Letters to the Editor

SIR - Apparently the explanation provided at the foot of the Court column, as to how magistrates arrive at their sentencing decisions, did not satisfy Mr Lorriman (T&A, March 10).

Magistrates throughout the country are provided with sentencing guidelines, in order that a uniformity of sentencing is achieved. The guidelines are not sentencing tariffs and are not used as such. Each offence is dealt with on merit.

Fines, as the footnote explains, are levied according to the defendant's ability to pay, and are arrived at using a table of fines relating to offences. This table is common to all Benches.

Space will not allow an explanation, in sufficient details to satisfy Mr Lorriman's dissatisfaction, but if he would care to contact me, I would be pleased to invite him to the courts, to explain in greater details, the system operated by every court in the land.

Better yet, the court are holding two open evenings on May 10 and 19. The evenings are by invitation, which are available on application to the Magistrates' Courts.

Granville Dobson, Chairman of the Bench, The Tyrls, Bradford.

Time for a rethink

SIR - Like many of your other readers, I was upset to learn about the axing of 130 jobs by Denso Marston of Otley Road, Baildon.

There are, however, two other related issues that we need to be aware of. Firstly, residents of the Brackendale area of Thackley may be relieved by the potential loss of noise from a reduced factory output. Secondly, the thinkers behind the Airedale masterplan may have to rethink one of the key concepts in terms of the development of world-class manufacturing.

The common theme behind both of these points is that "employment" usually comes with some costs to the community; and these costs can be even greater if part of an over-hyped dream. So let's not attach unrealistic hopes for the future to the Airedale masterplan, or conversely be panicked by some of its outline proposals.

Councillor John Briggs (Baildon Ward councillor), City Hall, Bradford.

No more sci-fi sets

SIR - Re: the present interest in building heritage of Bradford and the future regeneration.

I have often visited Bradford be it for work or leisure.

I travel by public transport and so can enjoy the view or rather could enjoy the view because now dotted between the buildings that have shaped the history of generations are developments that resemble some low-budget sci-fi movie set or at the least don't fit in with the immediate landscape, especially the area near Centenary Square and the bus station, two decent redevelopments that have been spoiled.

The Alhambra is another beauty that will be spoilt because next door is the old Odeon which "complimented" the Alhambra perfectly so please don't replace the old Odeon building with another 'sci-fi set'.

April R Shaw, Brathwaite Avenue, Keighley.

Camera riddle

SIR - I now live in Shelf but lived in Wibsey for more than 60 years and still use St Enoch's Road as a way into Bradford. I note we now have three speed cameras on a short stretch of the road.

Following police cars down the hill on many occasions I have noted they themselves have found it difficult without continually braking to restrict the car to 30mph. I am not talking of speeding but simply cruising down the road.

The Government on more than one occasion has stressed that speed cameras are not money-making machines but only installed for reasons of safety. How many accidents are there on this stretch of the road to justify the cameras within the Government guidelines?

I know that in the past there have been fatal accidents but that was some years ago before the road was resurfaced and the camber amended.

I can only see these cameras as money-spinners.

Ken S Fox, Beechwood Avenue, Shelf.

Not tough enough

SIR - There is something wrong with the law and the administration of justice in this country when a woman is fined £100 for throwing a cigarette end out of her car window and yet a person caught driving a car with no insurance and road fund licence, no MOT and in a majority of cases no driving licence, is then only fined £40 with no separate penalty for the other offences.

These people pose a far greater danger to the rest of us than does that woman, although I am not condoning litter dropping.

As was reported recently in your paper one such driver was jailed for causing death by dangerous driving. The penalty does not seem to be any greater when the driver has been previously banned. As Mrs Jenny Sampson says in her letter, the cars should be confiscated.

E M Baxter, Hoyle Court Road, Baildon.

Heartfelt thanks

SIR - I was admitted to St Luke's Hospital Ward F4 from March 14-21 and would like to thank every single person - doctors, nurses, cleaners, porters - for the kindness and quality care I received.

The cleaners pulled every bed out to sweep and mop under them, they also wiped every bed down. The porters were very careful and very polite. The nurses were angels, and the doctors were brilliant. Even the ladies who brought cups of tea were brilliant.

I just wish Mr Blair could spend a week in NHS hospitals to see the work these people have to do, then he would realise that those hospitals and all staff have to be kept open and no wards closed.

A Hughes, Prospect Road, Otley Road, Bradford.

Stop this plan

SIR - Please can you do all you can to overturn the proposal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to withdraw certain drugs for dementia.

It is worth spending 250 pence a day on drug treatments for dementia if that money makes changes to the sufferer's quality of life and that of their families and carers.

Up to now NICE has ignored the difference it has made to carers. They need to include these in their assessment.

The majority of sufferers are cared for at home by families and loved ones and anything that makes this easier has got to be worth it in the long term because if they don't get the drugs and the help they need to stay at home then more sufferers will have to go into care and this will cost millions more than the drugs. This plan must be stopped, not just for our loved ones who are already sufferers but also for the sake of all the unsuspecting people who have yet to develop this devastating and cruel illness.

Teresa McCrum, Gaisby Lane, Shipley.

A low blow

SIR - Once again the infamous Haworth car park is in the news again.

Three years ago I was a victim of the clamp-happy clampers. I vowed then I would never go back to Haworth and I have kept my promise.

How many more people have they driven away? I was ten minutes over my time.

In the latest incident with the mini-bus full of disabled children, how low can they stoop? Disabled people can be easily upset. I know I drive them about on a voluntary basis.

T Healey, St Matthew's Road, Bankfoot.

Pensioner power

SIR - I was proud of all the pensioners who have fought for free travel for all of us. The powers that be have listened and know that we are a force to be reckoned with. It goes to show what we pensioners can achieve if we stand up and fight for our rights. Let's now fight for better care in hospitals and homes for the elderly.

J R Smith (Retired Persons Action Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley.