Sir — It was with a mixture of incredulity and bewilderment that I read the front page article "Gloves are off as store wars head for court" in last week's Ross-shire Journal (August 6).

Sir — With the so-called Glorious Twelfth rapidly approaching, let us consider a few of the many reasons why this bird-killing festival is nothing to celebrate.

Sir — After reading your letters page last week I felt I had to write in regards the "Action against fouling menace".

Sir — Fortrose has now lost its farm shop. Only those directly involved know the real reason for this but of course when the heavy hand of the law is called in, the result is predictable.

Sir — I cross the Kessock Bridge regularly in my business of taking visitors to the north and west.

Sir - It is unfortunate that Laurence Watkins, The Liberal Democrat Ross-shire convener, feels the need to be 100 per cent negative about my support for SEPA's commitment to a high value permanent presence in Dingwall, and I believe your readers can discern the political reason for this behaviour.

Sir - How long will it take for the Tesco management, who are behaving in a manner which is worse than a group of nursery school children, to realise that they are NOT going to win over the fine people of Tain, and the wider area of the Highlands.

Sir - As a regular user of the 25X service I must agree with David McIver that the service is worse since the change to the timetables.

Sir — Last weekend saw the Scottish 50-mile time trials championship being held in the vicinity of Invergordon.

Sir — I attended the meeting at Ardross Hall on Thursday on the future of Alness Swimming Pool along with a multitude of other concerned townspeople.

Sir — It was my great pleasure to travel up from Staffordshire on May 15 to attend the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final 2010. Why was it a pleasure, well for a few reasons?

Sir - With reference to the letter in the Ross-shire Journal on June 4 (When 'democracy' did not work), I must congratulate Dr Patrick Zentler-Munro for writing an informative letter. Unfortunately, Dr Zentler-Munro completely missed the point raised by Councillors as reported in the article in the Ross-shire Journal dated May 21.

Sir - We have, for the past fourteen years, been coming to Scotland twice annually, staying at Drumbuie farm near Drumnadrochit for two weeks at a time.

Sir - I am the Group Scout Leader for Fairburn Scout Group in Marybank and I am hoping you print this as I would like to take the opportunity to thank so many people.

Sir - I am writing to you as a concerned mother of three regarding the proposed closure of the Alness Swimming Pool.

Sir — I read with disbelief and disappointment Councillor Barclay's spirited plea for greater democracy in local planning matters as quoted in the Ross-shire Journal of May 21.

Sir — The decision that the Reporter made on May 11 to reverse the decision that was taken by our local Highland councillors on August 18, 2009 and allow the Invergordon incinerator to go ahead is against what the people wanted.

Sir - Re, the toilets at the Corrieshalloch Gorge, I note from your article in the paper two weeks ago that Mr Hay and Jean Urquhart are using the reason for the closure of the toilets was due to much reduced numbers using them.

Sir - So here we are in a situation where the main news is the coalition formed in Westminster and the interest revolves around what the end result will be.

Sir - Having watched the cup final at Hampden I am sure that, as with many Ross County fans in and around Dingwall and beyond, we are all very proud of the achievements of Ross County this season. Derek Adams, his players, his backroom staff, the directors and everyone connected with the club have done a tremendous job in putting Ross County, Dingwall and the Highlands on the map.

Sir — I have been asked by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, to help put Armed Forces Day even more on the map.

Sir - We appear to have a democratic deficit in East Ross. I am not referring to the strange vagaries of the voting system in the recent general election but the overturning of planning decisions by the reporters in recent inquiries.

Sir — I am writing to express my concern at the Council's plans to close my local swimming pool at Alness.

Sir — On Monday of last week, in the wee hours, my wife and I set off, with our elder son taking on the role of driver, for a week in my native Highlands.

Sir — As a former employee of SEPA I was particularly interested in the report of the Dingwall operations in last week's Ross-shire Journal.

Sir — Regarding the article in last week's Ross-shire Journal - County boss could be hit with a touchline ban at Hampden.

Sir — One sure sign that a general election will soon be upon us, is the Liberal Democrats resurrecting once more the campaign for a fuel subsidy for remote areas in the Highlands.

Sir — It is all too easy in the excitement following Saturday's fantastic game against Celtic, to forget the much appreciated role played by County's directors in subsidising the coach fares paid by supporters.

Sir — Saturday, April 10 a day to be remembered by all Ross County fans.

