I have been homeless and have also worked with homeless clients.

I was fortunate to have family support when I fled domestic violence. Some are not so lucky and that is why they resort to begging, prostitution and stealing.

Homeless hostels are depressing and full of individuals with varied ranges of issues such as mental health and substance misuse.

I agree they have to want to help themselves but if you have nothing positive in your life there will be times it will feel pointless.

Hostel workers are dedicated and empathise with their clients. Some clients require intense support and it can take longer for them to move out due to lack of suitable housing.

Being homeless is usually not through choice. — F. S.

Tolls were charged for users of cars, etc.

The list of prices can also be seen today but, sadly, the building used is in a state of semi-dereliction.

It’s an important part of our history and should be saved.

My Uncle Geordie was chief groundsman at Perth Races. He was a great tipster and was in demand.

His favourite saying was, “A bad day at the races is still better than a good day at work.” — Valerie McLean, The Wynd, Crieff.

What a cheek! While my wife and I always have a full recycle box, we also have to leave at least one black bag beside our grey bins as collections are now fortnightly. And we do not need “help and advice to better manage our waste”.

By separating our rubbish, we are doing a job that someone was once paid to do, yet have failed to see a decrease in council tax.

If Angus Council wants to eliminate black bags on the streets, I suggest they return to weekly collections and stop penalising people who are assisting them for free. — Bin Laden.

I handed over £20 but received change from £10. I asked the checkout operator but I was told the till wouldn't be checked until later.

When I was contacted later I was told the till was correct.

I knew it was definitely a £20 as I had just withdrawn the money from a cashline.

I was told the manager would phone me but I am still waiting.

As JC states, “We certainly should not be penalised for errors made by staff.”

Tesco make enough profits without having to shortchange their customers. — J. Corr, Fintry, Dundee.

However only about 20% (365 of 1700) replied to the survey. I would have thought the majority of respondents were those who felt strongly about a negative effect.

Scotland’s Health Minister Andy Kerr is quoted saying, “Seven out of 10 people did not smoke and of those who did, seven out of 10 wanted to give up.”

So it’s early days and there is still time for puffers to repent their ways. — Monifieth Reader.

Between St Vincent Street and Gray Street it is littered with broken glass, rubbish and weeds. — Upset, Broughty Ferry.

Iceland and Norway steadfastly refuse to join. Could it be something to do with the fact that the wealthier countries subsidise the rest of the EU?

For example, for every pound Britain hands, over we get less than 50p back.

The rest is spent on projects in countries like Ireland.

Alex Salmond aims to see Scotland at the heart of the EU. The EU’s modus operandi means it will undoubtedly be looking to the First Minister of an independent oil-rich Scotland to help spread the cost of Romania and Bulgaria’s arrival in 2007. — Scot ‘n Skint.

All the oil reserves in waters around Scotland are in the UK.

If Scotland became independent the legal work would take years and the sea boundaries of an independent Scotland would not be what they are as part of the UK.

Scotland would have only a few oil fields. — Interested Party.

Nevertheless, all major religions claim to be peaceful.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all God-centred and God is often used to condone war.

The Jewish state of Israel in Palestine is an example of where God is central for condoning war.

Muslim rulers condone war in the name of the same God and Muslim suicide bombers hope to go to paradise.

Western leaders George Bush and Tony Blair are both committed Christians.

So Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all tarred with the same stick. — Ron Smith, Dundee.

The fact is that only 3% of the UK population are followers of Islam, and only 1% are Asian.

The situation cannot be compared to Ulster. That was, and is, run by gangsters, not Christians.

And when these troubles were at their height, special attention was paid to Irish accents all over Britain.

If Muslims want increased respect, they should be more ready to condemn publicly the murder of innocents. — Dundee Reader.

This is hardly surprising when they allow these acts to pass without comment, yet complain bitterly about being inconvenienced by airport security. — Peter Donaldson, Findhorn Street, Dundee.

We have pictures, slides, cine films and videos of events in Craigiebank Church halls and grounds taken by the late George Black.

We would also like to have pictures of the area showing prefabs, new housing being built, the opening of the play park or indeed any interesting pictures of the area.

If you have pictures and are willing to send them please contact me. — Jacqui Stirton (tel 01382 505566).

What a cheek! While my wife and I always have a full recycle box, we also have to leave at least one black bag beside our grey bins as collections are now fortnightly. And we do not need “help and advice to better manage our waste”.

By separating our rubbish, we are doing a job that someone was once paid to do, yet have failed to see a decrease in council tax.

If Angus Council wants to eliminate black bags on the streets, I suggest they return to weekly collections and stop penalising people who are assisting them for free. — Bin Laden.

Why is there such a need for secrecy between Dundee City Council and the Scottish Executive in a public venture when the final bidder has become the contractor?

PPP is gaining a bad name in the delivery of public ventures and has a history of not providing cost-effective financial management, and results in a flawed process for the paying public.

It appears that the easiest and clearest money is made by the ever-growing army of consultants whose interest is maximising profits.

Why do we trust to deliver a transparent, honest programme when we only get snippets of information regarding PPP projects? Is there something to hide?

I doubt our councillors, who may genuinely have our interests at heart, can work their way through the legal and financial jungle of PPP/PFI. We are in the hands of a few people concerning these projects and this cannot be right. I do hope that a monitoring system can show us, step by step, just where we are and the true costs involved.

Let’s have open and transparent government. — Interested Party.

Sadly Scots accept disbanding or merging of regiments; draconian smoking bans; hospital and post office closures; a vastly expensive parliament with limited powers and vast areas of the countryside being sold off. — Westender, Dundee.

John was my best friend during our days at Ruthin School in North Wales. We both left school around 1973 and kept in touch for a few years.

I believe John still has family in the Dundee area. I think his father is called Dennis. I also remember that he may have had a younger brother called Damian. — Richard J. Cooper, Eden Garden 105, Le Reserva de Marbella, Las Chapas, Marbella 29604, Malaga, Spain.