This beacon of self-preservation

SIR - Things are stirring in Saltaire's Roberts Park. Men with hammers, scrapers and drills are making the historic Half Moon building habitable again, and soon we will see ice cream, sandwiches and tea served on sunny cricket days.

This band of intrepid, middle-aged committee men have rolled up their sleeves and worked their socks off to save a valuable resource. On completion I gather that its use will benefit the entire village of Saltaire.

Just a pity that Titus Salt's village has become the new bed-sit land with tenants dominating the dwellings and showing little interest in village life, let alone the cricket ground in the park.

Saltaire Cricket Club has proved to be a beacon of self-preservation in an era when one hears of failing clubs merely putting out a hand for grant money.

Of course the scourge of Roberts Park is the cretins who have cost the cricket club untold hundreds of pounds in the past. We might have World Heritage status but we have our fair share of wrong 'uns. But, I implore the locals to get behind a club with the best aesthetic setting in the Bradford League.

B A Houseman, Coach Road, Baildon.

Jail too harsh

SIR - You recently reported a case where a 62-year-old truck-driver was jailed for three months for interfering with his tachograph. While no-one can condone this act, it surely doesn't warrant imprisonment - the final sanction of our criminal justice system.

His was an administrative misdemeanour, one which had no victim and no reported damage to persons or property.

In your regular Court column, we frequently read of those committing violent and damaging offences, but who merely receive minor fines or community punishments. But which is the more serious offence?

OK, fine the trucker heavily, take away his LGV licence, send him out community gardening, but save the sentence of imprisonment for those who really deserve it and from whom we need to be protected.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

Bin problem

SIR - May I refer to E L Roberts' letter (T&A, March 18) regarding non-collection of paper recycling bins and the reply by Mr John Turner, Principal Cleansing Officer.

I also am having problems getting my bin emptied. In fact they haven't been this year. My bin is now completely full.

Perhaps Mr Turner can access his vehicle tracking system to ascertain whether a recycling unit visited West End, Queensbury, on January 27 and February 24. If they didn't, why didn't they and if they did then I suggest the next time they are in the village they call in at the local opticians as they must obviously have a vision problem in distinguishing between green bins and grey bins.

Before any blame can be put down to the weather, I can tell you that West End is on the main road through Queensbury and has been totally snow-free all winter.

B W Raistrick, West End, Queensbury.

Walk benefits

SIR - I was pleased to see your report about walk-to-work enthusiast Katharine Lister (March 21).

I found out the benefits of this way of public transport during the bus strike of 1975-76. I had to walk nearly two miles to Willeys Wallpapers at Westgate. After a month I had picked up a good speed and found the euphoric effect had taken hold.

I walked two miles to the doctor's last week. When I arrived my blood pressure had risen but after sitting down to come round within two minutes the blood pressure was low (130/80).

As far as road safety goes I always questioned my Dad (the motorist) about rights of way, which I found very useful, as the mileage increased.

S Ratcliffe, Middle Lane, Clayton.

Untapped skills

SIR - There is a shortage of work skills, according to a new government survey.

Perhaps it's due to the lack of investment by the Government and local councils in the work skills of mature workers who gained life-long skills in textiles and engineering, which have now declined and new jobs have taken over.

They want young 18-to-20-year-olds with life-long skills. Come on! What life-long skills do these youngsters have for employers compared to people in their 30s and 40s? Most employers discriminate against the proper life-long skilled workers.

Why is this? Is it because employers think it is cheaper to train the youngsters than take on workers of the mature nature?

Bradford has in recent times lost a lot of its manufacturing jobs and these have been replaced by cheap service jobs like takeaways, hotels and cleaners.

Yes, these jobs provide work and money but they are poorly paid and usually short term.

What good is that to people who are better educated and have untapped skills?

Martin Palliser, Waincliffe House, Laisterdike.

A wonderful man

SIR - Trevor Foster's remarkable career is highlighted in his book published recently. His positive attitude to life and his devotion to help people in need is illustrated throughout the book. His determination to promote Bradford is a stimulant. Only the highest honour is deserving to this gentleman.

Dennis Rhodes, Allerton Road, Bradford.

Nobody is safe

SIR - How far is Bridge Street from Police HQ in the centre of Bradford? If a 14-year-old girl can be abducted at 9pm in the centre of Bradford, covered by CCTV cameras, who is watching the monitors? What good is a camera after the event? What has it done for this young girl?

A full police inquiry should be launched immediately. Nobody will be to blame of course. It will be due to cuts.

Nobody is safe anywhere in this country now. To hell with those freedom and liberty idiots, lives are at stake. We need more cameras with full surveillance. Take the money out of police funds. We pay enough for them.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden.

The day today

SIR - I approve of the inclusion of an important date in your daily feature On this Day on Thursday, March 17. You write: "In 3446 BC, Noah boarded the Ark." A few queries arise:

1. Are you sure it was Thursday?

2. Was the report "exclusive to the T&A"?

3. Was Mike Priestley there?

Walter Metcalfe, Central Avenue, Shipley.

Time to move on

SIR - Re the application for building on Oak Bank Farm, Wrose, by M A & L Slinger.

M A & L Slinger have built a lot of properties in Wrose over recent years. Isn't it time they moved on to pastures new and let the people of Wrose enjoy the few bits of green we have left, and also to continue to enjoy the eggs we buy from Mr Kitching?

Mrs K Wilson, Kingsway, Wrose.

Hard times

SIR - I think PE Bird has forgotten the reasons WHY things were so different in the "olden times" when he was a lad ("Figures please", March 18).

I got free dinners because my family was way below the breadline moneywise. I got free school uniform for same reason. Shoes, coats and PT kit too.

My mother got a pittance from the Social (95 per cent of which paid the rent) due to my father having left her without support and with six children, all at school, amid the terrible poverty that abounded at the end of the Second World War.

Although we had to walk when we wanted to go somewhere, I have not lost track of the fact that it was a lot safer then, both traffic-wise and as regards paedophile interference.

Surely Mr Bird is not suggesting that we expose our children and our grandchildren to danger from traffic and paedo activity?

Phil Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke.

Great clean-up

SIR - Thanks to the publicity the T&A gave for the clean-up and some excellent weather on the day (March 19) the Friends of Peel Park were joined by an enthusiastic team of local residents, whose efforts have given Peel Park a much-deserved spring-clean.

I hope that anyone visiting now will see the results of those efforts for a long time to come.

Mrs Janet M Attwood (on behalf of Friends of Peel Park).