MILL Street denizens of various ages complain about the “ridiculous” removal by the council of the two “inoffensive” banners displayed near the railway station which condemn the proposed creation of the probation megacentre (Oxford Mail, May 9).

One asks: “How can we tell people how we feel now?”

Well, as “the banners have been there for ages”, most people concerned – and many more who are not – are probably, by now, aware ad nauseam of your sentiments.

And have you, by any wild stretch of the imagination, contemplated contacting the local media, councillors, MPs or ministers?

If you failed to obtain the required permission to put the banners up, the action was self-evidently unlawful – and you don’t want criminals in your road, do you? Besides, if local councils can’t be ridiculous, who on earth can?

On another note, Peter Unsworth (Oxford Mail, Cabbages and Kings, May 8) requests explanations for the apparent absence of swans along this stretch of the Thames.

The silly geese are probably in a flap over the prospect of going down with ‘swan’ flu.

DAVID DIMENT, Riverside Court, Oxford