Sir, They must have run out of the rose tinted glasses when I visited the housing Expo.

Sir, I have been reading that a small number of people oppose the proposed Glenkirk and Tom Nan Clach wind farm sites.

Sir, I refer to Mr Miklinski's letter (Courier 20.8.10) concerning the additional Royal Mail flights that are to operate from Inverness Airport.

Sir, I am writing to you about the catastrophic damage being done to our countryside with the development of onshore and offshore wind farms.

Sir, I write to ask if anyone else has had a similar experience to mine.

Sir, Cycling and public transport are without question green and healthy options for travel - but why is it so difficult to combine the two?

Sir, I thought Bruce Sandison might have added more about me from my website in his letter (Courier 17.8.10).

Sir, News that the likes of BT and Network Rail have been inundated with applicants for their apprenticeship programmes should be welcomed.

Sir, I refer to the recent letter from Harry Benyon "Wrong to use Nessie as tourist bait".

Sir, Further to your article "Airport runs early hours test" (13.8.10), can I say that no-one is as pleased as I am that the new 3am-4am flights will be more or less "silent".

Sir, Jim Miller (Courier 3.8.10) is right to say that the Scottish Reformation was an important development and that it should be remembered.

Sir, Oh what a kerfuffle! First was "where" to put the Three Graces-Virtues.

Sir, Another Belladrum festival over and another good time... and a Sunday morning spoilt by the loutish performance of fellow campers whose behaviour was ignored both by the police and security.

Sir, It is very unfortunate that the gas industry has not seen fit to invest some of its recently publicised huge profits in minimising the chaos which its sub-contractor is creating in Inverness by digging up the streets on its behalf.

Sir, I am writing to you with reference to your front page article of (Courier 10.8.10) about the Gulf War veteran having to sleep in his lorry cab.

Sir, On a recent visit to Inverness, where I was born, I was disappointed and appalled by the disgusting state of the streets, when I walked through the town around 10.30am one Sunday morning.

Sir, I regularly travel by bus between Thurso and Edinburgh, and I have noticed on several occasions now on the way down to Inverness and back to Thurso, that there are no toilets on-board.

Sir, I have been a regular visitor to the Highlands for many years and especially to your beautiful City of Inverness. The place I first met my wife, also a visitor from Scotland's Central Belt.

Sir, Following the launch of my proposed Victims and Witnesses Commissioner (Scotland) Bill to safeguard and promote the rights of victims and witnesses, I would like to let people know that I have also launched an on-line petition calling on the Scottish Government and the minister for community safety, Fergus Ewing, to support my Bill.

Sir, Would it not be great if the powers that be could recognise the Stagecoach bus driver, Alex Mackenzie, for all the unselfish cash he makes for the Highland Hospice in climbing mountains, etc.

Sir, I travel by bus three times weekly to and from Invergordon to visit my sister in a nursing home.

Sir, Thank you so much to The Inverness Courier for profiling Sarah Jane Douglas's Kilimanjaro experience (Courier 30.7.10).

Sir, I am glad The Courier has chosen to "hunt" for heroes from the past as well as the present, because society seems to have a different idea of heroism these days.

Sir, I have been waiting patiently for fuel prices to drop in the Highlands, as was promised by our recently elected Con/Dem MP Danny Alexander.

Sir, Bruce Sandison makes wide sweeping and blinkered statements in his article in The Inverness Courier (30/7/10).

Sir, The A9 has been consistently recognised as a particularly dangerous stretch of road and the latest fatality involving a motorcyclist is yet further evidence that a review is desperately needed.

Sir, I have in my possession a number of old bottles etc. that I have found over the years.

Sir, I feel we must add our voice to the recent comments by councillors on the cost to the police budget and value of royal visits to Caithness.

Sir, It is hardly surprising that an assault has occurred on the Ness Islands (Courier 27.7.10).

