Tourists must be disgusted by our litter-stained beauty spots

It’s hard to believe that people are happier to empty their cars of litter and leave it on the roadside rather than bag it and take it home.

Tourists come to our country in droves, whether by plane, coach, car or organised tours.

What must they think as they go through the natural beauty of places like Glencoe, Glenshee, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and our beautiful islands?

None of these places escape the Cancer of Litter.

We should take a pride in our country and maybe just maybe we can proudly promote Bonnie Scotland again.

Neil Stewart, Balfron.

Gulls and girls in Buchanan Street

I OFTEN despair of the younger generation and their careless ways.

On Saturday lunchtime in busy Buchanan Street I saw two teenage girls casually drop a takeaway container of chips and walk on without a second’s thought. Two older women, walking in the opposite direction, were plainly taken aback and glared at the girls. By that time a couple of hungry gulls were already swooping on the container. The girls went on their merry way. Have these girls’ parents or teachers never taught them about the problems that arise from littering?

M Matthews, Glasgow.

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Off the Ball is a joy to listen to...

I HAVE to beg to differ with some comments of Douglas Cowe’s letter (March 15).

I find it refreshing that the presenters of Off the Ball don’t pretend to be offering anything other than what it says ‘on the tin’; delivering the ‘most ill-informed and petty sports programme on radio’. It shows a certain confidence to be able to send yourself up and not take yourself too seriously.

As someone who has little interest in football, I find that programme just good fun and relaxing banter, with some interesting debate and insights into football and other subjects.

Gifted presenters and journalists are able to raise the interest of a topic which the listener/reader would not normally identify with. I think of sports writer Hugh MacDonald and the late Charlie Allan, the farming reporter whose columns were humorous, entertaining and informative. Maybe I will never develop a deep interest in either sport or farming but I might grow a wee bit more knowledgeable of subjects which I would never normally engage with. There are also some other excellent programmes of high standard from BBC Radio Scotland, like Travelling Folk and Take the Floor.

Although some of the topics covered in the phone-in programmes after 9 o’clock may not be everybody’s interest, I’m always impressed how well the presenters managed to conduct themselves, considering the unpredictability of those who phone in.

I am all for ‘lightweight’ presenters in this day and age when a lot which is offered is seriously depressing and gloomy. On a more serious note, I don’t think that either Stuart Cosgrove or Tam Cowan, co-presenters of Off the Ball, would call themselves ‘Weegie’, Stuart having grown up in Perth and Tam hailing from Motherwell.

Irene Munro, Conon Bridge.

... No, it isn’t. It’s dire

 I TOTALLY agree with Douglas Cowe about BBC Radio Scotland. I used to make a point of tuning in to Off the Ball for the fantastic banter, impressions and competitions but now, if I mistakenly twiddle the knob, I have a few seconds of aural voyeurism just to comfirm how but bad it now is. It should be renamed Off the Boil.

And then there’s the Saturday football commentary, where one minute you can hear Willie Miller smoothly dissecting the weaknesses in the East Fife defence only to be blasted off the air by some Bob Crampsey wannabe screaming “aw ,wee Doddie McBain’s just pulled one back fur Auchenshuggle....tripped oan his laces, heided the ba’ as he landed an’ it trundled intae the net!” Unbelievably fantastic!” Unbelievably dire, more like.

Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven.

BBC can do better than this

I THOUGHT I was the only one who had recently got into the habit of switching off BBC Radio Scotland when certain presenters came on, but after reading Douglas Cowe’s letter I wholeheartedly agree with the input he succinctly detailed.

Come back the likes of Janice Forsyth, who was knowledgeable and articulate in her presenting and was a joy to listen to.

The standard of some of the current presenters and output from BBC Radio Scotland almost matches and reinforces the way Scotland is heading just now, towards a sub-standard country.

Come on, BBC – you can do better than this.

Douglas Eadie, Alexandria.

Mick McGahey (Image: Newsuest)

Urbane and witty Mick McGahey

BACK in 1986 on the London train from Edinburgh, the instantly recognisable Mick McGahey came aboard at York and sat opposite me (letters, March 14). If it matters, we were both travelling second-class.

We cheerfully blethered away the miles to London, covering an eclectic range of topics that somehow didn’t include either politics or the miners’ strike.

He proved urbane, witty and companionable, exuding such a kindly avuncular air.

Most of all, I recall his courtesy – an example to us all.

Gordon Casely, Crathes.

Wyndford flats

WILL someone please tell me what is the true condition of the 600 Wyndford flats?

Will someone tell me why 600 flats should be demolished at huge cost, to be replaced by half that number, when Glasgow is facing a huge problem in housing its government allocation of refugees and immigrants, not to mention our own homeless?

Ronald Singleton, Glasgow.

Mull(et)ing it over

WAS there a competition among the players in the rugby Six Nations to see who could have the silliest haircut?

Gordon Berry, Ayr.