Sir, I read with interest the letter concerning Gaelic spending from Robin Matthew (Courier 19.2.10).

Sir, Dual carraigeways or dual policies? What is going on here?

Sir, In your edition of Friday, 26th February, you devoted a page to the crossing of the canal for the "southern Inverness bypass".

Sir, I would like to add my voice to the writer of the letter "Spoiling of town" (Courier 26/2/10).

Sir, The people of Scotland, who spend huge sums of money on nuts and seeds to feed wild birds in their gardens, will be horrified to know that tens of thousands of our country's most familiar migrants are being trapped and massacred every spring in Malta.

Sir, What chilling headlines The Inverness Courier portrays with "Tesco set for expansion."

Sir, So local MPs don't think we will be unduly concerned about Tesco wanting to "improve the service they offer"? What twaddle. Tesco wanting to expand at Inshes is not about improving their service but bolstering their profits.

Sir, I would like to support John Wood of Cromarty who has drawn attention in his letter to the almost unbelievable recommendation of the Scottish Boundary Commission for the creation of a Scottish Parliamentary constituency to be called "Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch".

Sir, I was sorry to read that Inverness is on the list as carbuncle of the year 2010.

Sir, The recent nomination of Inverness for the Carbuncle Awards is unjustified, but if it shakes the town out of its complacency, it could do much good.

Sir, My heartiest congratulations to the planning committee for approving the Ness Gap proposals in the face of opposition from the irresponsible gaggle of poorly informed local people.

Sir, We have requested Scottish ministers to review aspects of their decision to consent, with conditions, the application for the Beauly to Denny transmission line.

Sir, Muir of Ord has, in the past, been a very successful village. Sadly it suffered a major setback with the closure of a major grocery store and cafe.

Sir, I attended the debate on the future of the Inverness by-pass at the Town House on Monday 15th February.

Sir, I would like to air my views about a recent scourge that is creeping silently into many of our daily lives around Inverness.

Sir, Highland Council has voted on £12 million worth of budget cuts. This is obviously a serious matter for all of us.

Sir, On 16th February Highland councillors approved a Tulloch application to develop a site adjacent to Ness Road, Fortrose, in spite of 575 objections from local residents.

Sir, I would like to reassure your readers following the article "Water supply fears surface over A96 developments" (Courier 9.2.10).

Sir, I must agree with James Morrison (Courier 16.2.10), the council seems to be a law unto itself.

Sir, I have followed recent press reports with regard to the above St Columba High Church.

Sir, It was intriguing to see MPs back government plans to hold a UK-wide referendum on changing the voting system, while on the same day Welsh assembly members voted in favour of holding a referendum on devolving further powers for that institution from Westminster.

Sir, Mr Potties' disturbing account at the start of a recent planning committee increases my concerns about the extent and duration of councillor's declaration of interest in specific items.

Sir, I would like to correct the facts as portrayed in the letter from Beth Frieden (Courier 2.2.10).

Sir, I am writing to express my surprise and dismay at the idiocy of the proposed new Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Westminster constituency. It is utterly meaningless and undemocratic.

Sir, Inverness is almost coming to a halt with increasing traffic and motorists are beginning to compare the city to a busy metropolis in the South.

Sir, Week in, week out, the headlines in your paper reveal monumental acts of stupidity and ignorance coming from the corridors of power in the Highland Council HQ.

Sir, Lorraine Mann seems to have transferred her adoration of windmills (to save the planet), to collective responsibility for snow-shovelling (to save the council) as she highlighted citizen's collective gullibility for lack of snow-shovelling enthusiasm (Courier 29.1.10).

Sir, The relocation of the Inverness Highland Games from the Bught to the Northern Meeting Park raises the interesting question of the merging of the Highland Capital's two Highland Games cultures.

Sir, Five days a week I drive between Inverness and Dingwall (via Beauly) and return.

Sir, I am writing on behalf of disgruntled pensioners (myself included) and disabled people who have been virtually housebound because pedestrians have been treated like second class citizens over the last few weeks of wintry weather.

