Waste not, want not is the attitude

I was always told that a building is just the place where people meet and it's what goes on inside the building what really matters.

When it comes to schools and places of worship, I must say whoever said that was correct.

In the past few years, many schools have been in the news regarding the failed rebuilding programme. In many cases, the buildings did look like they needed updating and repairing, with some new buildings required to get students out of the dreaded mobile classrooms.

Some problems that were shown on the TV appeared to have been caused by a lack of maintenance.

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So why am I writing to Mailbox?

Well, today I went on to a website that auctions off commercial goods. It showed an auction for school equipment from Appleton Academy in Bradford, West Yorkshire, due to having a new building. The items were smart boards, reception chairs, a complete refectory table and chairs set, classroom table and chairs, woodworking equipment, machinery and flat computer monitors.

I know in my day this very new-looking equipment, would have been moved into the new building and continued to be used for many more years. These items are not out of date or worn out. So in this time of austerity, with no money available, we still don't know how to cut back on spending money we don't have.

I think the country could pay off a large amount of its debts, just by cutting out the waste or spending and the general "throw it away" attitude that prevails throughout the public sector.

Their motto should be "Do we want it? Do we need it? Will we use it?"

Nick Barston, Groby.

I read with some excitement about the partnership between Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester Riders and Leicester College, that could bring a 2,000-seater basketball arena to Aylestone.

If the bold plan was to come to fruition, Aylestone would host the Leicester City training ground (Belvoir Drive), the county cricket ground and will be the new home of the country's oldest professional basketball club; a great three-pointer for my ward!

I'm sure residents would want reassurances about the impact a 2,000-seater arena might have on their lives, but I'd be happy to work with all parties to see if this exciting proposal can work in Aylestone; the natural home of elite sport in the city... Will it be Tigers next?

Councillor Adam Clarke, Town Hall, Leicester.

Regarding all this supposition concerning the bones unearthed which could be related to England's last Plantagenet king.

Since this discovery, tours are arranged for those interested to see the trench where the bones were excavated but could be no more than bones of contention until DNA tests are revealed.

I suggest that all those involved in this discovery come down from cloud nine until the outcome is known.

Mr B Henze, Leicester.

This is for the benefit of the many readers who can't decide whether we put the clock hands forward or backwards. It's very easy. At the start of BST, we alter the hands and at the end of BST, we put them back to where they were before.

K.M Boat, Leicester.

While reading the Mercury on October 12, I saw the headline 'Dead Stars May Be Signs' and a quote by Dr John Pye. I read halfway through the article before realising that the story was about stars as in planets and not stars as in film stars – oh dear, silly me!

On a different subject I must congratulate Steve Birch for his jokes – I loved the one about the Scrabble tiles.

Gail O'Downie, Leicester.