YOUR front page headline: "We need to talk about Bristol...and why it just can't get things done like other cities Evening Post, January 20) has led to a flood of opinions. As a born, and bred Bristolian I will attempt to record what I consider to have gone wrong.

Unfortunately for those dyed-in-the-wool Bristolians who have survived the rape of Bristol, the diseased civic heart of the city now beats to the pulsating indifference of servitude to a European dream, which I would claim denies our true heritage.

These indifferences are readily identified through witnessing the divisive Lib Dem control of Bristol City Council around which political in-fighting continues ad infinitum.

I have no doubt their leader Barbara Janke is a very erudite person, but in my opinion she lacks the charismatic leadership qualities to front a city such as Bristol. Moreover, is it not the case that many councillors lack any empathetic traits which actually reflect what it means to be a Bristolian?

My analysis appears correct if one considers the demise of the ice skating rink with the likelihood of it being replaced with student accommodation. Add to this the thousands of square feet of empty office space (Victoria Street for example) and one surely gets the impression BCC is being governed by those who would not survive outside of the cosseted world of local politics.

There appears to be evidence of a disconnection between the council, and those they purport to serve. For if one should be unfortunate to need their services and telephone them, you are greeted with: "Thank you for calling Bristol City Council's automated switchboard". Yes we need to talk about Bristol, but not to BCC's automated robot. Some politicians have a vested interest in maintaining the sorry status quo. The answer seems to be an elected mayor a la London's Boris Johnson. The sooner the better!

R L Smith

Knowle