I LOVE the way Stuart Waiton challenges the sacred cows of political correctness in his column. His theme this week was to highlight the practice of labelling children with all sorts of "disorders" when they are mostly just struggling with life's everyday difficulties and should be left to do so in most cases, in order to build resilience ("We are not letting our children learn to cope with problems", The Herald, February 25).

It is an inconvenient truth that high levels of divorce and separation do more to cause distress to children, of all ages, than parents are prepared to accept. A secure home with parents who stay together, and work through their problems, will do more for a child's wellbeing than any manner of therapies provided by the state.

Elizabeth Mueller, Glasgow G12.

Airshow disgrace

YOUR report on the Scottish International Airshow was beyond belief ("One of Scotland’s biggest airshows axed in row over funding", The Herald, February 25).

This event has in the past brought substantial revenue into the South Ayrshire economy, and a substantial amount reaching the coffers of South Ayrshire Council (SAC), either directly or indirectly.

There appears to be a big question over the legitimacy of an £80,000 cheque, a substantial amount, but it is surely not beyond the wisdom of the parties involved to resolve this issue.

If the airshow is being used as a political ping-pong ball, to make a case to Scottish Government for more money, then it is about time SAC examined in greater detail what is good for the economy and betterment of South Ayrshire, and decide to reinstate an event that helps to put Ayr on the national and international map.

Mike Dooley, Ayr.

Midge menace

KINLOCH Castle on the Isle of Rum is still a very imposing sight despite years of neglect leaving it unsafe and as such closed to the public (“Hopes raised for restoring island retreat to its Victorian glory days", The Herald, February 25). You report the desire of the Kinloch Castle Friends Association to take ownership of it and then to try to raise the £6.9 million it estimates it needs for the amount of work necessary to attract paying visitors again by opening 52-bed hostel accommodation.

Whilst its aims are laudable is there another possibly insurmountable problem it faces which may have played its part in the demise of the castle and which may yet scupper any significant tourism revival for all but the very hardy, namely midges? I may be mistaken, but the photo accompanying your article appears to show in the foreground two defensively-masked hikers setting out determinedly from the castle. Once bitten, twice shy for the rest of us?

Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop.

A woke awakening

I THINK it would be pointless to include the question of gender in the next census as it would be statistically meaningless. If the word is no longer synonymous with "sex" (a biological characteristic, as opposed to an aspiration) then, presumably, asking respondents to state their sex would be more relevant.

Having recently re-watched Monty Python's Life of Brian, I exhort anyone who is cheesed off by some of the more extreme ludicrousness of the "wokeness" on the subject to seek out the YouTube "PFJ Union Meeting" clip from that film. It managed to hit the nail on the head more than 40 years ago (and in under two minutes).

Brian Johnston, Torrance.

Dark secrets …

SO Clark Cross (Letters, February 27) thought drain cleaning was extinct. I live close to the A82. I witness the drains being cleaned out on a frequent basis. It is done after midnight when most people are tucked up in bed.

Myra Gartshore, Dumbarton.