Sir, The winter's been long and hard here in Inverness, but at last the snow has cleared, we've seen the sun a couple of times, the birds are nesting and a few flowers are trying to make an appearance.

Sir, Re your article on the salaries of public sector executives (Courier 23.7.10). We do not live in a vacuum up here and their levels of pay are likely to be a reflection of similar salaries across the country.

Sir, Hallelujah! The blessings of Heaven upon Fay Thomson, who in her business comment (Courier 20.7.10), suggests it's time for those responsible for the upkeep and development of Inverness to take the "carbuncle criticism" on the chin, and set about doing what it takes to gain Inverness the respect it deserves.

Sir, On Tuesday, 13th July the blue bins in Strathdearn were emptied as usual except for around 10 at the north end of Tomatin.

Sir, I wonder if the majority of fans who attended Rod Stewart's concert at the football stadium in Inverness were as disappointed as myself and my friends were at the poor organisation?

Sir, My sister and I enjoyed Rod Stewart. Music was great, band was excellent.

Sir, Georgina Coburn's statement that in the Highlands, cultural industries have a significant role to play in financial recovery (Courier 15.6.10), incline me to ask: since when?

Sir, The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has, perhaps with some justification, created a feverish backlash in Brussels.

Sir, Your readers should be aware that within two hours of receiving them, the Lib-Dem led Highland Council dismissed out of hand Highland Greens' constructive proposals for drastically reducing the council's £25 million annual waste bill.

Sir, I feel I have to contact you regarding the Highland Council's decision to hold their Inverness Past and Present Exhibition in the Eastgate Centre.

Sir, I hope the planned hourly train service from Inverness to Edinburgh comes to fruition and serves both end-to-end and local passengers alike.

Sir, Further to your article in 6th July's Inverness Courier regarding charter airline passengers being delayed by almost 24 hours on a flight from Italy - my wife and I flew to Verona from Glasgow on the same aircraft.

Sir, The Con/Dem coalition's decision to vote for a rise in VAT will hit the poorest hardest and hinder our already faltering economic recovery.

Sir, I would like to remind your readers to be vigilant to the signs and symptoms of vital meningitis in hot summer weather.

Sir, The supposedly "neutral BBC" - two words we have trouble with marrying together these days - have jumped on the hysteria bandwagon regarding the alleged fox attacks on two children.

Sir, A modest exhibition of "green" houses on a brownfield site in Culloden sounded like a very good idea until, out of the blue, the concept was hijacked by the pink-shirted robber-barons of the Highland building industry.

Sir, Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, is absolutely right that there is a great deal to be positive about in relation to Scotland's Housing Expo, taking place in Inverness next month.

Sir, The appointment of a new chief executive for Highlands and Islands Executive incites another tiny snigger of derision, as well as posing a more serious question.

Sir, I attended the Miss Inverness event at Hush.

Sir, I wish there was some way of instilling basic common sense into the plague of joggers which has appeared at the first ray of sunshine. .

Sir, Highland Ante/Postnatal Illness and Depression Support (HAPIS) is a Highland charity reaching out to women and families affected by post-natal depression.

Sir, I read with some incredulity the comments made by Highland councillor Thomas Prag about the need for the city of Inverness to "ditch its snooty attitude towards Nessie" if the area would like to see an increase in the number of visitors.

Sir, Harry Benyon must remember that when he attacks those that truly believe in the Loch Ness Creature and the legend of Loch Ness he is knocking other people's belief systems and whether a person believes in their daily dose of Eastenders or wants to be a Jedi Knight, as long as it keeps them going and gives them happiness in life that is what is important.

Sir, Born and brought up in Inverness, but having lived in Southern England since 1945, I welcomed a chance to visit and reminisce.

Sir, Perhaps our councillors could benefit from an improved induction before they take up their posts?

Sir, Recently, a member of Drakies "Over 50s" club wrote to your letters page to say what a wonderul outing they had and it only cost £15.