Sir - I refer to the report in last week's Ross-shire Journal in which MSP Jamie Stone "aims to lick the PO in battle over Scottish stamps".

Sir - LibDem Allan MacRae, (Ross-shire Journal April 2), is at it again. Does he really want the Forth Road Bridge to be closed and not replaced, a very damaging position for the economy of the Highlands?.

Sir - The late Peter Bull, actor, writer and bear-lover par excellence, always maintained that teddy bears were far superior to dolls. In his opinion dolls spend most of their time wondering what they are going to wear next, whereas your average teddy has its mind on higher things and, being more adventurous, likes nothing better than a good day out.

Sir - I recently returned from work offshore to be met with a river of water running from the overflowing drains on Tulloch Castle Drive (yet again).

Sir — As a lifelong, and also long-suffering Hibs supporter, fifty-plus years, I was delighted to hear that Hibs had been drawn to play Ross County in the Scottish cup.

Sir — I feel I must write this letter in objection to the Tesco people who are, in my mind, threatening the Council and the good people of Tain.

Sir — We have heard the wonderful news all the way over here in New Zealand about Ross County's 2-1 over Hibs. Go County!

Sir — The apathy experienced recently by Avoch and Killen Community Council is obviously not a new problem.

Sir — I'm afraid I have to agree with the comments in last week's RSJ regarding the erratic service provided by Stagecoach.

Sir — As a resident likely to be affected by the proposed construction of a large fabrication shop in the Invergordon Service Base, I was interested in your story in the Journal last week.

Sir — Having read the article featuring Mr Murdoch MacPhail it is good to see that his poor sense of humour and mudslinging insults highlight his ignorance of wind farm development and environmental impact.

Sir — Shortly after setting off from Dingwall to Thurso on Tuesday I approached the Tomich junction to Invergordon on the A9. There were blue flashing lights up ahead - an accident.

Sir — I wonder if you would let your readers and our many customers plus supporters, know, as soon as possible, that our Breast Cancer Scanner at the Ross-shire Health Protection Trust building, 6 Stafford Street, Tain, has closed for the rest of the winter.

Sir — How good it was to hear the Ross County supporters cheering their team to the echo each time the ball hit the back of the net on Saturday afternoon.

Sir — Following from SNP MSP Mr Dave Thompson's consultation on open level crossings within the Highlands, I have done a little research myself.

Sir — It is with great sadness that we have taken the decision to look for a new tenant for our premises.

Sir — I refer to Mr Alan MacRae's letter to you (Ross-shire Journal, January 15) about Conon Bridge Railway Station in which he resorts to personal insults and misinformation to try to make his point.

Sir — Further to your report of January 15 in relation to the Highland Rheumatology Unit, I am one of the three patient representatives that has been involved in the review process, and I am currently an in-patient at the Rheumatology Unit.

Sir — People in Northern Scotland generally don't like to make a fuss but the state of the Highland Council maintained roads coupled with the poor snow (slow) clearing service has tipped us over the ice-edge!

Sir — The snows affecting the country have had a massive impact.

Sir — Northern Constabulary takes the issue of motorists driving whilst using mobile phones very seriously and places the appropriate level of priority on policing this offence.

Sir — Inverness Airport bosses are going on a trip to look at airports in Scandinavia. They might like to look closer to home to see where they could do more to provide a better service for passengers.

Sir — It seems our roads have not been gritted as the snow fell on a public holiday, a source from the Highland Council said.

Sir — Despite our slogan "A Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas" and warnings against buying puppies as Christmas presents, there will be some families who received a puppy as a gift this Christmas.

Sir — Burning waste is the most dangerous way of disposing of our rubbish. It produces dangerous chemicals - dioxin being just one which cannot be safely captured by any means.

Sir — When politicians talk about Scottish culture and heritage on TV, they might mention our natural resources and beauty spots. Or folk music. Maybe even Gaelic and multicultural diversity.

Sir - I would like to draw your readers' attention to an NHS review into the Highland Rheumatology Unit at Dingwall which could result in cuts to the service provided. It is the only one of its kind in the country and I am sure that it is a facility that has been used by many of your readers and their friends and relatives.

Sir - I agree with Ann Bolton and others about the flooding affecting the sports grounds of the new Dingwall Academy.

Sir - I had the misfortune of having two wreaths stolen from Tore Cemetery around this time last year.

Sir - It is now clear that Highland Council is to push for a pay freeze for much of its lower paid workers next year. At the same time, part privatisation and cuts to essential and much needed services are also under active consideration from the Indy/Labour/Liberal council. We are told these drastic steps are needed to meet a massive budget shortfall estimated over the next few years.

