SIR - In years gone by the City of Bradford resounded to the noise of looms in the mills, the clip-clop of horses' hooves on cobbles and the noise of the factory bells. But let's look forward not backward.

All we seem to hear from people who write to the T&A nowadays is constant knocking.

"Is this a ploy to close St George's Hall?" we hear; "Give me the lovely Cotswolds any day," we hear; "We'll never have a cross-city rail link," we hear.

Personally, I think it's high time the people of Bradford stopped trying to create a ghost town out of what was a thriving and prosperous city and started to express support both for the Council and the business community that is steadily and successfully creating one of the most forward-looking cities in Britain.

The sheer enthusiasm of business leaders like John Pennington and all the regeneration plans - for example, Manningham Mills - must indicate to people outside Bradford that the city and the people have lots to offer and contribute to the economy of the North of England.

So come on, people, stop knocking Bradford and let's start acting and talking positively about the city.

John A Hargreaves, Cooper Lane, Horton Bank Top

SIR - When I wrote to T&A Letters on October 2 about the role of Councillors Owens and Cole in the appalling decision to approve plans for a housing development at the Baildon Bank reservoir site, I didn't expect to hit such a raw nerve.

Coun Owens is unable to deny that he ducked his responsibility as chairman of the committee by deliberately commenting on the public record in advance of the meeting and no amount of smears from him or Tory Parliamentary candidate Philip Davies can alter that fact.

However, I was surprised that Lib-Dem Coun Cole should also try to suggest that I failed to make my opposition known when the UDP was adopted in 1998. This is completely untrue.

I have never supported the development of this site, either as a councillor or subsequently as a member of Parliament. The voters of Baildon will get their opportunity to "thank" Coun Cole for his acquaintance in this decision to bulldoze these green fields when he seeks re-election next June.

Christopher Leslie MP, Saltaire Road, Shipley.

SIR - In response to Rachael Williams, who accused the Council of lying over the proposed children's home at Netherlands Square, Low Moor (Letters, October 4), over the past few months we have held regular meetings with local people and continue to welcome their input.

This included information surgeries, neighbourhood forums and offers of one-to-one discussions in people's homes.

The planning application submission has given people yet another chance to have an input; they can now have a close look and give their views to the area planning panel before its decision.

When I responded to the T&A on September 22 I was not aware the application was in the process of being formally submitted. There was certainly no intention to mislead and we had informed a neighbourhood forum, councillors and the T&A it was imminent.

This week, the Council's executive was to discuss retaining the grassed area in Netherlands Square and a new play area, as a result of local people's comments.

We want to ensure we balance the needs of vulnerable children and people in our communities to provide the most supportive environment for everyone. The input of local people is vitally important and will continue to be so.

Alison O'Sullivan, Bradford Council's Director of Social Services

SIR - I see that street cleaners have been withdrawn from duty in Bradford after being abused by thugs (T&A, October 11).

I have witnessed some of the bad behaviour that is all too prevalent in today's society and these yobs know they will get away with it indefinitely. That is why they do it.

The police, stretched as they are, are virtually powerless to protect all areas at all times and the yobs also know this. However, in the end it is a duty of the Council to clean the streets and one must remember that they have charged the public in advance by way of council tax.

Councillor Joyce Newton (Lab, Keighley South) should not be encouraging people to "name and shame"; is she going to visit people in hospital and repair damaged property when the yobs have finished venting their anger?

The Council, in consultation with the police, should be looking for the solution to this problem and not sucking in innocent bystanders in an attempt to solve the problem.

Martin John Petty, Haworth Road, Bradford

S SIR - We would like to make it clear that, in Bradford, women routinely receive breast cancer screening up to the age of 70.

Bosom Friends is a self-help support group based in Bradford and we have been contacted by one of our members distressed at the thought that she would not be able to receive screening due to the fact that she is over 60.

This follows the article by Dr Tom Smith (September 30) in which he suggested screening stops at 60.

Due to the seriousness of breast cancer we would urge all women who have any concerns regarding breast pain or changes in appearance to contact their GP as soon as possible - they would not be turned away.

On behalf of the committee we ask that this information is published to stop unnecessary worry and concern being caused to the women of Bradford.

C A Kettle, secretary, Bosom Friends, Back Dudley Hill Road, Undercliffe.

SIR - Oh dear, Mrs Roberts, are you not a gardener? If you were, you wouldn't complain about horse deposits on the grass verge (Letters, October 7).

As a child, I cowered in embarrassment when mother dashed into the road, armed with shovel and bucket, to scoop up the deposit left by the milkcart horse. Her faith in this much-prized fertiliser mulch was justified - her roses were wonderful.

Horse "muck" is still in demand, my own garden is smothered in it. I'm amazed none of Mrs Roberts's neighbours have scooped up the precious commodity.

Mrs M Crook, Ryecroft, Harden.

SIR - John Atkinson points out that America's railways were often built despite the opposition of the local population (Letters, October 8). They were often murdered to end that opposition.

Why cannot the trainspotting fraternity be happy that Bradford has efficient links with Leeds, from where trains to many destinations can be caught or spotted, and cease trying to destroy the city centre by building a railway through it?

David Simpson, Hirst Avenue, Heckmondwike