Now some bars can never have children on the premises again as they may not meet the board’s guidelines to be granted a children’s certificate. We don’t even know the guidelines yet either as they have not been made up.

Most of our customers have expressed anger at the councillors as they feel, as parents, they should be able to make their own choices. Now they can’t, as councillors have already decided for them.

Also, there are some bars in Dundee that have current children’s certificates and you can go in there and smoke and eat with children for the next two-three years. This is not creating a level playing field for any kind of business.

None of us wants children’s health damaged by smoke, hence the reason a couple of years ago we at Deacon Brodies installed air filters, as well as extra ventilation.

Neither myself, nor my father, who is the licensee, smoke, so we are not pro-smoking either. It’s all about choice.

I think in today’s politically correct age, freedom to choose should be allowed. — Tina Halford, Deacon Brodies, Ward Road, Dundee.

I was reading the courts column in the Tele recently when a very lucky man received 80 hours community service for repeatedly striking another guy on the head and body with a knife in broad daylight.

This is what I would call attempted murder. The accused was also found with cannabis at Tayside Police headquarters.

I’m beginning to think to myself, is it the judges to blame for the idiots that go about because they don’t seem to be punishing them properly for the crime they commit?

So, to all sheriffs, get a grip and do your well-paid job properly. — P. B., Dundee.

Just outside the door of 99 Seagate there is a small round drain lid with a gaping hole in it. Who thought up these plastic drain lids?

Also in Seagate, a glass panel is missing from a glass-tiled cellar cover on the pavement outside a shop. Another four glass tiles are missing from a cellar cover outside a pub.

An accident is just waiting to happen at these spots, more so if they are not seen after a fall of snow. Complaints to the people who should see to these things just fall on deaf ears. — Reader, Dundee.

I ask Ernie, Iain and MSP Kate Maclean if they will give the same support to a pub chain that wants an old church building at the top of Shepherd’s Loan and any new chain that wants to open in Dundee.

I am waiting to hear if Kate, Ernie, and Iain want new investment in this city with a lot of new, upmarket pub chains that give a better service, a fair price on food and drink and can welcome people in wheelchairs.

My wife and I went shopping in city centre and went to a pub for a drink.

The place was dirty. I would not use the gent’s in what is a privately run bar. It needed some paint, soap and towels. — Ron Wilson, Perth Road, Dundee.

No Scot could ever read the poems of Robert Burns or the novels of Sir Walter Scott without first of all having knowledge of the English language.

Without the English language there would be no such thing as Scottish literature at all and no Scot would be able to read any poem or novel written entirely in any Scottish dialect.

English is the predominant language of Scotland. — Ron Smith, Dundee.

Why, therefore, should we help rebuild Iraq when they have an abundance of oil to pay for it? They should also find those responsible for the continual bombings and killing of US and British Servicemen. British needs should come first. — A. O. Young, Craigowan Road, Dundee.

Judith Chalmers was eventually replaced and the last series was hosted by Ruth England.

I liked both, but I’m puzzled why a show about holidays would be dropped. — Reader, Dundee.