ON comments by Graeme Whiting, head of the Acorn School in Nailsworth, that books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and titles by Terry Pratchett can ‘damage the sensitive subconscious brains of young children’.

Posted by Spider Lane: Smart move from an experienced educator who understands the power of reverse psychology.

Posted by TerryGreer: Yet another ‘belief’ not backed up by any evidence whatsoever. I wonder what other delusions he suffers from, shame he gets to inflict them on children.

Posted by Salendine: So children cannot read books popular with their peers, they are not allowed IT until they are 14, and they have no recognised qualifications when they leave school. Applying for jobs must be an interesting process.

On the local elections.

Posted by Mister Champagne: Stroud District Council needs a good shake up.

The town looks so run down, and has to be one of the scruffiest in the County.

Posted by Crow: Just needs a lick of paint.

Posted by Mister Champagne: Are you saying it’s that easy, cheap and small a job, to make things look more welcoming and thriving? So it’s just the property owners/occupiers themselves who are to blame for the run down state?

Some people say that the mix of shops is poor, and the people wandering around the town in the week look even poorer.

Posted by Haloge: Fewer than 20% of people have chosen to vote in council elections in some areas of England over the past four years, BBC News analysis of voting patterns has shown. Why are people turning their back on local elections and how can they be drawn back to the ballot box?

There were 41 out of about 2,500 wards in England where not even a fifth of the electorate turned out to choose a local councillor.

The Electoral Reform Society said this amounted to a “serious democratic deficit” and it is vital people vote and hold authorities to account.

Then again....Pigs may fly.