Great to read of the planned Christmas lights switch-on.

However, having been in the city centre this week I was astounded to see how dark it was and how many street lights are out even in the so called "style mile".

Surely the council could request their street patrol people to report in" lights out" as well as doing their normal work of issuing tickets for parking and litter.?

Bringing light to a dark place would make the city centre so much more inviting at this time of year.

Bill Love, Mosspark

Reading the article in the Evening Times on Thursday November 17 , got me thinking what the MSPs really get paid for .

MSP Colin Beattie has lodged a motion at Holyrood regarding ...wait for it ....the resizing of Toblerone.

Who'd have thought that the constituents in Midlothian had such a good life that their elected representative has no other constituency problems apart from bemoaning the size of a chocolate bar.

What a wonderful place it must be to live. Midlothian, no homelessness, no poverty, no drug culture, no health issues caused by eating too much chocolate.

Yes it looks like we've actually found the ideal place to live.

I'm off to put my name on the housing list.

Billy McVitie, Parkhead

With regards to Karen McClay's letter suggesting there should be no cars in hospital grounds and that a car park should be built on the outskirts of the city - is that north, south, east or west?

I presume Karen has never suffered extreme pain in an emergency.

J Brown, by email

To Karen McClay: I work and have to go to the hospital for a two minute appointment every six weeks.

If I had to use public transport I would have to take a half day off my work.

People go to hospital to get better.

If they can't help themselves by not smoking they should be sent home.

If a few fags is more important than their health, again send them home.

Ronnie Hodes, by email

I hope the plan to save the south side trees is successful.

Glasgow is the Dear Green Place.

Sarah Bolton, by email