Sir, I am writing to express my dismay at our self-serving politician Danny Alexander.

Sir, In January I did a tour at Ayers Rock with a couple, in their 50s from Inverness.

Sir, I would prefer to say I was surprised to see the view carried on your letters page from John Boocock that Scotland's replacement for the discredited Public Private Partnership had been unsuccessful in channelling funding for major public investment.

Sir, "Be proud of Nessie", suggests Thomas Prag, accusing Inverness (council or citizens?) of being "snooty" about believing, not so much in the legend of Nessie, but in the practical joke played by three Englishmen with a plasticine model in 1933, which for a while convinced a wide public that the Loch Ness Monster was real.

Sir, I write in connection with the apparent confusion which exists between Hope, Faith and Charity and The Three Graces and which is being perpetuated by the local press.

Sir, We seem to have reached a solution down at Clach Park at last. It is not ideal, with the loss of the social club and for many people in the community who for years were part of it.

Sir, I would like to express my appreciation of Jim Miller's Miller's Tales (Courier 8.6.10).

Sir, I am deeply concerned about Highland Council's budget cuts' exercise (Courier 4.6.10).

Sir, I would like to ask Tesco Extra in Inverness just how long they have been allowing dog owners and their dogs to use the grass verges around the car park to do their "business"?

Sir, Again it is reported in the press that "travelling people" are flouting the law, this time by unauthorised camping in a school playground (Courier 8.6.10).

Sir, With reference to your article about the "Power Struggle" within Highland Council (Courier 28.5.10).

Sir, Did anyone else see an otter in the River Ness?

Sir, In reference to Harry Benyon's letter "Money, not art, makes the world go around", I agree that a budget deficit requires urgent action, however in an area such as the Highlands cultural industries actually have a significant role to play in our overall recovery.

Sir, Was Scotland's Housing Expo not given £40,000 in October 2008 to cover "advertising and promotion"?

Sir, Here we go again - our beloved council handing out money as if it was going out off fashion.

Sir, I write to fully support Gerald Laing in his criticism of the security staff at Inverness Airport (Courier 1.6.10). .

Sir, I sympathise with Gerald Laing and his expeiences with airport security at Inverness (Courier 1.6.10). I suffered a similar experience - returning from a family visit in April.

Sir, I feel that I should write to explain why we may be about to witness an increase in the number of Americans arriving at Inverness Airport carrying surfboards.

Sir, There has been a considerable debate concerning travellers' encampments and more particularly the relationship between elected councillors and council officers. It is simple; councillors make policy officers carry out that policy, end of story. If council officers fail in their duty to carry out policy they should be sacked.

Sir, With reference to the article about Inverness Airport security staff (Courier 1/06/10).

Sir, I was alarmed at the comments of local sculptor Gerald Laing.

Sir, My sister is 79-years-old and has recently had a hip operation. She was treated in the same way as Gerald Laing at Inverness Airport.

Sir, I note with interest that planning permission has been refused on a block of former terraced houses in Academy Street on the grounds that they are a good example of 19th century building and should be retained as part of the city's heritage.

Sir, The relocation of the Inverness Highland Games to the Northern Meeting Park appears to have been broadly welcomed. However, there seems to be an ongoing misconception that the event has a longer tradition than is really the case.

Sir, Not so long ago Scottish Labour used to be fond of telling us how much we benefited from the UK Dividend. That slogan has now presumably been consigned to the dustbin.

Sir, Now that the dust is settling on the horse trading at Westminster, perhaps we should focus on events nearer to home.

Sir, I was a town planner working for the Highland Regional Council in the 1970s/80s and my principal responsibility at the time was the preparation of the first Local Plan for Inverness and the preparation of the plans for the Culloden area.

Sir, According to Councillor David Henderson: "This marks a whole new era..." So why not give it the entrance it deserves?

