I SEE that Govan Cross has been confirmed as Glasgow's newest conservation area (Evening Times, May 5).

It's not before time. But when you see the multi-millions being poured into other parts of the city, this is just a drop in the bucket as to what's required to turn Govan around.

Unfortunately, I don't think that any amount of money will ever regenerate an area which certainly wasn't without its problems in certain parts, but which was nevertheless a once vibrant and thriving community.

Council leaders should hang their heads in shame at what's been allowed to happen to one of Glasgow's oldest and most historic areas, and should concentrate their minds on helping people who have lived in the city all their lives, instead of flinging money at soulless ghettos such as Glasgow Harbour.

Reader Poll Should the council have more than 10 inspectors identifyng potholes? Yes 88.2% No 10.0% Don't know 1.8%

MURRAYMINT, Kilbarchan

New hospital a no go

I AM very concerned about the closure of both Yorkill hospitals, because it will put the lives of mothers and children at risk.

At the present time these hospitals have saved the lives of many people, due to the fact that they are in the right location and convenient to most Glaswegians.

Building a new hospital on the site of the Southern General would be madness.

It is in the wrong location, without any decent public transport to or from it.

We need hospitals in the community, not on an unsuitable site in Govan.

WORRIED MUM, Partick

Dog death disgrace

I AM writing to express my anger at the story of the woman who deliberately left her beautiful dog to die of starvation. Do us all a favour and put her away before she does any more damage.

Name and address supplied

£7.80 call to England

PHONING England with a mobile can be a financial disaster. I had to get in touch with Nottingham - a query about my birth certificate.

After getting through, I was put on hold. My arm got sore holding the phone to my ear and then it went dead - £7.80 down the drain!

GEORGE DRUMMOND, Govan

Con street cleaners

WITH regard to a new hit squad being hired to get tough on litter lout firms (Evening Times, May 5), here in the USA, we use non-violent prisoners to clean the city streets.

It works well and there is no pay to the prisoners for doing so.

They are, of course, supervised. Why not try that instead?

Name and address supplied

Well done Rangers

WELL done to Rangers for their plans to screen the Uefa Cup Final at Ibrox (Evening Times, May 6).

I'm sure fans will flock to the stadium for what's going to be an exciting night.

LKM, Via e-mail

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HOT TOPIC: Bag charge would make shoppers think

PEOPLE take the free carrier bags because there are in front of them at the tills.

If you had to ask for a bag, and pay for it, people would stop taking so many and throwing them away.

A 10p minimum charge would make people stop and think.

KUDOS, Glasgow

Taxing time over plastic

YEAH right... another stealth tax which will ultimately find its way into the deep pockets of the big supermarkets. Tax them, not me!

SYDNEY MERIWETHER, Glasgow

Make free bags bigger

HAVE you seen the size of the bags M&S etc., are trying to give you!

You won't get half of your shopping in one of these compared to a plastic bag.

So before going shopping I will need to pack six to seven of these "bags for life". Not very handy if you're going for lunch first or a look round the other shops!

My other point, are we to expect a tax on plastic bottles etc?

EASTENDDUDE, Glasgow

Put £1 price on them

MAKE it £1 per bag, people would soon start remembering to take their own when they went out.

As to the idea of taxing plastic bottles, yes, tax them too: £1 per bottle.

You took your glass ginger bottle back to the shop for 5p when I was a kid.

It might help stem the obesity epidemic too.

TARRY BREEKS, Partick

Time to revert to trolley

IN my day - and that wasn't that long ago - we never used carrier bags.

We had reusable shopping bags or the ever stylish shopping trolley.

If it was a big shop then it was boxes we used.... and reused.

CC, Paisley

Follow the US example

I DON'T walk into Marks & Spencer or Asda with 12 carrier bags, it's not practical!

Why don't we follow America in having paper bags, then they would biodegrade or could be reused!

I am not going round the shops with a bag full of carrier bags, it's absolute nonsense! The retailers should be taking greater responsibility for bags!

JAY BROWN, Helensburgh