Why should a councillor receive a severance payment when he, or she, has chosen to leave Dundee City Council to stand for a job as an MSP with a wage exceeding £48,000 per annum plus generous allowances? No private sector job would ever pay a severance fee because someone wanted to further his or her career.

Mr FitzPatrick makes it sound as if he is doing the decent thing by pledging this payment to charity should he win.

However, it is Dundee taxpayers’ money. He should not accept the payment and let the £10,000 be invested in improving the city’s education, which is amongst the worst in Scotland. Or perhaps it could be used to help reduce the city’s Council Tax rates which are the second highest in Scotland.

Instead he chooses to promise to give away taxpayers’ money to charity as a publicity stunt.

It smacks of desperation, along with other SNP gimmicks such as “free” higher education for all.

There are no arguments for Scottish independence that stand up to economic or political scrutiny. The SNP will say just about anything to gain power. — Craig Alexander, Brown Constable Street, Dundee.

THE ATTACK by Labour’s Jill Shimi on SNP Dundee West Holyrood candidate, Joe FitzPatrick, for pledging his council severance pay-off to local community projects is an example of the yah-boo politics which turns off voters.

In an era where politicians are seen as cynical and money-grabbing, Mr FitzPatrick’s offer is refreshing and shows he cares about the community he serves.

Labour clearly realises that the game is up for their party and are resorting to fears and smears. This won’t fool the electorate. I predict an SNP “double whammy” in Dundee next May. — Pete Ellis, Station Road, Coupar Angus.

FEW TELEGRAPH readers will have been surprised to find Councillors McPherson and Mackie rushing to the defence of Jill Shimi’s petulant attack on Joe FitzPatrick. They are, after all, the leaders of the Lib Dem and Tory minority groups on Dundee City Council and keep Jill Shimi in her post as Leader of the Administration.

Both these groups have been well rewarded for their deference to the Labour Party with convenerships and special responsibility allowances worth tens of thousands of pounds each year.

Councillor Shimi may be facing an electoral disaster of her own making but at least she can take comfort in the fact she is getting value for money from her political stooges. — Kenneth Guild.

I APPLAUD Councillor Joe FitzPatrick for his honesty and integrity. He hasn’t offered to “bribe me” to vote for him, as has been suggested by Councillor Shimi and others.

No, he has been honest enough to say if (and I stress the if) he is fortunate enough to be elected by the voters of Dundee West to the Scottish Parliament he will give the money received for standing down as a councillor to a local charity. Where is the sin in that?

Is Mrs Shimi jealous that she did not think of this first? Or is Mrs Shimi not confident of winning Dundee West and leaving her options open to stand again for the council?

As for the others who have criticised Councillor FitzPatrick I would say let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I was undecided to whom I would give my vote for next year but Councillor FitzPatrick now has it and those of the rest of my family. — Ferguson Brown, Strathmartine Road, Dundee.

SURELY A fair election could not now be run in Dundee West with Joe FitzPatrick as the SNP’s candidate?

Clearly his offer of a cash donation to charity was designed to curry favour with the electorate and make him look like a great guy.

Now he is trying to blacken his opponent’s name for her having the good sense to ask the Electoral Commission to give a ruling on the situation.

If he is now told he cannot use a cash pledge during an election, he will just try to turn it to his advantage by saying his Labour opponent stopped him.

This cannot be democracy. — Fair Play.

Over the last months I have spoken with Tayside Police and officers have visited and noted my complaints.

Councillor Helen Dick has tried her best with any complaints given to her.

Thanks to MP Kate Maclean, a traffic study was done and showed speeding worsened over the summer.

Dundee City Council say the matter will be looked at.

Meantime, the traffic flies up and down Camperdown Road, which is home for special needs, sheltered houses and an old folks’ home.

Children cross to reach three schools in the area and there is also a sign that says “20 is enough”. — Fed Up, Downfield.

Quite apart from the fact that many of them simply throw their refuse, both food and containers, out of their vehicles, the noise they generate is awful.

Every night, but especially at weekends, the revving car engines and loud Thump Thump music makes a peaceful night impossible.

The police are never seen. It’s time this anti-social behaviour was sorted out. — John and Phylis Dench.

These guys are always willing to help and are only a phone call away.

Well done, guys. Keep up the good work. — Dura Street Tenants, Dundee.

We do not exploit the elderly or disabled.

In fact our Fintry, Dundee, business is designed to assist elderly and people who are less mobile, and who for one reason or another, cannot travel to supermarkets.

We have won many awards for our community shop, including one from the Dundee Access Group, for providing outstanding facilities for the elderly and disabled.

Supermarkets are responsible for approximately eight independent shops closing each day, according to Age Concern Scotland.

The organisation says that small shops may be more expensive, because supermarkets are exploiting suppliers, farmers and producers.

In reply to Fintry Resident, all the tradesmen who worked on my extension were local tradesmen from Fintry and Dundee, known to me for work at my business in the past.

The pavement parking issue is the city council’s problem and not mine.

However, I have been for some time in discussion with the local authority on the subject. — Mohammed Issa MBE, 1st Stop 2 Shop, Fintry Drive, Dundee.

Why, with similar Ancient Rome dramas, do we never have the Romans speaking Latin?

This would help scholars trying to pass their Latin exams.

Authenticity and truth matter in history and language. — J. I. Matthew.

I’m sure local voters will question many of the stated improvements and, based on the council’s own figures in the summary, I think they should.

The council spends a total of £334.8 million (or 60% of its budget) on education, social work and housing.

Yet, as the Tele has recently reported, the schools estate is in disarray and local attainment levels are among the worst in the country.

Social work also seems to be failing the voters, with Dundee’s record of teenage pregnancy among the worst in Europe.

Finally, in housing, with its ever diminishing stock and never diminishing payroll, we would all have to have zips up the back to believe the latest PR spin in this summary. — Beancounter.

You can imagine my surprise when I saw what appeared to be a frogman rising up out of a bog. He was taking part in what is known as a bog-snorkelling.

This sport involves people in wet suits and snorkel diving local bogs.

Are there any clubs in Tayside? — Edith Boag, Tait’s Lane, Dundee.

The route was from NCR via Kingsway, Powrie Brae, and various back roads this side of the Sidlaws.

Syd, who died last month, was given an early start and was applauded at different areas of the course.

He maintained the lead all the way to the winner’s podium and the victor’s dram.

Truly an indomitable spirit. — Joe Carrington, South Road, Dundee.

That’s why our troops should be pulled out. — Westender, Dundee.