Letters to the Editor

SIR - John Stead might well ask what his form for financial support for his daughter at university means (T&A, March 14).

Sadly, it appears the production of literature in business and Government is considered a lowly task to be given to the semi-literate with poor vocabularies.

Hence the often fanciful words used for concepts which are already well catered for by the English language.

Even the Institute of Chartered Accountants produced a standard audit report that contains several grammatical blunders.

It is true language changes over time but its development must be driven by the literate if cohesion is to be maintained.

At the moment, it seems clarity is an outmoded concept and simplicity is shunned.

Peter Bolton, Middlefield Court, East Morton

Civic vandalism

SIR - Looking across the city from Centenary Square the most impressive sight is surely that "iconic" building with its twin domes - the Odeon. It compliments beautifully the wonderful Alhambra.

I cannot believe it will cost less to pull it down and erect another brand new building than to renovate the present one.

Bradford has already lost far too many historic structures such as Swan Arcade, pulled down to make way for those dreadful Sixties concrete blocks now being demolished to leave room for another generation of architectural mistakes.

Why are our councillors seemingly content to sit back and watch the last remaining vestiges of "old Bradford" destroyed?

The vast majority of Bradfordians don't want to lose the Odeon, so why the deaf ears?

Is someone going to benefit financially from this blatant act of corporate vandalism?

Ann Wilcock, Wibsey Park Avenue, Bradford.

City Hall next?

SIR - Regarding the second destruction of Bradford - Forster Square, Broadway, market area, etc - sorry regeneration, do you and readers of this page think the people on the Council have got it right this time, or will it be another tear down and filling-in of the lake in 20 years' time?

What amazes me is that Bradford had some perfectly good stone buildings which were torn down to put up the concrete monstrosities we have now.

As for the towers of the old New Vic cinema, leave them alone. Enough damage has been done to Bradford as it is.

It makes you wonder how long City Hall has got before that is demolished.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

Truth about EU

SIR - Great news for us Euro-sceptics - Tony Blair's European adviser Roger Liddle says that pro-Europeans should be honest, and admit that the EU is just a political project, and that it is not credible to claim that it is about the economy and jobs.

Come on you EU lemmings, let's hear from you!

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden, Bingley

Dangers of Bill

SIR - Recently I was with a group collecting signatures in Darley Street for a petition on whether UK troops should be brought home from Iraq. A fellow campaigner was using a low-powered loud hailer to attract passers by.

He was accosted by two community wardens, who told him he was breaking a Bradford by-law.

As far as I could ascertain, no-one had complained about him or the NATFHE campaigner against Bradford College staff cuts at the bottom of the hill, whose unamplified voice was louder than the loud-hailer.

Bradford Council is jumping the gun, for similar restrictions on freedom of speech are planned in New Labour's new Serious Crime and Police Bill which will allow the government - or any other jack-in-office - to ban peaceful protest anywhere it chooses, "in the interests of national security".

Under this proposed law, the police could arrest anyone giving out two or more leaflets or for demonstrating in a residential area.

So campaigners protesting against the BNP could be targeted - an interesting throwback to the pre-war days when the police spent more time arresting anti-fascists than protecting ethnic minority communities from racists in London's East End and elsewhere.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford

Wrong headline?

SIR - I appreciate that headlines are supposed to grab the attention, but surely "Hunt for killer on run" (T&A, March 12) is over the top.

The facts seem to be that a man who may have committed a motoring offence did not turn up in court. Regrettable, but it sometimes happens.

The fact that he was jailed 32 years ago, served a long sentence, and was released six years ago does not seem especially relevant to this.

The headline - if any - should be "Motorist fails to attend court", but that would hardly attract a second glance.

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline was factually accurate. The police were clearly concerned enough to release details of his previous convictions and the fact that he was out of prison on licence for life. It's not often police launch a manhunt for someone charged with a motoring offence.

Help our research

SIR - I am writing on behalf of the Katharine Dormandy Trust, a national charity whose aim is to eliminate the suffering of people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

Haemophilia is an inherited life-long condition in which the blood fails to clot and so bleeding from injury or spontaneously can be life-threatening.

Haemophilia is also one of the most costly conditions to treat. The lifetime cost to treat one person with severe haemophilia by means of transfusion is £5 million.

Since its creation, the KD Trust has invested in research, and over the past 15 years has supported gene therapy for haemophilia research projects which have started to produce promising results.

We have launched a £5 million 'Haemappeal' campaign, to focus further on gene therapy research.

We would like to ask your readers to support our appeal, and would also like feedback from any of your readers who have haemophilia in their family - or any other inherited bleeding disorder - with their thoughts on gene therapy.

More details can be found at www.kdtrust.org.uk or by telephoning 0207 431 8276.

Professor Ted Tuddenham, chairman, Katharine Dormandy Trust, The Royal Free Hospital, London

Let's go veggy!

SIR - Hospitality and catering businesses in Bradford may not be aware that in the Vegetarian Society's 2004 awards, Brighton was voted the best UK destination in the UK for vegetarians.

Brighton Council was so pleased that it staged a civic reception to publicise the award.

With the T&A promoting the 'Buy It In Bradford' campaign, here is an ideal opportunity for local businesses to get into the national limelight.

Businesses can get help in improving their services to vegetarians by contacting the Vegetarian Society on 0161 925 2000 or www.vegsoc.org.

Let's see Bradford make a concerted effort to clinch the 2005 trophy.

Atma Trasi, Kirkgate, Shipley.

Stamp of approval

SIR - The news that the Royal Mail is to honour a royal male and his 'companion' with a stamp issue to celebrate the very straightforward marriage bash at Windsor has, it seems, raised questions even in Parliament.

Let's all agree, however, that it is hoped the stamp is the newer type which sticks on as we've already had enough of the back-licking that has demeaned so many well-intentioned apologists for the not-very-impressive younger generation of Royals for so long.

There goes my invitation!

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

Blocking the way

SIR - Regarding the story about A-boards on the pavement (T&A, March 12), what about all the shops who block the pavement with their goods for sale and vehicles pulling up on the double yellow lines to buy the produce? This happens in all areas of Bradford.

Surely the law should affect everyone wherever they are.

K Rhodes, Westminster Crescent, Clayton.