Letters to the Editor

A writer refers to the diagrams for buildings as "multi-coloured coffins." No such buildings are proposed, the drawings merely indicate where building could be. The lake is only a suggestion of what is possible, and no-one has made any comment about the central park land, an idea that would alter the whole nature of the rather miserable aspect of Thornton Road.

Cannot the citizens of Bradford interpret a suggested scheme from an experienced architect who has no financial axe to grind? When I went to view the plans, there were crowds of people and an "interpreter" of the ideas, who seemed perfectly happy, to "take on" any comments and ideas thrown his way.

For the sake of Bradford, don't give the rest of the country the idea we are stuck solid in misplaced nostalgia about a Bradford that no longer exists.

Jack Mawson, Grove House Crescent, Bradford 2.

SIR - I think the supplement on the city masterplan "Vision for Bradford" (T&A October 27) was too one-sided.

What about people, council tax payers like myself, who don't back the plans? Your supplement is all for this idea. There should have been comments for people like myself and others who have got arguments against these absurd ideas.

I feel the T&A is biased and should have put more of our views in the supplement to make this more democratic.

If they had a vote on this idea, the Council would lose.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

Editor's note: The supplement was part of the Bradford Centre Regeneration plan consultation exercise and was designed to encourage all readers to put forward their views. Comments should be sent to: Bradford Centre Regeneration, Fourth Floor, Merchants House, Peckover Street, Little Germany, Bradford, BD1 5BD.

SIR - Dan Dare lands in Forster Square, among the Grade II listed pre-fabs and visit the lakeside to find the old folk in their cossies in the deep end and the little children paddling in their hobnailed boots - so as not to get needles in their little feet.

In the evening the younger people get blathered in the continental-style bars which border the lake, while the old folk bask in the evening sunlight, reflected from the glass-entombed City Hall. They make and sail polystyrene boats with fish and chip paper sails.

At dusk, as the salmon rise and leap from the mucky beck flowing from the surrounding woodland, the whole scene is illuminated by the rosy glow from the burned-out Ford Escort.

Ray Hook, Hazelheads, Baildon.

SIR - I have a smallholding and each year I take a week's holiday around bonfire night to try - as it says in the fireworks code - to "get my animals indoors".

This, now, is almost pointless as we have fireworks going off all year round at any time of the day or night. It seems a summer barbecue, a birthday party, almost any occasion is reason enough to frighten the living daylights out of our unsuspecting neighbours. Even normally reasonable and professional people think this is okay!

Fireworks have become louder and louder, air bombs being a particular nuisance. We can no longer turn our sheep into the fields as, after a barrage of exploding air bombs, they jump out in terror. Last year I was nearly crushed in a stampede by my horses as I tried to bring them in for the night; again because of an air bomb exploding about their heads.

Fireworks have been a danger for far too long. Now that they are louder and more indiscriminate the only way forward is a complete ban.

Diane Verity, Station Road, Queensbury.

SIR - Once fireworks activity was on the evening of bonfire night only but now it is spread over about four or five weeks and at various other times during the year. It has become an annoyance, with loud bangs very late at night and sometimes in the early hours of the morning.

The Veterinary Association has reported a large number of dogs and cats having being traumatised. The situation will get worse unless the use and sale of bangers is made illegal, permitting only the silent, ornamental type of firework to be used.

J W Drake, Tofts Grove Place, Rastrick.

SIR - Jack Mawson reckons "Bradford could well do without Bingley" (Letters, October 31).

Had he the power to relieve Bingley of its shackles then we would also be relieved of the monetary burden imposed on the township by a second-rate city in its relentless pursuit of hare-brained schemes worthy of any April Fool hoax.

Bradford Metropolitan Council stole the historical assets of Bingley, Keighley and other towns and it's time we regained control of our own finances as we're weary of seeing our cash drain into the bottomless pit at City Hall.

Let the citizens of Bradford meet the cost of its endless follies.

Mrs M Crook, Ryecroft, Harden.

SIR - Millions of animals every year have their throats cut in slaughterhouses while fully conscious - and it is perfectly legal.

Animals killed for Muslim halal and Jewish kosher meat are exempt from the rule that animals should be stunned before slaughter. This is because some (though not all) Jewish and Muslim people believe their religions forbid stunning.

While respect for other people's cultures and religions is very important, the suffering faced by these animals is unimaginable and the law should be changed to make this practice illegal.

The Government's advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, concluded that this kind of slaughter causes "very significant pain and distress" and that it can take a calf up to two minutes to lose consciousness after its throat is cut.

More than 90 per cent of animals slaughtered for halal meat in the UK are now stunned first but while millions more suffer in this way, we must not shy away from this problem, however difficult it may be to confront profoundly-held religions beliefs.

Mrs V M Davis, Selborne Terrace, Heaton.

SIR - The political trend is for young members of Parliament. This is foolish and insulting to the older generation. It was golden Greek Aristotle who said: "Young men should not be involved in politics, because they are moved by emotion and feelings, not facts and reality."

So when literature arrived at my house about the Tories' new candidate for this area, I read it, then recycled it.

No MP should be younger than 50, no prime minister under 60. Countries should be run by the wise , not ambitious.

A wise PM would have kept us out of Iraq as they kept us out of Vietnam.

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

SIR - I am broadly sympathetic to the planning department's objection to the use of bricks in a proposed new office block near the Cathedral (T&A, October 28) and trust that the same rules will be applied to any new building in the Petergate/Broadway area.

If the developers require a brick building, let them purchase the old Gaumont (Odeon) Cinema and convert it into offices.

Does the planning department have double standards? It does not appear to have raised any objections to the proposed excrescences within a stone's throw of Grade I listed City Hall.

A R Coates, Beckfoot Lane, Bingley.

SIR - Does Bradford have the customer base for a lively city centre filled with attractive and well-used shops? There are exclusive shops in Saltaire and the well-heeled have no need and absolutely no desire to shop in Bradford city centre.

Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Shipley.

SIR - Certain people are still banging on about having a heavy rail link between the two railway stations. Can't they understand why the city fathers built them that way in the first place?

They wanted people to come to Bradford to trade and not pass straight through to other towns or cities. Don't forget, London is not a through city. If you go there from the north, you arrive at King's Cross, St Pancras or Euston and have to cross London by taxi, bus or the underground to another station if you want to go through to anywhere else.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.