Smokers are spoiling the music
A disturbing and unsettling new social practice is occurring in pubs and clubs throughout England... disturbing for those who like their live music and unsettling for the musician.
Although the smoking ban means a musician can return home with smoke-free clothes, the cost is yet further erosion of the power of music.
We've already had the 2003 Entertainment Licensing Act closing live music premises, then the smoking ban in 2007 creating further business casualties.
Ignore the 2008 EU legislation that forbids noise over 85 decibels in the workplace, which is playing havoc with the classical music world – the issue here is aimed at the grass roots performer.
Now, at any venue that does not have designated seating, there is a constant ebb and flow of folk popping out for a cigarette.
This not only causes distraction for the focused listener but erodes the confidence of the performer.
I've seen four or five people walk past the front of the stage to go out for a drag. Bang goes any empathy you've built.
As a guitarist and band leader for 35 years, I suggest this is something for smokers to ponder.

Billy Jenkins, via email

Mixed feelings towards felines
A lot has been written about dog fouling but equally as bad and much closer to home is fouling by cats in people's well-kept gardens.
I have studied these creatures, and seen them deposit their previous meal, then stick their nose to it, apparently to discern if they had turkey with rabbit or tuna with mackerel for their last meal.
They then retreat to a secluded part of the garden, perform a contortional act by placing the back leg over the right ear, and proceed to lick the area clean after which they return to their home to be cosseted by some unsuspecting child or owner.
Until recently I had a neighbour who was besotted by cats and did not seem to mind that they mauled and killed young birds which had just flown the nest. All she would say is that is what cats do.
One day when she walked past my gate she saw me digging a hole and inquired if I was planting a shrub to which I replied: "No I'm burying a robin."
She remarked that it was a large hole for a robin to which I replied: "No it isn't, it's inside your cat."

Name and address supplied

By law, Britain is a Christian country
Within the space of a few days, I have heard three people on Radio 4 state that Britain is a "secular democracy". This is not the case.
Britain is a Constitutional Monarchy and officially and legally a Christian country.
We have an established religion, Protestant Christianity, and an established Church, the Church of England, by Act of Parliament.
Every inch of English soil is part of a Church of England parish, with a Church of England church at its centre, and an ordained Minister of the Church of England living in the parish whose task, legally placed on him or her is to "care for the souls of the Parish", and who has the legal right of access to every home in the parish for pastoral duties.
How secular is that?
Being a Christian nation, we believe very strongly in freedom; we therefore practise religious toleration, which allows people of other faiths to practise their religions here.
It has recently been observed that "multi-cultural or multi-faith" actions lead to the ghetto-ising of minority religions – the very reverse of what was piously hoped for by secularists.

Name and address supplied

It's Stagecoach for me and my scooter
Further to a recent letter encouraging more people to use Preston Bus, I had a confrontation with one of their drivers who refused me entry on his low-floor bus with my small mobility scooter.
I went to bus station, to be told they would investigate and let me know the outcome by letter. After waiting over two weeks I am still waiting. Later, I went to the Stagecoach office and they told me I could use any of their-low floor buses – and even gave me a demonstration.

Mr J Sharrock, Waterloo Road, Preston

Planning mystery of the 'invisible' track
In response to the points raised by Councillor Jon Hesketh with regards to the new driveway on Roach Road in Samlesbury, yes, we all know that there has as been a field gate at this point for a long time, but it has not been used in many years because of the danger and speed of modern traffic.
As for the new gateway being set back by five metres, that's only the length of a modern car, so the back or the front of the vehicle will be overhanging the road with the room needed to open or close the gate. The main danger will be when the driver is pulling out on to the road, slowly, uphill and into the direct path of a car or motorbike coming around the blind bend.
But the statement that most concerns me is that..."the Council considered and approved an application to extend this track. As part of this process, a number of safety improvements were made to the original track."
What track? There is no track shown on the Ordnance Survey map 1950/80, there is no track shown on the Google Earth visual map 2007. There is no track shown on the film that I shot from an aircraft in the April of this year.
All the shots also indicate that the gateway in question has not been put to use in many a year.
Still very concerned, via email (name and address supplied).
A flaming injustice with deadly results
The teenage girl who escaped a fire at her home wearing only a towel can thank her lucky stars that she lives in England.
When fire broke out in a school shortly after 8 am on March 11, 2002, in another country, some girls were not so lucky. In the book 'Saudi Babylon' by Mark Hollingsworth and Sandy Mitchell, it is reported that people in authority refused to allow
girls to leave a burning school in case they were not fully dressed. Eventually, after angry exchanges the door of the school was opened and the fire was extinguished. By that stage 15 girls had died and over 40 were injured.
We have much to be thankful for in England.

Name and address supplied.

Vote for the world's greatest wordsmith
This year we are celebrating Scrabble's 60th anniversary and as part of the year-long programme of activity, Mattel is running the Wordwide Awards in appreciation of those famous figures who have used words to the greatest effect.
This is where your readers come in. The general public will decide on who will win the ultimate accolade in word skill – and receive the Golden Scrabble tile – in October.
There are five categories to nominate in – Sport, Entertainment, The Written Word, Politics and Music. Visit www.mattelscrabble.com and make your voice heard.

Jacey Bunker, via email