A mixed message from the council; YourSay.

WHAT'S going on with Birmingham City Council? First, all the year round they are trying to stop alcohol being consumed on the streets of Birmingham.

Then they are bending over backwards to get a drinks licence pushed through so the punters can buy cheap plonk at extortionate prices and sit in front of garden sheds in the centre of Birmingham - namely the German market.

What's wrong with the many good wine bars which we already have in Birmingham? Then the council tries to organise a street party to switch on the Christmas lights which was a complete disaster.

People all over Birmingham knew there was going to be a big crowd so why did not the council realise this? Or was it another case of penny pinching? Des Gardner, Warstock NOT only does Birmingham City Council cram people into a small area who wish to pay respects on Remembrance Day for our heroes.

If that was not bad enough, they herded people into a small area in Millennium Point which would be illegal and have insufficient room for cattle and would be prosecuted by the RSPCA Which in turn hurt a lot of innocent people and frightened a lot of young children who rely on these morons to keep them safe whilst celebrating the festive lights.

It is obvious to me that they should have taken advice from Aston Villa or Birmingham City football club who deal with these crowds every week.

Then again, this is Birmingham City Council who could not organise a tree in Sherwood forest for a woodpecker.

Steve Bungie Williams, Ladywood n HOW lucky for Birmingham that we are not burying our dead.

It is sheer madness that people's lives were put in danger because of turning the Christmas lights on.

The photographs reminded me of Hillsborough where all those young lives were lost because of incompetence and sheer stupidity.

Questions must be asked as to the crowd control and of the barrier assembly.

But let's count our blessings and hope that lessons have been learned.

ST Vaughan, Yardley Wood

CAPTION(S):

Prost!: Drinks being served at the German Christmas market in Birmingham city centre.