GLASGOW City Council leader Susan Aitken's article ("Glasgow is facing some serious challenges, but we have a plan", The Herald, August 5) seems heavy on jargon and buzzwords that will leave many citizens of our once-proud city confused and dispirited: "City Urbanist, City Centre Taskforce, Independent Place Commission, Connectivity Commission" being only some of them.

Ms Aitken even found time to mention that most mythical of beasts (other than Crossrail) the Clyde Metro, but not the fact that our Toytown Subway still closes before the pubs Monday to Saturday and at 6pm on Sunday, or that our black taxi fleet is being reduced due to her council's LEZ and that First Glasgow continues to provide its usual unreliable and very expensive travel option on the routes it deigns to serve.

However it is further into the piece that Ms Aitken indulges in her wildest flight of fancy when she talks of "where people can walk, wheel, sit and mingle freely and safely in streets that are not choked by traffic and pollution". She should read Stuart Neville's letter (August 5) which refers to the area around the Science Centre Tower as "broken paving, barriers, cones, weeds and an old skip". Sadly, that could describe many streets in Glasgow city centre. The people of Glasgow and the businesses which contribute (through punitively high business rates) to the economic wellbeing of Scotland's largest city are being let down by a leadership which seems unable to rise to the task of restoring the City of Glasgow to the vibrant and beautiful place it should be.

I note that Ms Aitken finishes her diatribe by saying "rather than bemoaning the loss of a past that is not in anyone's interest to recreate". Perhaps if she understood a little of Glasgow's history she would not find herself so estranged from its people.

William Gold, Glasgow.

Protesters should be applauded

CONGRATULATIONS to the protesters from This is Rigged who disrupted a world championship cycle race in Scotland ("UCI Cycling Worlds: Five arrests after protest halts men's road race", heraldscotland, August 6). The delay, approaching nearly an hour, was a priceless gift for VisitScotland. Repeated film shots of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside, alongside TV commentary describing “astonishingly beautiful Scotland”, all beamed to a worldwide audience, was the dream of tourism marketing experts.

None of the cyclists seemed upset at the delay, chatting and laughing as they waited. But the chief executives of Shell and Ineos now know the score. Any more greenwashing sponsorship of the British Cycling and Sky teams will lead to further race disruptions. These oil and gas companies need to sit down with their opponents and negotiate an international fossil fuel treaty to control all their future activities in the UK and elsewhere. Our survival depends on it, along with future cycle races.

Dave Morris, Kinross.

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Helping out the diddies

ON Friday (August 4), my wife and I happened to be in Glasgow city centre. There was a real buzz about the place – the Cycling World Championships had come to town. Roads were blocked off, pavement barriers were up, inconvenience loomed but there were plenty of stewards on hand to see pedestrians (and the rare motorist) safely on their way. The sun had put in a rare appearance and the city’s architectural splendour was greatly enhanced by the absence of traffic – the view up Buchanan Street from Argyle Street in particular was magnificent.

But what made the event extra special was the support of the crowds who cheered and roared encouragement at every opportunity. I was especially impressed by one couthy fellow Glaswegian who sought to be as helpful as possible. A trio of exotically-attired cyclists – magnificent in their multi-coloured Spandex outfits – had unfortunately taken a wrong turning and were looking a bit lost. Our doughty Glaswegian intervened. "Haw," he yelled, "youse diddies has went the wrang way....it’s doon that way!" I’m not sure if communication was achieved but the intention was admirable. There were also regular shouts of "gaun yersel’ son" which merely confirmed my initial impression – the city had embraced the championships in its own inimitable way.

Rob Kelly, Bearsden.

Portrait of a Darien pioneer

I NOTE your report on the history surrounding the Darien expedition ("Remnants of doomed Scots colony that still exist in Panama", The Herald, August 5).

Readers may be interested to know that the John Michael Wright portrait of Lord Mungo Murray (1668-1700), fifth son of John Murray, Second Duke of Atholl, hangs in the Scottish Identity in Art section of Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Not being the eldest son Mungo did not inherit the Atholl title and estate. It is believed he set off to seek his fortune by joining the ill-fated Darien Scheme, but sadly perished with so many others on the Isthmus of Panama.

Many thanks to The Herald for providing so much additional background information on this part of our history.

It will prove useful to those of us who are volunteer guides at Kelvingrove.

Ann Ross-McCall, Glasgow.

The bravery of the Belgians

I READ with interest David Gray's letter re famous Belgians (August 7).

May I add to the list the little-known story of up to 50,000 Belgians who, at risk of their lives, were involved actively in resisting the Nazi occupation of their country during the Second World War. Many died, were tortured or imprisoned. Their bravery kept the flame of liberty alive.

For a small country the size of Belgium to have offered so many people to resist the invader is quite remarkable. Their story deserves to be more widely known.

The Belgians lay wreaths each year in July at the Cenotaph in London to commemorate their war dead including those who died for the resistance. I urge any reader who is in London to attend. It is a moving ceremony in honour of Belgians, less famous but well worthy of their country's gratitude and recognition.

Alasdair MacDermott, Appin, Argyll.