Sir, What's the Gaelic for irony?

Sir, From the year 2003, letters were sent from St Columba High Church to the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, asking for "transportation" to a new site on the outskirts of the town to build a new church in an expanding community - all to no avail.

Sir, With the recent bad weather taking its toll on our roads and pavements I have done a survey of potholes around parts of Inverness.

Sir, I spotted a parallel between our impending "carbuncle award" based on the ugly concrete blocks by the river, and the impending erection of the giant pylons across the Highlands.

Sir, As someone involved in the tourist business in Inverness I am pleased to see so many visitors to our historic city so far this year.

Sir, I would welcome the 20mph speed limit but I wonder if people would actually adhere to it and if the limit would be enforced, by say police with speed cameras.

Sir, I have written to all those Highland MSPs whose parties have said they are against the minimum pricing proposal in the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill, which is being consulted on by the Scottish Parliament.

Sir, The snow and ice has largely melted away, but it's a pity the same can't be said of the dog dirt that has been deposited in increasing amounts on the walkways in the area where I live.

Sir, Following from SNP MSP Mr Dave Thompson's consultation on open level crossings in the Highlands, I have done a little research myself and have found that Network Rail has plans to upgrade several train stations in London and the south-east of England, at a cost of around £4bn over 10 years.

Sir, Your columnist Lorraine Mann (Courier, 22.1.10) does a mean line in invective when she describes me and over 20,000 other objectors to the pylons of the Beauly-Denny line as "selfish, short-sighted fools".

Sir, In "A few pylons are small price to pay" (Courier 22.1.10), Lorraine Mann suggests that anti-pylon campaigners could fund-raise to underground the Beauly Denny line.

Sir, With Tony Blair facing the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War, I feel intense frustration at not been able to put a question to him.

Sir, Please may we express our gratitude, and admiration, for the taxi and bus drivers of Inverness for maintaining their excellent service, and cheerfulness, throughout these past wintry weeks.

Sir, "Pave Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot" seems to be the approach of Highland Council's planning committee to development in our beautiful area.

Sir, I attended the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey planning committee meeting to witness the discussions and voting on the developer's application for outline planning consent for the Inverness Airport Business Park.

Sir, I read with interest your article (Courier 19/01/10) highlighting the stance by MSP David Stewart on the proposal by councils to publish public notices etc on the internet and not in newspapers.

Sir, I was away for Christmas and New Year and when I returned there was so much snow I could not open my back gate to get into my house.

Sir, I was devastated to read the article on changes at the Rose Street car park in Inverness (Courier 12.1.10).

Sir, For the elderly, cold weather can be a matter of life and death, which is why Age Concern and Help the Aged have said that the existing UK government support will not prevent a rising death rate among older people.

Sir, Your picture in the "From our Files" section (Courier 8.1.10) showed members of Inverness Harriers taking a dip in the Caledonian Canal following the Sportsman's Run on 1st January, 1992.

Sir, I don't need to remind people of the long and proud history of Inverness Clachnacuddin FC - founder members of the Highland League in 1893 and winners of the league 18 times.

Sir, Is there a more dismal shopping experience currently in Scotland than the Inverness Retail and Business Park?

Sir, I was intrigued by the letter from Kit Fraser (Courier 12.1.10), which dismissed the "expert" view of man-made climate change by pointing out the many previous occasions on which experts warned of something, only for it to fail to be as much of a disaster as predicted.

Sir, I was dismayed not to be able to attend the council meeting which voted in favour of the Lib Dem-led administration's proposal to delay the care homes provisioning process whilst the business case was "re-examined".

Sir, With the recent bad weather should it not be the case of praising all those people who have struggled to work, especially those working in the hospitals and the home care workers and many more who have endeavoured to keep the system working?

Sir, I think the council have done a sterling job at keeping the roads and pavements clear. Especially over Christmas!

Sir, I suggest that our councillors forgo the fireworks displays, the rainbow lights and even their free lunches so that our pavements may be cleared of snow and ice in future.

