ROBERT McNeil reports on a study by St Andrews University on the influence street names can have on their residents (“English street names? Are they just Wynding us up?, The Herald, November 17). He observed that street names” tell us more about the society that built and named the streets”. That is certainly pertinent insofar as Paisley is concerned with its Gauze Street, Shuttle Street, Thread Street, Silk Street, Cotton Street, Dyer’s Wynd, Mill Street and Incle Street.

At the peak of Paisley thread manufacture, more than 20,000 people were employed in the mills and it was the main source of employment income for many families. Now there is no thread production in Paisley. A massive change over the years has taken place with profound economic and social implications. However, Paisley cannot live in the past and is looking to the future as is confirmed by its impressive application to be the UK’s next City of Culture, the decision upon which is imminent.

Let us wish success for Paisley’s bid as the sole Scottish candidate remaining.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.