Thank god the snow has gone because it is very clear to me that whatever we say or do, we can never cope with it.

I am writing because some things seem, to me, to be self evident.

One, as a country and a city we have spent millions (probably untold millions) on clearing the roads for the traffic to keep moving. Quite right and proper but where is the money, labour, call it what you will, to clear the pavements and walkways for the pedestrians. Is it now only that only the old, the poor, and mothers with push chairs, are out on their feet walking?

At one time people had a go at clearing snow away from in front of their homes and shops. Not anymore. Not only have we got council that ( because of the savage cuts) have no spare workers to do the work of keeping the city safe for pedestrians, we seem to have lost the civic responsibility of doing at least something outside your house or shop to help the common good.

Is this the country we want? A country where our services are reduced to skeletons of their former selves. the old and sick are unable to leave their homes because it is too dangerous to go out.

This is only a small part of what is happening to our society

1. homelessness

2. NHS underfunded

3. Support services for the vulnerable withering.

4. Children in care (numbers growing etc.)

I could go on and on and on, and i say lets stop it. We are the 6th richest country in the world.

BA Lupton,

Shirley