Sir, On Tuesday 5th January I was on what should have been a normal shopping run to Inverness.

Sir, Many moons ago, on the 6th January, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar were at least able to enjoy an unencumbered ride through wild countryside to offer their costly gifts to the baby Jesus.

Sir, I am dismayed at the announcement that the Beauly-Denny power line is to go ahead.

Sir, I hit the back of a black Nissan wagon in the snow at the Raigmore Interchange on Thursday, December 31, whilst trying to stop on the extremely slippy road surface.

Sir, Inverness Airport bosses are going on a trip to look at airports in Scandinavia. They might like to look closer to home to see where they could do more to provide a better service for passengers.

Sir, I have had further thought regarding the recent and ongoing bad weather.

Sir, On Saturday morning, the 7:55 Inverness to London train had a huge number of standing passengers and luggage in the aisles and gangways.

Sir, With the recent heavy snow and the state of local council finance, it would be a good idea to put those supposedly doing community service to the task of clearing iced-up footpaths.

Sir, As an active north-west Sutherland crofter who has, like most crofters in this area, been very much on the receiving end of fox predation at lambing times, and sometimes long afterwards, I am nevertheless writing to congratulate your columnist "Heisker" on the excellent article about foxes and the first-class photograph of one, which appeared in The Courier's Country Notes column on 18th December.

Sir, I refer to the letter from Struan Stevenson, MEP (Courier 29/12/09).

Sir, I refer to Keith Fernie's letter entitled "Alcoholism is a choice, not a disease". Courier 4th December 2009.

Sir, I write as the parent of a severely disabled daughter (now aged 30) and have fought long and hard for the rights of the disabled; ie access, inclusion, etc., and long before there was Disability Discrimination legislation.

Sir, With reference to the councillors' site visit to the proposed Inverness Airport business park site. I would only ask them to consider that it now appears to include both shops and restaurants.

Sir, In the "Our Man in Westminster" column (Courier 15.12.09) Danny Alexander MP argues for a Fair Deal for the Highlands.

Sir, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and all your readers a very Happy Christmas and New Year.

Sir, I read that the hippy element within Highland Council is considering the purchase of a few electric vehicles which have a range of around 100 miles and require over eight hours to recharge batteries.

Sir, Following last year's splendidly dire concert by the "Truly Terrible Orchestra" of Inverness, I was moved to write and warn your readers of the hilarious hopelessness of the ensemble and their chaotic sabotage of musical favourites.

Sir, I wonder who, among the councillors, is going to be man - or woman - enough to say "Come on chaps, these free lunches are quite ridiculous - there are people out there who are starving. Let's pay for our own Christmas lunch."

Sir, When politicians talk about Scottish culture and heritage on TV they might mention our built heritage, or natural resources and beauty spots. Maybe even Gaelic and multicultural diversity.

Sir, Residents at Foyers, particularly Lower Foyers, are rightly concerned that they might find themselves literally cut off in the event of extreme weather conditions.

Sir, During a visit to the Victorian Market, I was delighted to see the beautiful and interesting images of past Inverness above the shops in the Arcade.

Sir, Your front page article of 4th December seems to me to be a bit over the top to report an incident that didn't happen, by a person who was obviously seeking publicity.

Sir, I refer to the proposal to establish wind farms on Nairnshire moorland.

Sir, Further to your recent article on police targeting suburban speeders (Courier 27.11.09).

Sir, The building of solid wall flood defences up to 1.3 metres high along the banks of the River Ness would be an act of gross vandalism to the conservation area of our city.

Sir, I have been a peace campaigner and a member of the Highland Coalition for Justice not War, for a considerable period of time. I would like to inform the public that neither myself, nor leading members of the coalition, have ever heard of Neil Bailey, of the eggs, whoever he is. (Courier 4.12.09)

Sir, While attention is being focused on the Pre-Budget Report, the Treasury is putting into effect legislation to come into force in April 2010 that will have a major impact on the Scottish tourism sector.

