MR Bennett (Your Views, November 23) seems to think that because Clifton Grove/Trent Valley is next to a big city – and indeed, very close to one of the largest housing estates in Europe – he does not class it as an area of outstanding beauty.

May we point out that because of its close proximity to both, it needs extra protection from developments such as wind turbines?

Many people cannot afford the cost of running a car, so long trips out into the countryside are not an option. To have an area like Clifton Grove within walking distance is an absolute delight for the many dog walkers, fishermen, bird watchers and cyclists who regularly visit this area.

How can anyone say that three structures 125 metres high and 95 metres wide will not be visually intrusive?

CLIFTON GROVE COMMUNITY GROUP

Wichnor Close

Clifton Grove

I NOTICED the picture in the Nottingham Post of Gedling MP Vernon Coaker visiting Carnarvon House in Burton Joyce, run by independent not-for-profit organisation Abbeyfield.

There are many privately-run providers, with various business models, who offer good quality care for older people. My mother-in-law is in an independent home and receives excellent care.

It will be interesting to see if some of Mr Coaker's Labour colleagues from Nottinghamshire County Council will be pictured sharing a cup of tea with residents at any of the six homes being transferred from the council to the private operator, Runwood Homes.

Observant folk will have noticed that planning permission is already being sought by Runwood for an extension to accommodate extra beds in homes at Bramwell in Bramcote and Leawood Manor in West Bridgford.

This is in-keeping with its pledge to invest an extra £500,000 in each of the six homes and undermines completely the claims of political scare-mongers that these homes were only being acquired to sell off land.

The debate over care for our vulnerable elderly people needs to be more mature and realistic. The Labour party in particular has to stop pretending local authorities can continue to operate as they have in the past, treating the taxpayer's money as if it is an inexhaustible resource.

The number of older people requiring care is growing and the state's resources are shrinking. Councils should not be running services in-house when specialist private organisations can deliver services of equal quality for better value. To ensure quality care for our senior citizens we must embrace new approaches and recognise the importance of the independent sector.

COUNCILLOR CAROL PEPPER

Aylesham Avenue

Arnold

STRIKERS, your efforts will see you get this year's award for self-indulgence. Do the maths – the numbers don't stack up.

We all need to work longer with an ageing population as the now unfunded promises of the past 60 years come home to bite us all.

As a country we need to go cold turkey on the big state and direct efforts into the private enterprise of UK Ltd/PLC. Add efficiency to the undoubted skills and ethos of 95% of public sector employees and we can regenerate our economic strength.

Let's finally throw off the shackles of UK-style trade unionism and the childish nonsense of capricious "bosses versus downtrodden workers". It isn't true. If we have to have unions then look no further than Germany. Unions there are responsible to the benefit of their members and country. Union barons on their own fat pensions should take note.

BEN BIGGIN

Russell Road

Forest Fields

REGARDING the potential brainwashing of children with regards attitudes towards dog mess ('Pupils take a stand on dirty dog owners', Post, November 28). They did not dream this project up on their own. This is compounded by the Councillor Phillip Shields who scaremongers, I believe, by using the words "highly toxic" and states fine levels up to £1,000 for not cleaning up.

Toxoplasmosis, one of the most toxic complaints, mainly comes from cats and possibly farm stock – rarely from dogs which are properly immunised and housed.

Man's best friend – a dog – needs to go just as we all do.

A healthy inoculated dog leaves nothing worse behind than many other animals, including humans.

Highly toxic is well over the top and a frightening term to impressionable young persons.

I object to dog owners being viewed as dirty, or is it the pet which is dirty?

By all means educate young pupils to avoid stepping in any mess, not to eat it, and know there is a risk – but don't single out dogs or over-dramatise.

Cats roam free; horses with riders leave their mark on the roads; ducks, geese, birds, squirrels, rats, mice all do their business anywhere – with no risk of penalty for their owners (if they have one).

So why do dogs and their owners get a hard time every time? I'm still alive and I fuss many dogs, share my home with one, visit friends with dogs and clean up as best I can too. What is Councillor Shields doing to protect us all from the serious health issues which are not policed?

SIMON WOODROFFE

Fulwood Close

Chilwell

APPLE trees in Sneinton. It is a lovely idea harking back to a time when Nottingham was indeed a town of gardens and orchards.

But then I crash back down to earth. We have apple trees on the Clifton Estate and no one picks them, they just litter the pavement.

Perhaps it is thought locally that it is not allowed to harvest them or residents prefer to go to Morrisons!

It so easy to be negative but I foresee mass apple fights with pulp all squishy and dangerous underfoot. Inviting the inevitable compensation claims.

Or maybe it is a conspiracy on behalf of the council and wardens will lie in wait to ambush passing core-droppers and fine them.

ANTHONY O WILKINSON

Clifton Road

Ruddington