I am out of work and have been for nearly a year now.

This is not through my own choosing and there isn’t a great deal open to me or many others looking for work.

The employment office will chase you to try to take anything that is available, even if you don’t want to do the sort of work offered.

Not only are you expected to work for the minimum wage (£4.25 per hour), but the hours you can be offered may only be 30 a week.

Thus your salary may be pitiful, and the job is likely to be either mind-numbingly boring or you are just a skivvy.

The Government has introduced Tax Credits for people on poor pay, but, even with this, trying to save for a future or some kind of pension is challenging.

To say the unemployed in Dundee are being discouraged to find suitable employment is only one of the many problems we face.

I would say we are demoralised.

I also point out that the Job Centre computerised job points are faulty at times and when you do manage to do a search the majority of jobs available are for qualified people in professions.

On a final note, I recently phoned up for a job with a DIY company on night shift for just over 30 hours a week.

After going through a question and answer session over the phone with one of their staff I was put onto an automated interview.

This consisted of an automated voice throwing words at you which you had to grade between 1 and 5 using a touch-tone phone.

After around 20 minutes of this you are thanked for taking part and told you will receive notification.

A few days later it came as no surprise when I received a communication saying I had been unsuccessful.

I just hope I am not going to be charged on my phone bill for this waste of time. — Unemployed and Demoralised.

The council said it introduced the scheme in response to demands from the majority of the community. However, the fact remains only 60 out of 775 householders canvassed wanted it, and the council didn’t even bother to ask Dickson Avenue, Cart Place or Orrin Place residents.

It is also suggested there was concern about the dangers congestion might cause to emergency vehicles. But in a written response to me from Tayside Police, they have no record of any such incident over the past 12 months and have powers to remove vehicles causing obstructions.

Before the scheme, you could go on holiday and leave your car parked at your home; property owners had a right to a parking place under their title deeds; you could entertain visitors without fear they would be subjected to a fine; and you could unload your shopping outside your home.

Now that the scheme is in operation, we have an expansion of commuter parking in non-controlled areas along Dickson Avenue and Charleston Drive, filling the car park at Orleans Place.

I have no doubt that for a handful of residents the scheme has improved things, but for the vast majority the scheme, in its present form, is an unmitigated disaster. — Kevin Donnelly, Cart Place, Dundee.

DUNDEE READER shows he or she does not understand problems with the parking dilemma in Menzieshill, Dundee.

It is not for financial gain that the city council introduced the permit scheme but for the health and welfare of residents.

If parking protester Kevin Donnelly gets his way, then the area will once again be a nightmare in which to live, with our streets looking like car parks. This situation also causes an obstruction for emergency vehicles.

The permit scheme may not be perfect but is certainly much better than what we had previously. Credit must go to Councillors Don and Duncan who inherited the problem from their predecessors and are working hard to make the scheme work. — Suffering Menzieshill Resident.

Few know that Billy’s first excursion into recording music was in 1964 when he played piano on The Shangri-las smash hit Leader Of The Pack. — J. I. Matthew.

As you arrive it looks like any other motorway service area. However, around the back it is like another world — a tranquil haven.

A small loch has been created, fed by a waterfall. There is extensive planting and the wildlfe has moved in. There are swans with cygnets, ducks and their young, and while we were there a heron was fishing.

You can sit on the cafe balcony and enjoy the peace and quiet or you can use the picnic tables on the shore of the loch.

There you will not find the usual sparrows and pigeons looking for crumbs, but chaffinches that will approach to within inches.

There are also plenty of rabbits and the most wonderful views up the valley to the hills.

After a wander around the loch the hassle of motorway driving disappeared and we were truly refreshed. It would also be a great stop for anyone with bairns. — Angus Driver.

The US says it wants to conquer terrorism while at the same time supporting Israel, a country whose premier Ariel Sharon has committed a few terrorist acts in the past.

War was fought against Iraq for disobeying United Nations resolutions, yet Israel has seven resolutions outstanding dating back to 1967.

Are we to risk another 9/11 or is the US going to take firm action that ensures a fair deal for all in the Middle East? — George Aimer, Kinghorne Road, Dundee.

We do this by befriending and supporting them through all the ups and downs.

We have a high demand for volunteer support workers and desperately need more.

So if any readers can give a little time we would be grateful.

The training is basic and for more information please call 0845 1304672 (local rate). — Buddy.

In fact, all the SNP has done is criticise Labour’s record.

Not so long ago the SNP was urging everyone not to pay the poll tax. — Honest Taxpayer.