Sir, Why is the SNP determined to pursue an independence referendum at a time of economic recession and when local authorities are facing the tightest budget squeeze in more than a decade?

Sir, We were very interested to see the fascinating RAF aerial photographs of Inverness taken in June 1947.

Sir, I travelled from Muir-of-Ord to Inverness on the 10.05 bus from Dingwall on Wednesday, 2nd December.

Sir, Thank you for Val Sweeney's article highlighting home care issues in The Courier, Tuesday, 1st December. It is an increasingly important subject for everyone in the Highlands to be aware of, as the population grows older and the numbers of people of working age declines..

Sir, Much has been written recently on the threatened closure of the Beechwood Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility.

Sir, We are writing to you following a meeting of the Men's Health Highland Group, attended by 31 people, including the patron, office-bearers, committee members, a co-opted member and also a few non-members, who, following a presentation by Debbie Smith and Sandy Hunter, unanimously agreed to a letter being sent, on their behalf, calling for a reversal of the decision made by the council to stop the funding for Beechwood House Designated Place.

Sir, Interesting viewpoints have recently been expressed about Beechwood House and those who use its services, and your correspondent C. More adds that the medical profession for the past 50 years has recognised that alcoholism is a disease which can be treated but not cured (Courier 27.11.09).

Sir, More and more it is becoming clear that the UK government is there to promote the interests of powerful corporate interests at the expense of democracy and the public. Politicians and senior civil servants have become too closely identified with big commercial interests and seem to forget that they are supposed to represent us.

Sir, I read with concern the biased reporting on climate change, formerly global warming, from most media sources, and anticipate even more shrill warnings of doom about human future fate which is assumed to be either cooked or drowned. .

Sir, It is with alarm that I hear of the looming crisis at Raigmore Hospital.

Sir, With all the recent flooding in the Lake District and Dumfries, I'd like to bring to your readers' attention the beneficial impact trees would make to the equation.

Sir, I feel compelled to respond to Mrs Brindley's letter (Courier 17.11.09) regarding the threatened closure of Beechwood House.

Sir, Rarely a month goes by when there isn't an article or letter complaining about congestion at key times on many of the routes into and out of Inverness.

Sir, Last year a united service was held in Ness Bank Church, Inverness, on New Year's Eve with Methodist, Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland, and Salvation Army clergy participating.

Sir, I have grave concerns about the plan for a 600MW Loch Ness hydro electric plant at Balmacaan, being proposed by Scottish and Southern Energy.

Sir, As a local resident I read with interest your article (Courier 3:11:09) regarding the flooding incident at Beauly on 1st November.

Sir, I would like to express my disagreement with the rather unsympathetic sentiments expressed by Mrs Brindley in her letter "Cosmetic items" (Courier 17:11:09).

Sir, I have read your Leader column (Courier 30.10.09), in which you talk of an Inverness landmark connected with Oliver Cromwell, which you believe deserves the use of the Common Good Fund.

Sir, Highland Labour MSP Peter Peacock has hit out at the current role of HIE (Courier 13.11.09), saying that small businesses considered it a waste of time approaching HIE.

Sir, I read with great interest the recent Highland Council study suggesting that 8000 new houses need to be built in the Highland region over the next five years to meet a chronic shortage of affordable homes.

Sir, I wish to thank the person who found my son's wallet in Inverness and handed it in to Inverness Prison.

Sir, The people of the Highlands must urgently awaken to the situation which is developing in Highland Council's "corridors of power".

Sir, I, for one, hope that Highland Council does not drop a "few cosmetic items" in order to fund the lifestyle choice of those using Beechwood House, (Courier 30.10.09).

Sir, I refer to your report on the front page (Courier 10.11.09) headed, "Teacher at centre of assault allegations".

Sir, Highland Council is presently consulting the public as a first stage in the development of its Highland-wide Local Development Plan.

Sir, I was shocked to read the article on UKIP by Lorraine Mann (Courier 23.10.09). In response I would like to make the following comments.

