Music fee increase is ‘astronomical’

Dear Editor Further to Perth and Kinross Council’s comments on the increase in music fees in last Friday’s PA, we would like to make the following points:

1) Although there have been no increases over the previous five years, 20 per cent is well above the rate of inflation over that time and the proposed increase of up to 60 per cent over three years would be astronomical.

2) The current total annual cost for a child to have instrumental music lessons, take part in central groups and go to music camp is £586. If the council puts fees up by 20 per cent next year the total cost will be £703 and if they put it up by 60 per cent over three years it will be £938.

We welcome the council putting in money to improve access, but the amount of money, approximately £35,000 per year for three years, will fund fewer than 50 pupils at the 20 per cent increased rate and fewer than 40 at the 60 per cent increased rate. In addition, the extra money is only available for three years and it takes longer than that to learn to play an instrument.

We are therefore calling on Perth and Kinross Council to:

1) Ensure that music camps are not priced so as to make a profit at the current rate of uptake.

2) Ensure that any increases in fees for lessons, music camp and central groups in subsequent years are not above the rate of inflation.

We have set up a petition on this here: https://www.change. org/p/councillor-carolineshiers-music-matters-keepfees-fair

Joan Hay, Young Musicians Parents Association Susannah Rae, Perth Youth Orchestra Committee

Trafficcongestion needssorted

Dear Editor Is it not time to do something about the often twice daily queuing for traffic entering Perth by the Dundee Road?

Often we have queues as far as the Tollhouse moving at walking pace.

Two problems result: atmospheric pollution, and as with congestion, massive loss of time for those delayed whether it be buses, lorries or motorists.

Our council is spending millions to “attract more people to Perth”, but joined up thinking would ensure they can make their way to Perth without major delays.

Of course, some believe that the new up-river bridge will solve the problem.

That may not be relevant since a major part of the Dundee Road traffic is going into Perth. For traffic going north is it likely to exchange a seven mile addition and the challenges of Broxden and Inveralmond roundabouts for the present journey?

What is most striking is the underutilisation of the Queen’s Bridge. Traffic is stacked up way out the Dundee Road yet that bridge is not full nor are there any substantial queues at it’s south end.

With today’s technology is not possible to give Queen’s Bridge priority to the largest traffic volume, varied throughout the day?

Norman Renfrew Riverview Park, Perth