Sir - Anne Bolton, in your last edition, writing concerning the present situation regarding Dingwall Academy playing fields, put her case very well indeed - as always. On the general points she makes I have little to add save to endorse her claim that the area in front of the school was earmarked by the local authority and the school as a sports field - part of their case to refute the accusation that the new layout gave inadequate provision for the playing of major games. At that time I questioned the likelihood of this frontal area becoming a "pitch" and have been proved right.

Sir - As the Christmas season approaches, reindeer are being transported up and down the country to be used as entertainment in parades, Santa's grottos and other festive events.

Sir — What a totally misleading editorial in last week's edition of the Ross-shire journal on the proposed waste to energy plant in Invergordon.

Sir — Following on from your front page article in last week's Journal, Frederico Bollero wrote that he is descended from Colin Bain Calder, the first president of the Club Atlético Rosario Central, which had been started when British companies were building the Argentine railway network in the mid/late nineteenth century.

Sir — I refer to Mr Slater's letter last week, describing the Fairburn wind farm "as a hideous monstrosity, even in its partially completed state".

Sir — Inevitably light aircraft flying near Dingwall are frequently attributed to the existence of our airstrip at Knockbain Farm.

Sir — We are disgusted by the Council's decision to discontinue road gritting to Torridon and Diabaig.

Sir — I refer to the item in the Journal of October 30 about Highland Council's refusal to unlock the way to funding for a much-needed swimming pool in the Black Isle.

Sir — As one brought up in the age of horse-drawn ploughs and paraffin-powered tractors, and now through the miracle and magic of modern-day technology, I regularly watch BBC ALBA.

Sir — I noticed that David Reynolds, the creator of the largest matchstick model in the world, is searching for somewhere to house his oil rig masterpiece.

Sir — I was interested in the article which appeared on Page 3 of the Ross-shire Journal, dated October 16, entitled "New power plans are unveiled".

Sir — Due to the unprecedented amount of stray and abandoned kittens taken in by the Tain and District branch of Cat's Protection this year, we are running a neutering campaign during the month of November.

Sir — It is now over a year (September 5, 2008 to be exact) since Tesco were awarded Outline Planning Permission on their site in Shore Road, Tain.

Sir — My letter is in reference to an article printed in the Ross-shire Journal dated Friday, October 16, entitled, Pensioners choke on lunch travel charge.

Sir — I wonder if readers can assist in providing information and/or memorabilia (photographs would be of particular interest) for a research project into the Women's Suffrage Campaign in the Highlands currently being undertaken by the Inverness branch of the Workers' Educational Association.

Sir — I am writing to tell of a heartwarming incident that happened to me recently.

Sir — On behalf of God's Golden Acre and my family, I would like to thank the people of Easter Ross for their hospitality and generosity to our Zulu visitors.

Sir — As a motorist who regularly drives the A9 through Easter Ross, I sympathise with your correspondent (name and address supplied) who is frustrated with cyclists on the A9.

Sir — The rant by the contributor (name and address supplied) in the letters column last week calling for a ban on cyclists exemplifies the attitude of a few petrol-headed extremists who believe that everything which moves must be subordinated to their convenience.

Sir — I entirely agree with the idea of taxing cyclists. They should also have insurance as a road user.

Sir — If and when the Conservatives win the next general election it will be all our pensioners, schools, hospitals, NHS, disabled, sick, infirm, all of Scotland's industrial heartland and the long term unemployed that will suffer.

Sir — In November 2007, delegates at the Cycling Scotland Conference voted overwhelmingly for the production of a Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.

Sir — I was bemused to hear Gordon Brown, in his recent address to the TUC Conference, talk about cuts in public spending after the recovery has started. The reality is that the UK Government is making real cuts, right now.

Sir — No problem now? ASDA with access from one end of the Tain by-pass and Tesco from the other end.

Sir — The Nurse's League of Inverness Hospitals are holding a reunion in the Beaufort Hotel, Culduthel Road, Inverness on Saturday, October 3 at 2pm. Registration commences at 1pm.

Sir — This year sees the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign mark its 50th anniversary.

Sir — As a 75-year-old great-grandfather I was beginning to believe that life's excitements had passed me by.

Sir — The UK Government's 2p rise in fuel duty will only serve to hinder economic recovery, negating any potential additional income to the Treasury.