WITH regard to your article Cops call in Copter' (Evening Times, July 25) it was poor comment by Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil.

Surely it does not matter the amount of money involved as long as a crime is solved.

Reader Poll Glasgow housing chiefs want tougher action on owners of slum properties. Should rogue landlords be jailed? Yes 91.8% No 7.1% Don't know 1.1%

I am sure if it was a member of Neil's family who was the victim thieves he would have been impressed with the outcome.

I am delighted that Strathclyde Police treat all crimes equally no matter the amount of money involved.

S HUGHES, Glasgow

Clean up pet problem

WHY is it that we ordinary people have to clean up our dog mess and yet our city councillors and their family members can allow their dogs to foul and leave it for us to step in, where I stay in Dennistoun.

You have to be a ballet dancer to get along the pavements because of the amount of dog dirt.

CAROLINE McCORD, Glasgow

End this parking perk

NOW that the SNP has won the Glasgow East by-election I wonder if the Labour controlled city council still thinks it is acceptable to provide more than 600 staff with free city centre parking spaces for no good reason?

Free parking is not in council employment contracts, it only helps increase city centre pollution and it does not improve efficiency in any way.

It costs more than £1.2million per year to run and it guarantees a similar deficit in revenue to council car parks over the time.

There was no consultation on it, and there is certainly no business case for this initiative, which is amounts to a £70 per week freebie for council employees.

Council leader Steven Purcell apparently travels into town by bus every day, so why can't these officials not follow his example and do the same?

TOMMY MARTIN, Glasgow

Trouble in pipeline

I AM writing with regard to the saga of fire hydrants being abused by kids to cool down in warm weather.

Maybe someone at the council could consider installing small-bore pipes and spray heads at designated areas?

Perhaps then the vandals' would use these instead.

It amazes me that nobody has put this forward.

Right enough, there's no payback in this solution unlike the restricted' parking areas around hospitals.

C McLAUGHLIN, Rutherglen

Light at end of tunne

l ARE we coming out of this economic gloom?

Supermarkets are slashing petrol prices and discount supermarkets' are doing a roaring trade as shoppers look for cheaper food.

There is even good news for some on the property market with prices falling.

If we could get Chancellor Alistair Darling to trim stamp duty, we might see the first signs of recovery.

GEORGE DRUMMOND, Govan

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HOT TOPIC: SNP must now prove it deserved to win

WELL done SNP. But now make it count and let the electorate know it has made the right choice.

Labour is a clone of the Tory party. It is bleeding everyone dry with taxes and it's the poorest who are suffering.

Start listening, Labour - if your Glasgow strongholds are going, it's time to rethink policy.

GLASGIRL, Glasgow

Spinning out of control

SO the penny has dropped - the public has finally woken up to Labour and its alleged support for the working classes'.

Labour has represented the East End both at local government and national level for ages, and look at the state of it.

Surely the days of Labour getting voted in as a matter of course are over. Too much spin, too much control, too much arrogance, too much of everything. The old saying rings true familiarity breeds contempt'.

HUGO, South Side

Enough tax hikes

THE people of the East End have spoken and they have had enough of the tax hikes and useless promises from Labour.

This should have been an ultra-safe seat yet from day one Labour couldn't get anyone to stand. It was left to fifth choice Maggie.

KUDOS, Glasgow

Vote for independence

THE SNP's victory has shown the entire UK that Scotland wants its independence - NOW.

JACK SIMPSON, Posted online

Complacency warning

WELL done fellow East-Enders in seeing the bigger picture but a note of caution to SNP - this was not a vote for independence.

It was to warn all political parties that complacency will not be tolerated any more.

EASTENDBURD, Glasgow

Constituency comes first

WELL done, SNP - getting in was the easy part. Now prove your worth and do something for the people in the East End, and don't just be a puppet for wee Alex.

You should be committed to the community first, not the party.

VICTOR, Posted online

Voters taken for granted

THE only surprise is that the winning majority is not larger. Labour took voters for granted.

FUERA_DE_JUEGO, Havana