Sir, While it is entirely appropriate to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the remarkable Dunkirk evacuation, let us not forget the British forces which fought on in France for long after the last soldier was lifted from the beaches.

Sir, All over Scotland local authorities are turning to waste incineration, which they see as the only way to avoid fines for sending excessive biodegradable waste to landfill.

Sir, What a brilliant letter from John Oliver (University must be given a central location - Courier 14.5.10).

Sir, The travellers' site in Inverness is full to capacity with long stay and permanent caravan dwellers, a total contradiction in terms.

Sir, Your succinct leader and report (Courier 18.5.10) aptly summarise the very good reasons, expressed by the Holyrood reporter, in concluding that the 550 over-development on Sandown common good land in Nairn should be dismissed.

Sir, With reference to Georgina Coburn's letter: "We are greatly impoverished without the arts" (Courier 11.5.10), I would politely ask Ms Coburn - doesn't impoverishment depend upon an innate appreciation of beauty?

Sir, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped make Ross County's appearance in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final such a special occasion for the club, the town of Dingwall and the Highlands as a whole.

Sir, The result of the 2010 General Election was one of the most decisive ever - only two southern English public schoolboys, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, are confused over very simple and obvious facts.

Sir, I refer to your article 'Student survey shows college places cut by half' (Courier 7.5.10). The information detailing a cut in January places at Inverness College UHI is inaccurate and I would like to take this opportunity to clear the matter up.

Sir, I would like to suggest a different future for the vacant site at Rose Street. It would be an ideal location for a new Sheriff Court. Prison vans could be parked out of sight and the castle could be freed up as a museum or art gallery, to the advantage of our future as a tourist trap.

Sir, I have been saving milk bottle tops which are sent abroad and then made into Crocs and wellies.

Sir, I am a newcomer to the Highlands (from Australia) and to my delight, as a Commonwealth citizen, I was allowed to vote in the elections.

Sir, On behalf of the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Conservative Association, I wish to offer our sincere congratulations to Danny Alexander on his appointment as Scottish Secretary.

Sir, Liberals and Liberal and radical associations have always been locked in battle with a Tory Party representing privilege, wealth and elitist authority - since before 1857 and the formation of The National Liberal Federation.

Sir, Perhaps the best bet is a new general election.

Sir, I wonder how many Lib Dem voters are now questioning how their support for Danny Alexander has led directly to the return of a Tory Government and a coming programme of savage cuts which will devastate jobs and services in the Highlands.

Sir, Those deciding where to situate the University of the Highlands and Islands should be listening long and hard to two of the leading entrepreneurs and visionaries in the Scottish Highlands.

Sir, Lorraine Mann should reconsider the statement that one-third of the electorate stayed at home and watched telly because we could not be bothered.

Sir, In her article about the Relate counsellor Gary McFarlane (Courier 7.5.10) Lorraine Mann is perfectly correct when she says that he should have known that his involvement carried with it the possibility that he might have to work with same sex couples.

Sir, In response to Harry Benyon's letter "Decisions about financial cuts aren't easy to make", Mr Benyon should consult the UN convention on the rights of the child, which states the right to take part in cultural life and the arts.

Sir, Over a year ago I fell ill and after an operation spent almost a year recovering from a post-op infection.

Sir, I was very glad to see that Aldourie Castle is in very good hands. Its owner, Roger Tempest, has done a great deal to improve parts of it, including the "lavishly refurbished" library.

Sir, As president of the Rotary Club of Loch Ness I would like to recognise the achievements of pupils and staff at Charleston Academy over the last couple of weeks.

Sir, I am writing in praise of Stagecoach Buses regarding the no. 27 Contin to Inverness route. Having taken them to task myself before now, it is time to give a positive view.

Sir, The general consensus reached by the Scottish Parliament in the recent debate on lowering transmission charges for electricity generators to access the National Grid is to be applauded.