Sir, My mother has been cared for in a number of nursing homes over the last nine years. Southside Nursing Home provides facilities and services superior to any other.

Sir, As a daily customer of the Post Office in Queensgate can I please refer to Mr Allan Campbell's letter (Courier 27.10.09), I would like to make a few additional comments.

Sir, Highland Council's bizarre decision to provide temporary cover, with a "chief operating officer", at a cost of at least £25,000, for social work director Harriet Dempster during her term as president of the Association of Directors of Social Work, fills me with both alarm and dismay, as indeed it must many other Council Tax payers throughout the region.

Sir, You reported that Albert Roux was proud to be training young Scottish chefs in his restaurant Chez Roux at the Rocpool Reserve in Inverness (Courier 27.10.09).

Sir, With reference to your article regarding the pirate flag which was flown from Inverness Town House and the subsequent complaint from an ex-merchant seaman, which resulted in the flag being removed (Courier 30.10.09).

Sir, The Churches' Group on Homelessness is surprised and disappointed that an agency normally supportive of work with homeless people should be so negative to something the churches in Inverness are doing in conjunction with the Bethany Christian Trust, a professional organisation with an impressive and proven track record in helping homeless people (Courier 27.10.09).

Sir, Whoops she's done it again! No, not Britney Spears, but the Courier's very own Lorraine Mann.

Sir, Beechwood House must not be allowed to close.

Sir, I read with no great surprise the figures regarding lunches etc for councillors. Why should the taxpayer always have to pick up the tab?

Sir, WOW! Am I ever super impressed with reporter Andy Dixon's hard hitting piece of journalism on councillors' free lunches (23.10.09).

Sir, Congratulations to the reporter who revealed the cost to the long-suffering Council Tax payer over the free food largess supplied to Highland councillors and officials.

Sir, In the 35 years since we moved to Inverness, I have always considered this to be a caring place, where those who are better off than some, are willing to show compassion and kindness.

Sir, Few victims of crime will have much sympathy with the view of HM Chief Inspector of prisons when he alleges that Porterfield Prison is lacking "decent living conditions".

Sir, I refer to Lord Burton's letter about red kites in the letters page (Courier 16.10.09). The evening before his letter appeared there was a TV programme on wildlife which focused on predatory birds.

Sir, Surely someone else must have got in touch with you about the ghastly service in the new layout in the Queensgate Post Office.

Sir, Congratulations Steve Arnott. It's not often someone points out that rising house prices are not good news for everybody (Courier, 6.10.09).

Sir, I have no interest in exchanging tit-for-tat letters with supporters of the SNP alleging dishonesty.

Sir, With the damage to the yet unopened Archive Centre in Inverness it makes me wonder at the sanity of the architects and planning authority fitting security cameras that are only effective during daylight.

Sir, It has been bad enough losing our small post offices, but at least the Union Street office was cheerful to walk into until whoever is in charge decided to alter the interior.

Sir, It is really good to know that this Homecoming year has been on the whole the great success that had been expected. I am also very glad that the Burns theme was not over-exploited as I had feared.

Sir, The planned closure of ward 2C at Raigmore Hospital by NHS Highland is a typical false economy drawn up by a system with too many middle and middling managers. It will damage the Highland community.

Sir, I suggest we are looking the wrong way. Really enjoyed the article "10 things that made Inverness" (Courier 6.10.09).

Sir, Cameron Ross is hoping to increase the tourist trade by employing the centuries old Far Eastern invention of the rickshaw to ferry paying passengers around the Islands.

Sir, I hope you will allow me the opportunity to respond to Lib-Dem councillor Alex Graham's letter (Courier 22.9.09).

Sir, I was very interested to see your article in Tuesday, 22nd September, on red kites.

Sir, I was waiting in the correct lane at Inverness Bus Station on Tuesday afternoon, 6th October 2009, for the No 25 bus for Dingwall, due at 2.35pm. It did not arrive.

