The council could avoid increasing charges if it could stop drivers using Blue Badge Disabled cards in contravention of the regulations.

Many streets are awash with these vehicles where badges are used in contravention of the legislation.

York Street and James Watt Street are two examples where on most days some 80-90% of bays are occupied by Blue Badge carrying vehicles at zero charge. Virtually all of are used by 9-5pm office and shop workers and not for any disabled person.

A number of city centres have addressed this by allocating disabled bays in small numbers to accommodate the genuine disabled person.

However, the council take no action in this area due to the difficulty of enforcing the regulations, allied to the easy option of increasing prices for the honest motorist.

Michael Devaney Posted online

Ad ban farce

REGARDING last week's story about a ban on TV cycling safety advert, I had to laugh when I saw the ban was lifted. There was a serious message there and we are trying to teach kids to wear their helmets.

However, it seemed to get lost in the row over whether the ad could or could not go ahead, and now the Advertising Standards Authority said there was a "potential flaw" in its ruling.

What was the point in the ban in the first place?

Glasgow cyclist

Fears over Bill

Like many people in the UK, I am concerned about the new campaign in support of Margo MacDonald's Assisted Suicide Bill, being launched by Friends at the End and the Humanist Society of Scotland.

It seems society now expects people in a particular situation to opt for this route. It is important to remember that many people are still against this, including those with terminal illnesses.

Among a plethora of other reasons to oppose this Bill is that it risks boundaries becoming blurred and being subject to abuse for convenience or, worse still, for malicious ends.

Madeleine Picozzi via email