Dismay at students THERE was a time in this country when the student portion of our society, whatever their background, could be relied upon to be a major aspect of this country’s social conscience. So I was dismayed to read on the front page of the ECHO on Saturday, October 13, that students were allowing themselves to be bussed in to clear the backlog of post that had built up in the city. I can only hope that the students who allowed themselves to be part of a scab labour force are not from this city, but from homes south of the Watford Gap. I am not a postman, or part of any union. But I do believe that others should not have the right or be allowed to break the back of a working man. R Farrar (address supplied)
When money talks WHENEVER there’s a march or protest about something, you can always rely on there being loads of students, all waving their banners and shouting the odds against whatever injustice it is they happen to be supporting that day. Shame they didn’t bother to find out why the postal workers, many with young families, are on strike and losing pay before they chose to break picket lines. Or does supporting injustice and taking a moral stand go out of the window when there’s a chance of earning a couple of quid? D S, L18 (full name supplied)
Back to work, posties NOW is the time for the post workers to realise they have no public support. They should return to work. They are crying over carrying out the kind of work we all do every day of our working lives . . . a full day’s work! Royal Mail should serve notice on them as the Dock Board did to the dockers, and then dismiss any who fail to turn up for start. These “workers” should realise that while they are “fighting” for their practices, lots of small companies like ours have cheques stuck in the post system and we risk going under ourselves. So “workers”, you've had a few days off. Now get back to work. Matthew Williams, L20
Best opportunity IN response to Joe Riley’s column (ECHO, Oct 11), we agree wholeheartedly with his comments that this is the best opportunity the Garden Festival site has seen for many years. After so long standing derelict and inaccessible to local residents, we are looking forward to the prospect of work starting on site pending the inquiry in 2008. Developers’ plan, if agreed, will not only see a dramatic improvement in the state of the existing site, which is rapidly falling victim to more and more anti-social behaviour, but will give to local people a new valuable public open space which has never previously been available. It is, however, not a case of settling for what is on the table, because there is no other option. This is by far the best proposal that has been brought forward to date. After 25 years of neglect, it is time to move forward and celebrate this area for the beauty and green space that it once was. The open plan park will do just that. Cllr Elaine Allen & Cllr Peter Allen, Liberal Democrat councillors for St Michael's
Policing responsibility WHEN New Labour came to power, we were promised safer streets and more police on the beat. We would all love to see that promise come true, but after 10 years there has been some but little change in our pol-icing and street and gun crime is more in our face now than ever before. Following Cllr Flo Clucas calling for more police for Merseyside, Labour’s leader in Liverpool Joe Anderson asks in the ECHO letters (Oct 12) for Cllr Clucas to explain how they would be funded and says that the Lib Dems are misleading the public. Policing of our streets is the sole responsibility of the Labour government-run home office and the Labour-run Merseyside police authority, not the responsibility of the Liverpool city council. So who is trying to misleading who, Mr Anderson? Ken Stewart, former Labour city and county councillor, L12
Criminals should pay I NOTE in letters to the ECHO by Cllrs Clucas and Anderson the continuing debate about more police on the streets and who is to pay for them. The answer is simple to me: Get the people who cause the need for policing to pay for them. When the yobs smash a bus shelter, make them or their parents pay for the repair and the cost of policing that activity. All criminal activity should have the cost of policing it reimbursed by the criminals. Don't let the “do-gooder” tell us that that's what any fine is for. That goes straight to the Treasury and fines that do get imposed don't reflect the true cost both in compensation and of police time. Make the criminals pay for the police, they'll soon get the message. Instead of the Labour and Liberal councillors bickering among themselves, let’s hear some creative ways of giving the people what they want – more police on the streets. Philip Brown, Aintree
Short points I HAVE been amused by the flood of angry responses to the mysterious H.S. Do these seething pensioners not realise that H.S. was perpetrating 'a wind-up', and clearly aimed at obtaining a volatile reaction? H.S. 1, over-65s 0, I think. Dave Wiggins, Rainford
WITH the proposed closure of St Joseph’s Hospice, would it not be a nice gesture if the professional Scousers Ringo Starr, Anne Robinson and Jimmy Tarbuck were to make donations to help such a worthwhile cause to survive. J. Lee, Liverpool
THOSE who think that EU-realists are making a fuss over some distant treaty should think again. Once in place, it can be changed without democratic reference. Ask yourself what that means to democracy in this country. Jason Smith, address supplied
I READ with interest about the talks between the council and Cunard Line with the prospect of Liverpool being used as the registered name (ECHO, Oct 10). No wonder the Queen Victoria is being named in Southampton when our council leader does not know one end of a ship from the other! The name of registration is always found on the STERN of a ship and not on the BOW as Mr Bradley states Gordon Tartt, address supplied
MANY years ago, as a know it all teenager, I would berate the 71 year-old tradesman with whom I was serving my time with sayings such as 'you stupid old sod with a smelly pipe' etc. But he would only smile kindly, pat my head and say, "Don’t worry Bill, you'll find out." But now at 81 I’ve got the message. The penny will one day drop with you too, Mr H.S. Bill Backshall, Lydiate | 
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