Sir, I refer to various articles published in your newspaper on the topic of the closure of Beechwood House Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Sir, According to Andrew Gilthorpe, Scottish Hydro's project manager, the company has "invested almost £4 million over the last few years, undergrounding overhead lines in areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks throughout Scotland".

Sir, There have been calls for the Beechwood drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility to be retained, whilst the council intimates that it has no money to fund it and its closure therefore seems likely.

Sir, Having read the article "Clach Crisis" — and a lot of people blame David Dowling for Clach's debt — I write to advise that Mr Dowling's idea is not "complete fantasy" and he has been trying his best to keep the Clach Club and football club afloat over the years.

Sir, I have noted the content of the piece (Courier 2/10/09) on the future of Viewhill House.

Sir, Following the tragic outcome of the collision at Halkirk level crossing, my belief is that a simple safety improvement to the 23 ungated level crossings across Scotland could be achieved by installing double sets of normal road traffic lights as a more powerful warning message to drivers.

Sir, Regarding accidents at rail level crossings. Accidents are caused by mechanical and human failures, mostly by the latter.

Sir, How do we get something done about the roundabout at the Kessock Bridge?

Sir, I recently heard a news item on the radio which began as follows: "Good news on the housing front today, as a report shows that prices are beginning to rise again."

Sir, Is nothing sacred these days? The taxman hounds you to the grave, now the council is aiming at making money out of you once you've gone!

Sir, Can anyone explain what it is that makes some people "tick" — pushing through the barriers of health and certainly disregarding monetary incentives?

Sir, I read that Highland Council intends to spend up to £2 million on park upgrades for the sake of tourism (Courier 18.9.09). How ridiculous!

Sir, Having read an article about dangerous cyclists, I am compelled to write more on what is becoming a hazard on the road.

Sir, Friday... a wonderfully sunny day, with a bit of a brisk breeze.

Sir, Just lately the Tesco Extra at The Inverness Business and Retail Park has become the meeting place for groups of teenagers late at night.

Sir, We are shortly to have a wide range of Highland "Homecoming" events.

Sir, I wonder if Rev Reginald Campbell, minister of Daviot Church, has ever prayed he could find an NHS dentist in Inverness?

Sir, I refer to your article which reported the meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board and in particular the chief constable's comments regarding the proposed closure of the designated place at the Beechwood House Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre (Courier 1.9.09).

Sir, I fail to understand why Invernessians are so keen to have an Asda supermarket when on a price comparison with Tesco there is little to choose between them, although I feel that Tesco is the slicker operation.

As a disabled person I welcome the varied projects recently undertaken to improve disabled access to places such as restaurants, places of amusement, museums and even churches.

Sir, I fully support the controversial pilot project by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, whereby parents who are concerned that suspected or known paedophiles or other sexual offenders may be preying on their children, will now be able to telephone a dedicated police-operated hotline and be informed whether their suspicions are correct, and whether or not a named person has any convictions.

Sir, I hope you will permit me to correct the mistaken claim by Mrs C. Forbes (Courier 28.8.09) of "the Lib-Dems claiming credit for the speed humps on Canal Road".

Sir, Having now finished third in our group, Scotland are, officially, a third rate football nation.

Sir, As the 2009 tourist season and Year of Homecoming draw to an autumnal close, two stories stand out in the Courier's edition of 8th September. It tells us a lot about our attitude to our city and our tourist trade.

Sir, Has any research been undertaken into the efficiency and emissions of buses and the congestion caused by them?

Sir, Should Laura be allowed to set sail? So asks Lorraine Mann (Courier 4.9.09), who agrees the question is a tricky one, before her conclusion, "But I think she should".

Sir, It was with very great regret that I heard that the designated place at Beechwood House is likely to close this coming April, due to lack of funding, and the adjacent alcohol rehabilitation unit is also threatened with reduced funding. This is an appalling situation!

Sir, So the long-running ASDA saga continues with yet another attempt to stop the store going ahead despite popular demand and government and council approval.

Sir, Your September 8th edition reported delay to the planned flood prevention scheme between Ness Bridge and Ness Islands.