in infrastructure investment including for new and refurbished schools and roads to be built.
“After reading your article on the future of the Highlands, yes the roads need investment as perhaps do the schools. Has any consideration been given to the Highlands being the Highlands as with the proposed large schools and 10,000 more houses, what about the countryside and wild animals/birds and farming which are some attributes we and our visitors enjoy and perhaps the Highlands are famous for worldwide? Looking forward, as described in your article, only money, industry and an increased population are of interest to the councillors and those involved!” – Stephen Pirrie
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