PUBLIC OPINION

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FIRST AND LAST TIME
I ventured into Derby for the first time this year the other morning. If I can plan things right, it will also be my last visit of the year. Our first impression was made by the litter-strewn, weed-infested car park and we were further charmed by the boarded-up and empty shops. On walking into the centre, we were greeted with a merry quip from the obligatory Becket Street drunk, as he lurched toward us, can in hand.

Walking through this place is quite a sad process, as you view the once fine public and commercial buildings now containing the ubiquitous, characterless chain pubs and the identikit chain shops. The sadness deepens with a visit to the market place with its laughable ornamentation and destroyed views - soon to be compounded by the offence against taste and financial prudence that is Quad.

The whole impression of Derby is summed up by the Christmas decorations, now somewhat tatty and forlorn, which no-one could be bothered to take down even though it is now the middle of January. As we enjoyed the best part of the day (the road out), I realised why Derby has become the laughing stock of the Midlands. Bob Attenborough

TIME FOR A CHANGE
The time has arrived for a complete change in the mind set of Derby City Council, Derby Cityscape and the sundry hangers on who are leading development within the city. This is confirmed by the latest idea from the developer of the new Eagle Centre to add a cinema complex to the scheme. I am not against cinemas, but the whole crux of the matter is, that because new developments are becoming too expensive for shops to relocate to, we are being lead down a slippery slope where anything, however inappropriate, goes. Just look at the number of shops closing within the city. This can only increase as we try to pile more and more shopping outlets into unaffordable situations. These people are only able to see the large cash returns at the time of development, with little or no thought to the long-term viability. We must have a complete rethink before it's too late. Mr A Dunn

LITTER MONITOR
Residents of Oakwood demanded a litter monitor to be hired by the city council, to help clean-up the area's rubbish-strewn shopping centre. This monitor would patrol the area and take tough action against litter louts. A very good idea one may say. But it's not going to happen because our eminent city council leader, Maurice Burgess, said, "If Oakwood has one, everyone will want one". This is rich, coming from the leader who constantly highlights certain areas of this city for preferential treatment and services.

These areas are mainly Normanton, Pear Tree, Osmaston and, more recently, Derwent. Apart from improved services and equipment, with them not yet involved in the two bin system, they still enjoy a once-weekly bin collection. Some of these areas also receive improvements to their private houses, CCTV cameras, clocks, flower baskets, improved shopping areas and refurbishment of their local pubs, to name just a few.

So why can't Oakwood enjoy something that is unique to Oakwood? But Oakwood will not receive the services, so may I suggest that the traders in the precinct keep the immediate area in front of their premises litter free. After all, I have been doing this in front of my property, including the removal of leaves, for years. I cannot remember when I last set eyes on a litter picker in my area. I only wish we were fortunate enough to, at least, receive some of the standard services we pay our council tax for. D. H. Lockley

TRAVEL
People travel for business reasons, to work, to shop and to visit someone in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. If the council wants cars out of the city centre, we have all the space on Pride Park to build a modern bus station, a shopping mall, a theatre and an ice rink for top shows. We have to travel or take day trips to see tourist attractions but Derby has all the potential to compete. We live in a city with a river, Elvaston Country Park, Pride Park and derelict areas. If we plan and build the right features, tourists and day trippers into Derby would soon generate money. Other cities are spending millions and have spent millions on features to attract toursists and day trippers. Houses, flats, office blocks, pubs, casinos, and nightclubs will not attract anybody. Do these council people see the progress in other cities or do they never leave Derby? B. Flood

PROMISES NOT BEING HONOURED
About a year ago, I approached my Lib Dem councillors to request the installation of dropped kerbs for wheelchairs in front of the shops in Devonshire Drive, Mickleover. They put me in touch with a council officer, who inspected and agreed that ramps were a necessity in this area of predominantly old people's bungalows and where several residents are wheelchair-users. Installation was promised for June or July 2004. Nothing happened. I again approached the councillors and the officer.

I was told that there had been a delay and the kerbs would be installed soon; then that the budget had been spent and they would have to await further funds. The council has now seen fit to resurface an area of pavement in front of the shops. Surely this was the time to put in dropped kerbs, thus saving a second day of work on the same spot. I have at least learned that the Lib Dems and council officers cannot be trusted to honour their promises and that they appear to have little regard for the disabled. Derek J North MBE

EQUALITY
I was interested in a "City celebrates its wealth of cultures" advertisement and although it was a very last-minute advertisement of this event (I had seen no other), it appealed to me as I enjoy learning about various cultures. Seeing no mention of Scottish, Welsh, Irish or English in the report, I decided to try to contact the programme organisers, Derby Cultural Diversity Community Group. I rang Derby City Council and spoke to a lady who gave me more information on the event.

She stated that she was from the equality department. It did not appear to mention anything of the above nature so I asked if there would be anything representing our English culture. She replied there would be some Irish dancing. I asked against about English, Scottish and Welsh (I feel there is a wealth culture there). The reply, "Oh yes, there will be an English lady doing a belly dancing display!" I said I could not recall that as part of my English culture.

Her reply to most of my questions seemed to be that, when invited to do something for this day, the part of culture I was referring to showed no interest or was too busy. I suggested that since there was Afro-Caribbean poetry represented, could not they have included an English poet? I was told that all of the spaces had been divided equally and that, perhaps next year, there might be a different approach.

I replied that, when I went to school, if something was divided equally, you all got a piece and of the same size. That isn't how it is, she argued! I told her I felt very hurt to realise I didn't appear to have a culture and threw out the challenge (since some of my money seems to have been allocated for this venture) that perhaps next year, she might include something of my heritage. Belly-dancing? English? It's news to me! Share something equally and all have a different-sized piece? Have I missed something? Mrs Janet R. Sharp

COUNCIL ACTIONS
When the deputy chief executive of the city council states that a period of only 14 days is required to advertise to the public the proposed loss of public open space in Full Street, he may be legally correct. However, morally, this is just another nail in the coffin of democracy in this city. Why are they in such a rush? One imagines that the city council wishes to dispose of this strip of land at a very exorbitant price to the highest bidder. This is because the site of the ex-police station is virtually useless to a developer without the extra strip of land.

So, yet again, instead of a beautiful green space overlooking Cathedral Green, we will, no doubt, get another cheap-looking monstrosity. What can the citizens of Derby do to stop this farce? Very little. There are few grounds for objection and the decision on the sale of the land will not even be made by the full council. This is supposedly known as local government being open with the public and allowing democracy to flourish. What utter rubbish! It is about a very greedy council getting even more greedy. Tony Dunn