I have now discovered that this is because Dundee is not having a Christmas Light switch on, but instead is having a Winter Light Night, which I am led to believe will have little or no mention of Christmas/Santa etc, and instead will concentrate on “Dundee's contemporary culture and innovative past”. I am all for celebrating Dundee and its achievements, but what is wrong with making it a Christmas lights switch on?

Has Christmas been cancelled in Dundee? Who is going to explain to the kids that look forward to seeing Santa and his sleigh in the city centre every year that this year he won’t be coming? Also, surely having this event take place on a Friday night (November 27) at 6pm (rather that late on a Sunday afternoon as is usually the case) will mean that a lot of people won’t be able to make it, especially those finishing work later in the day and those that have to go home to pick up kids. The Christmas lights switch on has been a resounding success year on year. Why change it now? — Christmas Fairy.

The lights go up because it is Christmas. Always have done, always will do. How many kids are looking forward to the Winter Festival on December 25? — Maurice Kidd, Bellefield Avenue, Dundee.

People use public transport and this would be a total inconvenience, all to benefit the bosses.

People understand shops close over the festive break. So, to suggest staff who are unhappy are complaining for the sake of it, is unfair.

Obviously there are some people that have to work festive periods, but surely a big supermarket can afford to close on boxing day? — Steve, Toll Crescent, Forfar.

In this credit crunch, they should be thankful they have a job. If you have to work a little extra to keep your store going. Where’s the harm? I do it all the time. — Anonymous.

I am a Tesco employee and for myself and many other Tesco staff, it’s the only days of the year we get two days off together.

We deserve to have Boxing Day off. We work very hard all year round and we look forward to this time of year. Come on people, give us a break and let us enjoy the Festive period too. — Exhausted Tesco Employee.

Tesco make millions all year round. Why can’t the company afford to close on Boxing Day? — Angry.

I am a handsome fellow, even though I say so myself, and I like to greet all the visitors and appreciate a pat or two.

So you are all welcome to visit me, Alan and all the hopefully-to-be-homed cats who are here.

We are open every day from 11am to 4pm, so hope to see you all soon. You won’t regret it. — Patch, the cat.

The recovery of fines and associated costs by those means would be so time-consuming and expensive that companies would be left with a massive headache, if drivers decided not to pay up.

These private companies are not subject to the Road Traffic Act when it comes to parking fines and have no access to the same sanctions councils can use against motorists who fail to pay.

Councils can increase the cost of the fine if payment is not made, authorise sheriff officers to pursue the debt and, ultimately, freeze the driver’s bank account.

These companies’ only recourse is to seek payment through the small claims court, a process not only expensive for the companies but would cause considerable congestion in the court system if it became widespread. — Jeff Halkett.

The group starts on Thursday November 19 from 2pm to 4pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Dundee (opposite the Lochee Leisure Centre). Parking facilities are available.

For further information, please contact Jackie on 01382 622962 or Dave on 01382 201020. — Jackie Mulligan, Bright Street, Dundee.

behaviour

My daughters attend a Dundee secondary school and I am sick to death of hearing about bad behaviour that the bus driver and other people have to put up with from some of the pupils on the bus.

On some occasions the bus driver has headed back to the school because of the behaviour of these pupils.

Apparently these buses have CCTV and this has been examined a number of times to find out who these pupils are but it still continues.

My daughter told me there was an incident recently where pupils were throwing bangers out of the bus window onto other cars, forcing the driver to board the bus to ask that the kids are told to stop it.

Why can’t there be a conductor especially for these buses to make sure that there are no problems?

He/she would be greatly appreciated and is clearly much needed to stop anti-social behaviour.

I believe that if they cause trouble on the bus they should be put off, regardless of where it is, and hopefully that would teach them a lesson.

I think it’s about time the drivers and other passengers got a break from this. — Sick of It.

The events over the past few weeks, including the presidential elections and the numerous recent suicide attacks, shows that coalition forces are no longer of any influence in Afghanistan.

It is a situation which seems to be getting worse, rather than better.

The Taliban is winning the war, keeping the troops there seems to now be more of a means of avoiding the admittance of defeat.

Get the troops home now Mr Brown.

It’s time to admit we’ve lost and can do no more.

How many fallen soldiers will it take before this happens? — Soldier Supporter.