Bypass safety must be looked at

SIR - Having driven on the Bingley bypass I can say that our whole family was impressed. I do have reservations, however, about whether the roads leading to it,in Keighley and Saltaire, are up to the increased flow of traffic.

I object to speed cameras when used as another form of taxing motorists but can see how they can assist road safety if deployed correctly and visibly.

This new road appears to be a very quick means of commuting, with nice, sweeping bends, yet there is not one speed camera. Surely the highways people are not going to wait for a serious accident before installing cameras like those on the Stanningley bypass? They could save someone's life.

Philip Hartley, Tunwell Lane, Eccleshill

An ideal memorial

SIR - The opening ceremony for Bingley relief road should be carried out by someone a lot more worthy than John Prescott.

I would suggest the widow of Sergeant Roberts, the first soldier to die in the war in Iraq. The bypass could then be called "Roberts Way " so that his name will never be forgotten. Of course, I make this suggestion subject to Mrs Roberts's consent.

Sergeant Roberts was a local man and I cannot think of a better tribute to a local hero. I am equally sure that a lot of local people would agree.

Brian Walker, Leyburn Grove, Shipley.

What a relief!

SIR - I was so excited to read that the Bingley relief road has opened. I feel like flying back home just to take the bus from Keighley to Bradford. I spent many an hour stuck on that bus dreaming of the bypass!

Tracy McConville, Harrier Lane, Kanata, Ontario, Canada

Broadband boost

SIR - I was very pleased to read the report regarding Bradford Council's results in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission (T&A, December 18).

In particular, I was delighted to read that the Airedale partnership had been singled out for a special mention. BT, Yorkshire Forward and Business Link West Yorkshire have joined with the Council to encourage the take-up of broadband across the Aire Valley. I would like to pay tribute to the foresight of the Council in joining with the private sector to make this vision a reality.

BT last month "switched on" four additional new exchanges for broadband, serving Steeton, Burley in Wharfedale, Addingham and Thornton. Cullingworth exchange will go live in February.

I am particularly pleased that this collaborative approach of public and private sector partnerships has been recognised by the Audit Commission. This public endorsement can only help to encourage a partnership approach, which can be replicated elsewhere in the region, for the benefit of local communities.

Brian Greenwood, BT Yorkshire and The Humber Regional Director, Sovereign Street, Leeds.

Islam's rigid dogma

SIR - Amjad Mohammed, in your Feedback column of December 22, seeks "to remove many misunderstandings (of Islam)".

Sadly, the examples he chooses illustrate only too starkly the unbridgeable gulf which exists between the secular, liberal values of the West, and the unyielding religious dogmatism of Islam.

Women must dress so that no trace of their femininity remains, they cannot engage in sports when men are present and, incredibly, musical performances are banned for both sexes.

What is so shameful about the female body, and what is so sinful about the sound of music?

Such joyless suppression crushes that most precious thing in life, the flowering of the individual human spirit. Little wonder that there have been no Muslim Shakespeares or Beethovens, let alone any Jane Austens or Charles Darwins!

Until the dead hand of clerical authoritarianism is removed, or at least relaxed, in the Muslim world, a climate of "us and them" will inevitably persist in view of such outdated and tragically unnecessary rigidities.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

My tips for drivers

SIR - Can I pass on some tips for drivers using Thornton Road?

1, The use of the left-hand indicator does not mean that you are then able to proceed using the bus lane, but being arrogant does!

2, If you are travelling towards the speed cameras at a legal 30 mph you may continue at this speed, you do not have to slow to 23 mph.

3, When you approach the mini-roundabouts, give way to traffic from the right, not the left!

Let's hope for less frustrating commuting in 2004.

Nick Davis, Longhouse Street, Denholme.

A job well done...

SIR - As a resident of Queensbury ward, may I echo Roland Wadden's support of Councillor Andrew Smith (Letters, December 22)?

I recently had cause to contact my local councillor - something I have never had to do before - to help me with quite a serious problem. Within hours, Councillor Smith had helped to sort it out after I had been trying for two weeks.

He was more than happy to help my family in a time of crisis even though I understand from the T&A that, earlier the same week, Cllr Smith had been de-selected as Tory candidate for the next elections.

I definitely am one of the majority who are not in the slightest bit concerned about his private life.

Michelle Garside, Julian Drive, Clayton Heights

...and another one

SIR - R S Watson attacked Bradford's Labour leader Ian Greenwood (Letters, December 26) but maybe if he or she lived in the Little Horton area he or she would know how helpful the councillor is.

Over the past year I have gone to him with more problems than I can remember. He is currently doing his best to recover some lost money for me and I am sure he will sort it out as he has done in the past.

Harry Flynn, Powell Avenue, Little Horton

Censorship insult

SIR - I hope my indigenous friends have had a good Christmas and not been upset by the censoring of nativity scenes by the Red Cross, Abbey and many schools.

It is about time Christian leaders stood up and challenged this lunacy; they owe it to their worshippers. Can you imagine a Muslim cleric being told to "play down" the Eid festival? What would the white liberals say about that?

I find censoring of the nativity quite insulting. What the zealots of the PC movement are, in effect, saying is that Muslims like me are so intolerant that we might cause a storm of protest! Okay, some fundamentalist nutter might object but surely we are not pandering to them?

Whatever next? Banning ornamental pigs and bacon butties because it might offend Muslims? Give me some respect for my intelligence and tolerance and concentrate on more important matters like car-jacking, muggings and racist attacks on white people that get ignored.

M Zafar, Fairbank Road, Bradford.

Thanks for help

SIR - The family of Mrs Illingworth, aged 90, who fell on Monday, December 22, at Cutler Heights Lane, would like to thank all the good people who helped our mum, those who called the ambulance to take her to the hospital, the paramedics and the lady who went to tell her neighbour so the family could be informed.

Mrs Margaret Lockwood, Hawes Avenue, Bradford.