Letters to the Editor

SIR - So now it's official...Bradford is to be cut off from a major section of the rail network (T&A, December 10).

Having been left out of the high-speed trans-Pennine route, Arriva Trains are now proposing to axe evening trains running between Shipley and Forster Square.

Not only are we not going to get the vital cross-city rail link, we are to have the arm amputated connecting Bradford to the Aire valley route. This will be replaced by a "shuttle" service.

What exactly will this shuttle service be - a bus, a taxi, a donkey, a wheelbarrow? How does Bradford hope to survive economically when vital rail links are even further cut off? Instead of isolating ourselves further from this network we should be developing them as has happened in Leeds. What a contrast in cities - flourishing Leeds, floundering Bradford.

It does not matter how many more super-plans we have for Bradford, if they do not tackle the transport and rail infrastructure of the city they will all fail, yet again.

Dr Chris Butler, Dallam Avenue, Shipley

This is reality

SIR - Shame on Gerry Sutcliffe on his opportunist photo shoot regarding the Buttershaw shopping centre. Had this MP a fraction of the wit or talent of the late Andrea Dunbar he would know that a half-pulled-down, neglected environment is not the by-product of the fictional film Rita, Sue and Bob Too but the result of wanton neglect from the likes of himself and others in City Hall.

Gerry Sutcliffe, the self-congratulatory Royds, and various missionaries would paint you a picture of rejoicing lucky tenants.

However, they neglect to mention the hand rubbing and glee of those that are actually benefiting from the lucrative land deals and the sell-off and exploitation of Council estates.

It is a shame that while reporting of vandalism and stone throwing by local youths, those explaining our luck did not expand and also mention that Buttershaw's only and neglected youth club is also earmarked for demolition in favour of more houses for sale.

Eileen Allen, Reevy Road West, Buttershaw.

A bridge too far

SIR - I was very disappointed to find that in spite of the inevitable rises in council tax year after year, the people of Clayton have agreed to pay an additional sum to their bills as a result of the vote on parish councils.

We have been told it would put £6 to £10 initially on each householder's bill, but who in their right mind would be naive enough to think it will stay at that?

In two or three years it could be £20 or £30 and rising.

There must be many affluent people living in Clayton. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them and as a pensioner I find my pension constantly eroded.

I find the whole concept a waste of time and my money.

G Walker, Pasture Rise, Clayton.

End of a tyrant

SIR - Thank you to the British and American soldiers who helped capture the homicidal maniac known as Saddam Hussein. Thank goodness he is now in custody. He murdered more than a million people, and killed over 500 Coalition soldiers.

Pity we didn't get the rest of his henchmen, but we will, and we will capture Osama Bin Laden, who we have not forgotten about either. You can hide, but we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.

I had to laugh on the news when the President of France said he was glad that Saddam was captured. No thanks to him.

We are elated, as I am sure the rest of the world is today. Hopefully one day we will put the word terrorism where it belongs, back in the dictionary.

Diane Duguid, E.4th St, Deer Park, New York

Keep it clean

SIR - Some years ago my first job was in a shop in central Manchester. One of the daily tasks was sweeping the pavement outside the shop. Not exactly rocket science but it did help maintain some civic pride.

Last Wednesday I noticed a broken glass outside the Halifax in Kirkgate, Otley. I'm writing this at around midday on Sunday and the glass is still there. Why?

Come on Halifax, take some pride in your premises and Otley.

Richard Hamer, Guycroft, Otley

A dirty trick...

SIR - Will someone please tell the doggy walkers of Gilstead Lane, Bingley, that when they have picked up the offensive dog dirt not to throw it over my garden wall.

The idea is to take it and dispose of it where the dog comes from.

B Walton, Gilstead Lane, Bingley

RC success story

SIR - I fear Mary Hackett may have missed the point of my proposal for an age of consent for religion (Letters, December 12).

I certainly didn't intend to single out a frail 80-year-old Pontiff for criticism. My position covers all faiths and aims to defend all young people from improper advances which they are ill-equipped to resist.

To offer some redress, I must say that I have long held the Roman Catholic Church in majestic esteem as possibly the most successful business model ever.

It has survived two millennia, has a billion customers, has a comprehensive marketing strategy which ensures permanent supplies of poor and susceptible recruits, has an impressively flat management structure (priests, bishops, cardinals, Pope) which even Marks & Spencer should envy, has employment practices brilliantly designed to minimise operating costs, and bends with the political wind in a way which even the ever-flexible David Blunkett could scarcely achieve in his wildest dreams. I wish I'd thought of it first.

So next time you pass an RC Church or any other, remember my admiration for this 2,000-year-old commercial success story and, if you're a consenting adult, feel free to indulge - just don't impose it on the young.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon

Question of choice

SIR - I wonder how an intelligent person like Jacques Chirac, President of France, could make the remarks he did about head scarves as an Islamic symbol, and also some ignorant self-made Muslim leaders say the same even though all Muslims know that the headscarf has nothing to do with religion. It is hygienic, fashioniable and more so keeps the head warm.

Women of all religions wear them every where in the world. However the material of the scarves and the way white, black and brown women wear them are different.

It is true that Muslim women should cover themselves from head to toe regardless of the material they use. However most of the people of all religions do what they want and like even if it is against their religion.

Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford 7

Spiralling costs

SIR - Mike Priestley's comments in the T&A (December 13) concerning the Council's priorities will touch a chord with many of Bradford's hard-working people. Why is it that those of us who work in everyday jobs are required to keep our pay settlements well below inflation in order to survive and then expected to bear the burden of excessive council tax demands?

The reason is clear. Both local and national government have little if any idea of how to control costs. There are many forms of waste in which Bradford Council are clearly indulging themselves.

How long will we continue to allow this incompetent Council to keep coming to the feeding trough?

Dale Town, Oakhall Park, Thornton