IN the correspondence regarding the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital helipad (Letters, March 18, 19 & 20) there does seem to be a strong undercurrent of criticism that the greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, by installing the facility, indulged in a vanity project. References to the construction being “ornamental” rather illustrate this tendency, which is then extended to focus on the entire building.
It should be recognised that the health board is not flying solo on this project. In 2016 the Kings College Hospital at its site in Denmark Hill introduced a helicopter service from its rooftop helipad, thus providing an alternative to a long ambulance journey for patients in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This brought the number of hospital helipads in London to three.
To the observer at ground level watching a helicopter landing on a building with level after level filled with patients, medical staff and visitors is understandably alarming. However, perhaps it is time to consider the advisability of hospital helipads in general rather than using public concern as a proxy for criticism of the hospital, the health board, the government and any other body that can be drawn into the line of fire.
Ian Hutcheson,
161 Beechwood Drive, Glasgow.
HAVING spent most of the last 25 years being responsible for helideck operations on offshore installations world wide, I feel that some clarification on helipads is necessary.
Helicopters can and do fly in very high wind speeds, it is the interaction with the landing area of that wind that can cause issues.
The wind and air currents surrounding a ground-based helipad cause more problems than those at an unobstructed area well above the ground. Whilst 28 floors up is not ideal for those working on the helipad, it results in a safer operation.
I should state that I am not a helicopter pilot, but years of experience on helideck with aircraft "burning and turning" whilst crew changing and refuelling gives me a reasonable depth of knowledge on the matter.
I would also state that I have nothing but admiration for the pilots of these aircraft, regardless of their situation. They are professionals of the highest order.
Steven Matthews,
18 Garrell Avenue, Kilsyth.
Time to wonder
I SOMEHOW imagine the old St Enoch station clock ("Network Rail bid to take back station clock that featured in Gregory's Girl, The Herald, March 18, and Letters, March 21) would be eminently more suitable on the concourse of the rebuilt Glasgow Queen Street station than its present locale. It would be complementary to that which is in Glasgow Central station.
It does remind me, however, a few years ago whilst standing underneath it I was approached by a young man who enquired of me the time. Somewhat astonished, I pointed out the "time" clearly and distinctly shown above our heads, to which his reply was that he could not "read" such clocks, only those that showed digital 24-hour time. I did not dare ask if this was in addition to him not understanding the Roman numerals on the clock face.
John Macnab,
175 Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, Falkirk.
Bin the bags
MARGARET Forbes’s idea that, wherever possible, you should avoid using plastic bags to collect plastic litter (Letters, March 19) makes sense.
Similarly if your local authority collects food waste separately there is likely no need to use a plastic bag in the kitchen waste bin or in the wheelie bin for land fill waste, as used to be common. With food waste removed the remaining kitchen waste is as dry and clean as the contents of the waste paper baskets round the house. The wheelie bin will need a pailful of water to syne it out each time after it has been emptied.
Hugh Boyd,
65 Antonine Road, Bearsden.
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