Letters to the Editor

SIR - Re Peter Meer's letter on concessionary fares for pensioners (T&A, March 10), I will be eligible for these fares in just less than two years.

Do I support free fares for pensioners? I do not.

Concessionary fares for pensioners have to come out of the taxes of younger people and many young people with families are worse off than any pensioner who has a second pension.

I am aware people who rely entirely on the state pension and have no savings are often in a difficult position financially and I would like to see their pensions raised. But many pensioners are quite well off and it is time the begging bowl was put away.

Without the present generation of working people and their families there would be nobody to pay our pensions and we should see they get their fair share of the national cake.

There has to be some sort of equity between the generations and it will be unfortunate if pensioners use their increasing voting power to deprive young families of their hard-earned incomes.

Finally, buses are a key part of our transport network - they are not part of the social services.

Ray Wilkes, Tower Road, Shipley

Lenient sentence

SIR - Am I living in a parallel universe, where everything is back to front? I am obviously not on the same planet as Judge Roger Scott, when he said he could reduce the sentence imposed on Amir Khan by a third because he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

I'm sorry, but the first opportunity would have been as soon as he drove that mass of metal (for which he had no licence to drive, or insurance, and was banned to drive anyway) into poor Amar Ali. Did he do that? No he fled.

If he had shot Amar, he would have been charged with murder, and in my eyes that's exactly what it was.

Mr Ali has lost a son who, by the sound of it, was going to contribute to the fabric of society, a peace-loving young man who loved his family.

That same society can look forward to the release of Amir Khan in three years' time, a career criminal who will contribute nothing.

Judge Roger Scott, take a long hard look at your children and grandchildren, it could be your street he is driving down next!

Dean Loynes, Sackville Street, Bradford

Debating chance

SIR - If N Brown from Undercliffe (T&A, March 3) can contain himself until November, even though he is living in part of Europe, he will get a chance to vent his spleen against all things European at a Bradford seminar.

Faith in Dialogue is a series of Saturday seminars on various subjects, the one on November 19 being "Emerging from Xenophobia- Faith and the fear of the other in a changing Europe".

Of course, if Mr Brown actually carries out his threat to "disobey every law that Brussels tries to give him" he will probably be in prison, as the laws which affect him are made with the approval of our parliament.

The seminar should be interesting as the speaker is Sir Stephen Wall, former EU adviser to Tony Blair and John Major. It is one of a series being held in Bradford Cathedral and vigorous debate will, I'm sure, be welcomed.

I shall be going and I look forward to hearing Mr Brown's arguments in a proper debating situation. He, or anyone, can get booking forms from Rev Geoff Reid (Touchstone) 01274 721626 or e-mail teamleader@ touchstone-bradford.org.uk.

John Murray, Moorside Road, Honley, Holmfirth.

A vital building

SIR - In Leeds, people are concerned about the future of the city centre Allders store which is closing, after the chain went into administration.

Some suggest other retailers such as John Lewis or Selfridges should take it over and schemes such as converting the building into apartments and bars should be rejected.

This is interesting because here in Bradford the future of Sunwin House is uncertain after the Co-op put its stores up for sale, although it is still business as usual and some have already been sold.

Here we have a very distinctive art deco building housing Bradford's only major department store and its loss would be a massive blow to the city's shopping scene as it is one of the big attractions.

What will happen to our landmark building? Will other retailers such as John Lewis move in? Will the building be carved up into luxury apartments? Will the site be redeveloped as a mixed-use scheme?

The right person must come up with the right scheme so the large site boarded by Thornton Road, Godwin Street and Sunbridge Road continues to shine brightly and make a positive contribution to Bradford's very exciting future.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford.

Truth about riots

SIR - I share Marsha Singh's view that the forthcoming programme on the Bradford riots should be balanced, but there is little hope of this when only the Asian community is to be focussed on.

The language used by Channel 4 (T&A, March 3) - "provoked into mass violence" and "campaigning impact" - suggests bias, not balance.

The reactions of Simon Cooke and Ishtiaq Ahmed are equally concerning. Coun Cooke states: "Our riots were no worse than anyone else's" when he surely knows they were the worst on mainland Britain for 20 years.

Mr Ahmed says: "The riots were just one day of madness that happened amid 50 years of good race relations," as if the 1995 disturbances never happened.

The truth is the 2001 riot was not an aberration, but the worst in a series of incidents of public disorder going back to 1983.

This city has a serious problem with some young men who, though only a tiny minority, create disproportionate trouble for us all.

Minimising this, as Messrs Cooke and Ahmed do, or excusing it, as Channel 4 looks set to do, is only likely to encourage them to continue misbehaving.

Dr Marie Macey, Green Mount Road, Thornton

Our super NHS

SIR - The Tories have tried to knock the Labour government on the NHS by trawling round and finding a case where everything did not go satisfactorily.

I have just spent five days in hospital in Lanzarote before being flown home to spend four days in the BRI and therefore feel compelled to speak up for our wonderful NHS.

Lanzarote is no backwater and the level of care is adequate.

However, their first concern was for me to complete a form guaranteeing payment of all expenses, and I did get an infection in my arm from a needle.

Compare this to the BRI where care is free (currently), nurses' and doctors' dedication second to none, wards far cleaner, more cheerful and therefore rehabilitation much quicker.

Mr Howard says we deserve a world class health service. I say we already have one and for all our sakes let's keep it that way and not let the Tories get their grubby hands on it.

John Greenwood, Oakleigh View, Baildon.

Clean up your act!

SIR - As far as I am aware it is an offence for a dog to foul the street or pavement. I wonder if this law extends to cover police horses, or are they somehow exempt from this law?

After the recent Bradford City v Huddersfield Town match, horse excrement was littered in huge piles across Manningham Lane and surrounding areas. This was still there on Sunday.

May I humbly suggest that the police lead by example against fouling of all types by clearing up their own mess!

Mujahid Ali Islam, Fairbank Road, Girlington