My friend (non-smoking) and I (smoker) recently spent a few days in Dublin and we visited public places where smoking is banned.

Whilst on a tour bus we spotted every pub, restaurant and cafe had scores of people outside at the front . . . smoking.

This looked terrible. We also noticed, whilst walking past these premises, the streets were littered with cigarette ends and empty packets and papers. Surely it would be better to enforce, where possible, separate smoking and non-smoking areas.

Non-smokers have the choice to sit wherever they want, unlike smokers if smoking is banned.

I do understand smaller pubs, cafes, etc, do not have facilities to offer a non-smoking area, but surely it would be better to offer this than having all the smokers out on the streets.

Why can’t premises put a sign outside to let customers know it is smoking, non-smoking or has both areas? This would then give the customer the choice of whether to enter a smoking environment.

While in Dublin, we were chatting to the locals, who said they did not think the ban would last as the local people are all complaining about the noise outside pubs, the mess and the unsightly look of the main streets as crowds of smokers stand outside. People do deserve the choice. — Chloe Stewart, Broughty Ferry.

The ponds are full of mud and weeds and the whole area is sadly neglected.

Surely in this day and age Dundee City Council could see its way to contributing to the natural beauty of this place and better care could be given to the whole area.

I have spoken to many people who are in agreement about the state of the Den o’ Mains. — Jim McFarlane, Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee.

Does the letter writer expect all badge holders to come out of their flash cars with a wheelchair or a walking zimmer or perhaps connected to an oxygen tank?

There are many reasons for issuing badges. They are not given out willy-nilly.

There are doctors’ examinations, with a real diagnosis.

I can assure the letter writer doctors don’t make visual judgments.

I say to those who do, they are simply casting aspersions on all doctors and medical staff. After all it is they who have the power to recommend the orange badge.

A disabled badge holder can take his or her badge with them no matter what vehicle they are travelling in.

This perhaps explains the Dens Road market incident, when the driver was moving furniture.

It would be the passenger who was the badge holder. — Disabled.

It seems Royal Mail have become so paranoid about pennies they will surely lose pounds over this public relations disaster.

I was sent a letter which was 7p short on postage. For this small oversight I was charged £1.07. The £1 was for a handling charge. It took the Royal Mail one week to inform me of this.

This, coming from a service which is currently on its knees, is a disgrace.

With the number of times my first class mail has arrived at its destination late surely they should be putting their own house in order as regards their poor delivery standards.

Instead, they choose to fleece the customers to generate profit.

So every time you receive a letter which arrives late, contact their customer services department and ask for a refund.

Who knows, you may even get a few free stamps. That’s doubtful now this penny-pinching policy has been adopted. — Second Rate Service.

This is based mainly on a meeting in a hall that holds a few hundred whereas there are over 16,000 tenants.

In effect, approximately two to three per cent of tenants don’t want to transfer. Hardly an overwhelming majority.

The people I have spoken to over the last ten years want a stock transfer. — Interested Party.