Letters to the Editor

SIR - I have read with interest the many letters both in support and against the initiatives aimed to improve Bradford city centre.

The letter by Catherine Mullaney (T&A, March 8) hit the nail firmly on the head. What a shame such a positive response was from someone who lives outside of Bradford, when many negative comments seem to emanate from within our boundaries.

You have to start somewhere if you want to equal, or better, our near neighbours. Bradfordians need to be positive and support improvements. That is a real foundation for moving forward.

I welcome talk of regeneration, better city centre policing, and reducing litter abuse. While not particularly in favour of the City Lake idea, I find the consideration of such inventiveness encouraging.

As long as development is in keeping with the traditional use of Yorkshire stone and does not involve the demolition of any more of our beautiful old buildings, I will continue to be heartened by these moves.

We can start by making sure we value what we've got and not deface it, and support the businesses that are and will trade in Bradford city centre.

Mike Denison, Woodland Grove, Bradford.

Excellent work

SIR - May I congratulate Manningham Sure Start for the work they are doing towards the prevention of accidental injury to children in their home.

The Manningham area has a history of pioneering work to prevent childhood accidental injury, and the work done by Sure Start follows in the footsteps of "Safely Home" a national award-winning project by health visitors in Manningham some ten years ago.

I hope the material from "Safely Home" - a flip book, floor games and video in English, Urdu and Bengali - will prove useful to Sure Start in the ongoing struggle to prevent children suffering from accidental injuries in the home.

C Bartle, Health Visitor, Birchlands Grove, Wilsden.

Stray dog fiasco

SIR - I was saddened, but not surprised, to read the letter from E Crossley (T&A, March 3) about the lack of provision for stray dogs.

The problem is widespread - a member of the public finds a stray, attempts to contact the dog warden and when he/she cannot (for whatever reason), tries to involve the local police office.

The police can't take action unless the member of the public delivers the dog to the station. It's hard to see how someone who is, say, elderly, disabled or car-less could do that. The RSPCA, I understand, can't accept dogs from members of the public either - so what happens?

I have written to Bradford Council's dog warden to ask about their policy, and I suggest that other interested bodies do the same.

If Bradford is serious about being seen as a modern city with enlightened views, a good animal welfare programme is crucial. Our attitude to animals too often reflects our attitudes to our fellow citizens.

Elizabeth Weaver, Newbury Close, Baildon.

Zero response

SIR - Having received the latest edition of the Lib Dem's Focus news letter I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

In bold print the headline reads "Ignored By Labour" and attacks Terry Rooney MP.

Could this publication be from the same party whose Councillors for Idle and Thackley (including Coun Sunderland) have been contacted on three different occasions over the past three to four years by the elderly residents of Stanley Street, Idle - once regarding fencing, once regarding planning for a caf/sandwich shop and numerous times to try to get action over a leaking gutter?

The sum total of the councillors' work has been to tell us to get up a petition regarding the caf/sandwich shop - even then when the matter went to appeal the amount of help was a resounding zero.

What a different response we have received from Terry Rooney and his staff. He has been to visit us regarding the leaking gutter and within 48 hours a man was there to fix it.

A member of his staff wrote letters to the planning appeals department and got a local planning refusal over-turned and Terry is still fighting to get fencing installed around the front of our properties.

Mrs K R Varley, Stanley Street, Idle.

Poor planning

SIR - What with MRSA, a forthcoming pandemic and the threat of terrorism on our very doorstep, how on earth are we supposed to enjoy our afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches?

The threat of terrorism could have been avoided had we left Saddam to his reign of murder and torture. Let's face it his people would never have dared to take up arms against him.

The cause of MRSA is down to poor staffing levels in hospitals. Let's face it, hospital staffs are so overstretched I doubt if they have time to blow their own noses!

The blame lies with inadequate forward planning by the government. Instead of keeping nursing staff working for a pittance, their numbers and pay should have been increased to deal with an intolerable workload.

The pandemic, if it strikes here, will also be the fault of no government forward planning. People are let into this country without the provision of thorough medical checks. I wonder just how many colds, bugs and other diseases have been let into the country and for what reason?

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose.

Wrong is right!

SIR - In reply to Mike Stocks (T&A, March 3) a coppice is, of course, a small wood grown for the purpose of cutting and is from Old French coupeiz.

Coppies, on the other hand, is the Home Counties version of the same thing. Delph Hill is simply Quarry Hill from Old English (ge)delf, a quarry, which is where the modern 'delve', to dig, also comes from.

The 'wrong' spelling here is, in fact, the correct one.

G C Hutton, Oakdale Drive, Bradford.

Ghastly ritual

SIR - Hunting supporter Fran Askew writes (T&A, March 2) that her "heart bleeds" for huntsmen.

Fortunately for her, this is a mere turn of phrase. For the wretched fox, however, a 'bleeding heart' is all too literally true as it is torn apart in the ghastly ritual which she finds so praiseworthy.

I doubt if this letter will effect a conversion of Ms Askew, but at least it may prompt her to choose her metaphors a little more carefully in future.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

Rubbish service

SIR - Mr Brasenell (T&A, March 1) would get his recycling bin emptied regularly if there was a proper kerbside collection.

One week the crew empty the rubbish bin and the next week the recycling one so there is no excuse for missing a bin as happens with the monthly collection by a different crew.

It means all the recyclables in one bin and sorting it elsewhere and that is what makes a kerbside collection successful.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.

Ban hooded tops

SIR - Given that the Home Secretary is proposing a law to publically reveal photos and posters of repeat offenders, I believe a further deterrent would be a ban on the sale of hooded tops and baseball caps.

These items of clothing are increasingly no longer seen as fashion, but merely an accessory for criminal, anti-social yobs to hide their identity if under surveillance.

Janet Vaughn, Thornton Road, Bradford.