Sir, At a time when the working future of ordinary citizens is being threatened by the failure of politicians and financial institutions to maintain a healthy economy, the last thing we need is to carry the consequences of those failures into the communities.

Sir, Participation in culture is a right, not a privilege, says Georgina Coburn (Courier 27.4.10), a statement which at best could be called a half-truth.

Sir, I read with interest your article regarding the possible sale of the Clach Social Club, which Mr Miah wants to turn into a Bangladeshi community centre and rent the boardroom to Clach on match days but with no alcohol allowed for religious reasons.

Sir, On 8th April, my husband and I visited your city as part of a trip to Scotland.

Sir, I think the tax-payers of Inverness will be interested to know some facts about the Merkinch Community Centre, threatened by closure from Highland Council.

Sir, Re instrumental tuition in schools and proposed cuts.

Sir, The story "Volcanic ash chaos costs city £1.8m" tells us of how much money has been lost at Inverness Airport and in particular the cafe area and local impact on 2500 jobs in the city.

Sir, I am a pensioner, but not, I hope, particularly sensitive. However, twice, recently I have become aware of a horrible tendency of some of the young in our city to ridicule older people.

Sir, In response to your report of Highland Council's proposed budget consultation (Courier 2.4.10), the process must take into account the long-term effects of proposed cuts over and above short-term gain.

Sir, I am weary of the complaints of the Milton of Leys Residents Association. Areas like Merkinch, Dalneigh, etc., have real issues with more deserving causes, yet there is not the synchronised moaning we have from these people.

Sir, That the Redcoats should have a new memorial at Culloden is one of a number of suggestions put forward about the battle in recent years by revisionist historians from the South.

Sir, Here we go again. Will it be Longman, Beechwood or Rose Street? The saga of Inverness College continues.

Sir, I wish to lend my support to David Cameron of Upland Developments and David Sutherland of Tulloch Homes, on reading your article on them trying to persuade UHI officials to re-locate the new campus to a city centre location at the old Safeway in Rose Street.

Sir, It is disgraceful that our councillors are considering a u-turn or delaying tactics in the provision of new builds for the elderly of the Highlands.

Sir, I act as chairman to the Inverness Group of Advanced Motorists, the local branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Sir, My mother, the late Councillor Mabel Skinner, will be turning in her grave to know that the Merkinch Community Centre is earmarked for closure.

Sir, Bravo councillors! Beechwood House is closed! What a saving! Pavlovas back on your plates! Plants from the soon-to-close Floral Hall will adorn your new paving slabs!

Sir, It was with great dismay that I and many others learned that Highland Council, in their wisdom and as part of their proposed budget cuts, wish to close three Highland swimming pools, including the one in Nairn.

Sir, Sam McNaughton nailed it in one contemptous and impertinent remark from the "you couldn't make it up" category.

Sir, Labour's campaign issues for the General Election include education, the NHS and policing. Yet I find these to be inappropriate for the Westminster campaign in Scotland as they are dealt with by the Scottish Parliament.

Sir, I look on in amazement at work on the Ness Bridge footways. Are the councillors who authorised the replacement of the slabs with tar, going to get up in the winter mornings to make sure people can walk on it safely?

Sir, I find it ironic that one of the big selling points always put forward by wind farm companies is an improvement in the roads.

Sir, I write in disgust at the comment made by the chairman of Milton of Leys Residents Association, Gavin Norton, that Tulloch Homes is using emotions to try to win over objectors and Highland Council officials to erect 12 new homes for our injured fine young men and women who have defended democracy and freedom.

Sir, It is indeed time for a memorial to soldiers who fought the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden, as called for by military historian Trevor Royle.

Sir, The scale of the cuts being proposed by the council in its consultation exercise (Courier 02.04.10) should alarm every right thinking citizen in the Highlands for two reasons.

Sir, Regarding your article in Friday's Courier (2.4.10), I think it is an utter disgrace that all these cuts are going to take place.

