Taxpayer shouldn't have to pick up tab

SIR - Many of your readers might consider it shocking that baby Ellie Walsh has to sleep in a child seat in a cramped attic, especially as it appears to be affecting the child's health (T&A, March 17). I wonder, however, whether her mother, 17-year-old Laura, ever considered another option?

Many young people are prepared to take certain simple precautions to avoid bringing into the world children they cannot accommodate or properly care for, and are willing to wait until they are properly housed and their domestic arrangements are suitable. Did this option occur to Laura, I wonder?

Although I have always believed that society should take care of those who, for whatever reason, cannot take care of themselves, I doubt I am the only individual who is irritated by the attitude that feckless behaviour should be rewarded at the expense of the taxpayer. That's you and me.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I don't see why I should pay taxes to enable teenagers, who have probably never worked nor contributed to the public purse, to fill the world with children they are clearly not ready for, and to be given the type of accommodation many hard working people could not afford.

Am I unfair to Laura? No doubt she will think so. I'd be interested to hear other readers' views.

C D Priestley, Hatton Close, Odsal

He's lost my vote

SIR - "People living in houses with values of up to £120,000 are living in pretty obscure areas". This was a statement today by the Lib-Dems' Shadow Chancellor, Vincent Cable MP, on the BBC's Budget Show.

It doesn't say much for the Lib-Dem attitude towards a vast proportion of homes in Bradford, and much of the rest of Britain, except of course, the capital and the more prestigious areas of this country.

With a constituency in Twickenham, it's not surprising he has this blinkered view of what the rest of Britain is like.

An insight into true Lib-Dem attitudes about the North/South debate, or simply wealthy people pretending they care about the not so wealthy?

This slur on vast areas of the city in which I live, has certainly cost them my vote.

M O'Hara, Shuttleworth Lane, Bradford

The shallow man

SIR - I read with interest your article concerning the crisis affecting Bradford Hospitals due to their change to Foundation status (T&A, March 9).

None of Mr Blair's ideas are thought through, a dangerous fault for someone so high in Government. But to blame someone else when things inevitably go wrong, is shameful, irresponsible and weak.

Mr Blair reminds me of The Emperor in The Emperor's New Clothes, the children's story where the public were tricked into believing that the emperor was wearing clothes, when in fact he was naked.

Like the emperor, Mr Blair is not wearing anything new and all he has left in his wardrobe are threads of wool that he pulls over the eyes of the public.

One day the public will see the man underneath and hopefully, it will be one day soon.

K Cliff, Coach Road, Baildon.

First-class care

SIR - I was very surprised to read in the T&A (March 15) that Airedale General Hospital's Stroke Unit was given a low rating.

For the past month my husband has been a patient in the stroke unit. I cannot speak too highly of the care and treatment he is receiving from the consultant, doctors, physiotherapists and all the ward staff.

I know how hard they are all working towards his rehabilitation and I can't thank them enough.

Mrs H Carter, Park Street, Station Road, Haworth.

Missed opportunity

SIR - No wonder the public is cynical about public consultations. For all the notice the Airedale Master Plan takes of concerns that the environment needs to be safeguarded, the public might as well have stayed at home.

A bank of trees here or a cycleway there makes no odds if you're building two major new roads and a massive tunnel. Set against the increased CO2 emissions, this is cosmetic environmentalism.

Instead of upgrading our public transport system, Shipley's congestion today will become Frizinghall's tomorrow.

As for 'Digidale', we thought that had bowed out gracefully when the public said plan for a diverse economy.

Councillor Simon Cooke seems to see everything through business-tinted spectacles.

We learn that at a stroke Salts "would become a specialist school supporting local businesses in the emerging technologies". Has anyone asked the parents and pupils if this is what they want?

With so much emphasis on "the corridor," what about development up the side of the valley?

As for inter-ethnic community cohesion, not a single serious proposal has been made.

The stakes are high for the people and the environment. This is a missed opportunity.

Quentin Deakin,Green Party Prospective Parliamentary candidate, Newark Road, Crossflatts, Bingley

Peace breaks out!

SIR - Elections have been held in Afghanistan, the Taliban have been defeated and women can once again live without fear of persecution and repression.

Elections have been held in Iraq and a provisional Government formed. Saddam Hussein is under arrest and despite the continual insurgent sabotage, the infrastructure is being rebuilt.

The Lebanese people are demanding democracy and Syrian troops have been forced to withdraw to their own borders.

Syria is starting to make conciliatory noises and has handed a senior Saddam Hussein official to the Iraqi police, while Saudi Arabia is at last making an effort to weed out terrorists in its midst.

Even Iran and North Korea are suggesting their nuclear desires are not as sinister as we think they are.

But probably, most significant of all, Palestine and Israel are talking to each other and it looks more likely every day that progress will be made.

My question is: What do the Bush detractors and the America knockers say now? What do the misguided peaceniks, human shields and anti-everything brigade say now?

When they witness this unprecedented progress towards a more peaceful Middle East, are they just a little bit embarrassed?

Malcolm Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

Saddam's crimes

SIR - The headline "Stop the killing in Iraq, Mr Blair" needs to be addressed to the leaders of Syria and Iran, who provide killers on a regular basis.

Ask the Marsh Arabs or the Kurds if they think Saddam would make life all sweetness and light again.

For those not up to date, mass graves are still being exposed, full of people who missed the voting chance.

F Dickinson, Larkfield Road, Rawdon.

Let's be realistic

SIR - In Bradford Today (T&A, March 12) you state that "45 per cent of the district describe themselves as being satisfied with street cleanliness".

This means that 55 per cent, more than half, are dissatisfied.

This is a damning indictment of the council's (and certain residents') ability to keep the streets clean. It is also unworthy of the T&A to present this figure in a favourable light.

If we are to turn Bradford round let's at least be realistic about its faults so that we can rectify them.

Phil Lightbody, Plumpton Lea, Bradford.