I WAS interested to read about the proposed building boom in Stirlingshire ("3,000-home village approved as housebuilder hails ‘confidence’", Herald, Business, December 18). Here in Dumbarton, there has been, in recent years, a great deal of house building on large plots of land, areas where every house is built in the same style, loads of flats built close to each other, and generally a woefully boring style and placement.

Instead of some mixed style, more spacious developments we have been hit by the "maximum profits come first" mentality. All very 1960s and pretty poor planning. I hope the 3,000-home village is more mature and sophisticated in its outcome.

B McKenna, Dumbarton.

Locarno memories

RUSSELL Leadbetter's feature on the Locarno ballroom in Sauchiehall Street ("Those were the days ... The Locarno Ballroom, 1962 and 1963", The Herald, December 18) reminded me of being taught that English was one of the most difficult languages for foreigners to learn. Our teacher told us of the nearby La Scala cinema carrying a placard bearing the message "Noel Coward's Cavalcade, pronounced success".

David Miller, Milngavie.

THE 1962 photograph of the Locarno façade occasions my comment. The Four Macs Quartet were the interval band and appeared courtesy of a revolving stage. The Ray McVay Orchestra was preceded by the highly popular Benny Daniels Orchestra, whose tenor sax player, Ernie Reynolds, temporarily lodged at our Giffnock home. Sadly, his erratic working hours did not reconcile with douche suburbia life. The parting was swift but cordial after several band members arrived back for an impromptu middle of the night session.

Allan C Steele, Giffnock.

Dali delight

MY thanks to Russell Leadbetter for his “Those were the days” feature on Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross (The Herald, December 16).

As a student in Glasgow in the 1950s, enjoying the usual student distractions, and with no artistic talent or interest, I viewed the controversial painting in Kelvingrove Art Galleries on more than one occasion and remember to this day my quiet contemplation and sense of wonder.

R Russell Smith, Kilbirnie.

Joke in poor taste

I WAS rather surprised by the story paper about Tam Cowan's thinking it would be a bit of a joke to pull a gun on Henry McLeish when he guested on Off The Ball in 2000 ("Comedian pulled gun on McLeish", The Herald, December 16).

There is no doubt that that particular programme is entertaining, though at times a little coarse for more refined tastes. However, to have thought up such a prank goes beyond common sense. That type of prank comes into much the same category as shouting "Fire" as a joke in a crowded theatre..

I would have hoped that this admission would have been accompanied by an expression of contrition for its insensitivity.

There did not appear to be any remorse expressed over this extremely faux pas.

Whether the First Minister of the time passed it off as a joke, does not make it any less of a failure of common sense.

It might have been better if Tam had decided not to publicise his lack of sensitivity on this matter and kept it buried in the recesses of his mind.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

Boeing concern

THE Boeing 737, whose production will be suspended next month, was an excellent plane when it entered service 50 years ago as a regional jet carrying 100 passengers. But in the ensuing decades, Boeing stretched and bloated the air frame way beyond its initial design.

In a rush to counter the Airbus 320, the company decided to do yet another lash-up but the new engines made the aircraft unstable – the basic airframe did not meet the Stability and Control Requirements of FAR25.

Someone decided this could be solved by software but flight crews were not explicitly told about this stability system and how to disable it. The info is in the manual's small print but hard to find in terminal nosedive.

At the congressional hearing, Boeing’s chief executive admitted test pilots voiced serious concerns about the plane while it was in development. Are big business bosses entirely immune to the charge of manslaughter?

Rev Dr John Cameron, St Andrews.