Sir, Regarding disabled parking hitting the headlines recently, I wish to request that people do not make judgement regarding the use of this parking without being aware of the facts.

Sir, So there is to be no public representation on the bypass committee because we are not clever enough..

Sir, I was a fire officer for 30 years and having just retired I was touring the Highlands from my home in Surrey when my car developed a fuel fault. I took the car to Ross's, of Ullapool.

Sir, I am writing regarding the disgraceful way the Junior Pipers were treated at last year's Northern Meeting competitions.

Sir, I write with regard to your front page article, also editorial, (Courier 23.3.10) on the subject of a number of proposed new wind farms in the Strathnairn/Strathdearn area, numbering no less than 199 in total.

Sir, Because of a falling budget, Highland Council has agreed to some cuts to services but they have only done the easy bits, with further savings of £36 million required.

Sir, In the past I have always been proud to invite family and friends to visit me in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland.

Sir, Following your report (Courier 16/3/10) that our local MSPs are "pushing" Inverness College to relocate to the Beechwood site, we wondered if they had studied the proposed access arrangements. We have asked for their comments.

Sir, The Scottish Government's recent consolidation of 17 separate planning policies into one document on topics such as housing, wind farms, flooding and the natural and built environment is to be commended.

Sir, So Inverness streetscape is the best part of £1 million over budget (Courier 19.3.10). Now there is a surprise.

Sir, Having obtained no concessions whatsoever (not one metre of the giant Beauly-Denny line is to be undergrounded) the communities of the Aird now brace themselves for the damage and disruption eloquently described by Beauly and Kilmorack representatives.

Sir, Andy Dixon's report (Courier 9.3.10) prompts me to support the contents of his article regarding litter blight fears.

Sir, Following the correspondence regarding Titanic - the Musical (Courier 19.3.10) I felt that, as a cast member, I should perhaps give my own thoughts on this matter.

Sir, Some time ago I attended a function in the Houses of Parliament. The meal was superb and the speaker informed and witty.

Sir, I was puzzled by the decision that Rev Allan MacDonald was employed by God, and therefore he has no case to make against the church synod who suspended him (Courier 12.3.10).

Sir, May I start by saying that E Waite (Courier 16/03/2010) should allow his/her name and address to be printed, as the rest of us have the courage of our convictions about anything we write.

Sir, With the AA warning that fuel could reach £1.20 per litre, it is vital that a fuel duty regulator is introduced in the forthcoming Budget.

Sir, Lord Burton's comments and suggestions about the canal/river crossing and routing options (Courier 9.3.10) are perfectly valid and sensible.

Sir, I read with some amazement the names of the pubs given gold in the recent awards. Did no one see the irony that a gold winner had to smear Vaseline in its toilets to discourage drug taking?

Sir, At the risk of my sounding like a second censorious Mary Whitehouse, I consider that the Eden Court Theatre production of "Titanic - The Musical" is in very bad taste.

Sir, Your advertising feature "Time of Your Life" (Courier 12.3.10), while in many respects interesting, made me realise just how much of that era has already been forgotten or distorted.

Sir, As a designer working in Inverness, I feel compelled to raise my views in connection with the recent articles in your paper concerning the nomination of our city for the Carbuncle Award.

Sir, In response to the articles on Inverness's carbuncle nomination from John Glenday, editor of Urban Realm magazine, and Inverness architect Andrew Bruce, may I offer this quote to Mr Glenday from the late Alasdair Maclean.

Sir, In its efforts to save money, Highland Council could:

Sir, On returning from a few days in Glasgow, I was horrified to read of the proposed closure of the Floral Hall (Courier 2.3.10). Surely we can't let this happen.

Sir, In response to Lorraine Mann's column "Threatening letters cloud the joy of non-TV existence" (Courier 26.2.10), most people in the UK do own a TV set (97.3 per cent according to BARB statistics) and the vast majority pay for their TV Licence.

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.