I AM writing in regards to Andrew Denholm’s article ‘council accused of denying places at threatened school’ that appeared in the Evening Times on April 7.

It is insulting to suggest that East Dunbartonshire council would deliberately manipulate the places given to pupils at St Joseph’s primary school in order to achieve a political goal.

The council always grants placing request where it can and has a clear policy describing the limited number of circumstances in which we would not grant a family’s request.

Unfortunately, across all our 44 schools we sometimes need to refuse requests - although we granted 821 requests last year, 126 requests were refused.

The most common reason to refuse a request is that the school would be required to employ an additional teacher to accommodate the additional pupil, which is exactly what happened at St. Josephs last year.

The decision to build a new £9m school to serve both Bearsden and Milngavie will save the Council £265,000 per year and will provide a dramatically improved educational environment.

It will also ensure the sustainability of Catholic education provision in Bearsden and Milngavie against a backdrop of a falling school role at St Joseph’s.

Rhondda Geekie, leader of East Dunbartonshire council

In relation to the muggings of pensioners reported recently in Govanhill, I don't think anyone ever fully recovers from an attack.

It leaves them mentally scarred for life even if they weren't seriously injured at the time.

It really is coming to the point we'll be hearing about murders in Govanhill.

These old people never get over this kind of attack and it could be a few months away before it really hit's them what happened.

And for all the tree huggers who probably don't live in Govanhill and never even been there, come and spend a few days and nights here and you'll soon change your minds.

Del Nugent, posted online

GOVANHILL has been victim of anti-social behaviour for a number of years now.

As someone who lives in this area it is very easy to become obsessed with the things heard while out and about. In the most part, I as a resident, try to remain balanced.

I read this news (along with the rape in Queens Park) and I am left appalled and heart-broken.

What has happened to the two residents of our community is a disgrace and should have been avoided.

I urge the community to respond to this in contacting police and local politicians to demand action, but do so in a targeted way - a way that can be measured so that when the authorities say they will do something we, as a community, can actually measure it.

Mark Lynch, posted online