I moved into this area about two years ago and it was nothing like it is now.

I use the local shops and, every time I do, no matter what time of the day or night, I come into contact with drug users and dealers. I feel intimidated and worst of all I have a small child who has also heard them using foul language.

I used my local store on Saturday night at 7pm and could not move as these people were hanging around in and outside the shop. I feel scared.

I was happy to use the local shops, but not any more. I feel someone needs to take this problem in hand and sort it out as residents should not feel afraid to use their local shops. — Concerned Resident.

This is a housing scheme where generations of decent people grew up and became responsible citizens.

Now it appears to be worse then the South Bronx.

Why are people allowed to rob, steal, harass and openly inject drugs in the street?

Harsh sentences are needed before this neighbourhood is totally lost to these types. — Time For Change.

Students survive on loans, which must be repaid. We no longer have handouts from the Government on which to rely.

Having just opened my statement from the Students Loans Company for £21,000, I can assure Barry I did not spend my loan on drink.

With books costing between £30-£60, rent, food, gas, electric, etc., to pay, the only drink I could afford was council pop.

As a mature student with children, I also worked over 30 hours per week, as well as attending university full-time.

Very few of my classmates went out drinking more than once a week and those who did worked, as well as taking their full loan entitlement.

The Government is not giving students money, they give us a loan and every penny we get has to be paid back.

With many students in Dundee, lots of businesses make their living from us, ask them if they’ve noticed a downturn in income to gauge the true spend of students. — Skint Student.

Yes, a couple of their songs do contain what could be considered swear words to some, but please remember music is art and The Trend’s art is about youth, vitality and real issues that youngsters are experiencing.

It speaks directly to their peers in their own language and isn’t contrived, polished or in any way false.

Honesty is such a great thing in art and I, for one, hope these fine musicians never compromise.

Long live The Trend and let’s hope they manage to follow in the steps of The View and bring even more credence to the fact that Dundee currently has the most exciting music scene in the UK. — Brian From Altres.

The young lad had come from Arbroath especially for this and had never been rowing before.

We were disappointed when we discovered the boats were not for hire and hadn't been for a week or two because there was insufficient water in the pond.

This was causing the rowers to become stuck in the muddy waters.

We were informed the water comes from a reservoir, which cannot be opened at present.

I had never heard of this problem at the Swannie Ponds before, but while walking round, it was noticeable how murky the water was and we wondered if maybe it was lack of maintenance, rather than water level, which was causing the problem.

Could the parks department shed more light on this?

It seems a shame that this fine facility is out of use at holidays.

We did not have an entirely wasted trip, however, because we saw on a notice board that there was a brass band concert at Baxter Park and we went there and enjoyed the music. —M. B. Kobylarska, Dundee.

[A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “The city council has been aware of the low levels of water at the ponds and is now taking steps to ensure they are now refilled.

“We will also removing weeds from the ponds and hope to have the usual facilities up and running as soon as possible. We would like to thank the public for their patience during this time.”}

I think if you maim or kill a person and are found guilty, you should serve a minimum 20 years.

For carrying a blade you should get 10 years with no remission.

It’s the only sort of punishment to suit the crime. — Justice Seeker, Dundee.

As far as I am concerned, Mr McGovern is obviously saying something right as, whenever he does, he seems to prompt a flurry of letters from SNP members and supporters.

The irony is not lost on me that no one seems to bother commenting on anything the SNP politicians say.

Just who is it that has nothing noteworthy to say? — Alison Gowans, Constitution Street, Dundee.

I heard Mr McGovern on a recent radio interview and I agree with him entirely when he says the price of oil is an international problem and the UK government is leading the way in trying to find an international solution. — John Hume, McDonald Street, Dundee.

I am interested in Ann St., Wellington St., Forebank Rd., William St., Nelson St., Hilltown and Alexander St. (remember the air raid shelters we used as a playground, jumping from one to another) or in the square consisting of Hilltown, Cotton Road, Victoria Road and Alexander Street, which shows shops, pubs, cinemas, jute mills etc. from any angle.

I grew up in and around these streets. I would like a pictorial record of my childhood to show my children and grandchildren. — Michael Henry, Liff, mafhfsh71@live.co.uk

When tried and, if found guilty, there is only one sentence for this criminal — the rest of his days in prison. — Jimmy Borland.