Letters to the Editor

I would like to point out that the actions of the few mindless youths who were throwing "waterbombs" and stones were strongly condemned.

In the past, such minor disturbances have been exploited by the media and many individuals. The end result has been disastrous for the whole district.

I am aware that there could have been serious consequences as a result of the disturbance, but I was successful in resolving the problem in a very short time, so I therefore consider it as minor.

Such disturbances take place all over Bradford, be it Bingley, Thornton, Holme Wood or Ravenscliffe, but only those in or around Manningham are being exploited.

I would like to point out to everyone that businesses in Manningham have suffered a lot over the past few years.

Please give them a chance to revive by not making an issue out of every minor disturbance.

Councillor Arshad Hussain, Little Lane, Bradford 9.

SIR - With reference to your report headed 'Patrols stepped up after stones hurled' (T&A, August 16), I am somewhat surprised and appalled by the comment made by Councillor Hussain: "There are always these minor incidents going on around the city and they're nothing to worry about."

What planet is Councillor Hussain on? If throwing stones at police cars and private vehicles is nothing to worry about for a councillor, then it doesn't say much for other members of society.

I R Baxter, Heaton Road, Bradford 9.

SIR - In reply to Mr Simpson (Letters, August 21). To get to Low Moor from Leeds by rail would mean going via Dewsbury and Mirfield, up the Calder Valley through Brighouse, Elland and Greetland, turning right up Salterhebble Bank into Halifax, then onwards to Low Moor, a journey of around 36 minutes. Might as well use the "stupid spur" into the "frightful" place of Bradford Interchange.

Maybe he is going back to the time when Bradford/Leeds to Manchester/Liverpool trains combined or split at Low Moor, the Leeds portion avoiding Bradford.

Or maybe he is thinking of the plan some time ago when it was suggested to reopen the Bradford avoiding line and build a station on the reinstated route. Although the trackbed is still there from Laisterdyke to Bowling Junction, Bowling Viaduct was demolished around 1988 leaving a gap that even modern trains could not jump across.

Andrew Bower, Wroe Terrace, Wyke.

SIR - A recent letter in these pages stated that a cross-rail link would bring no benefits to Bradford.

Surely this is a naive view. Numerous letters have highlighted the benefits, not least the ability of people to commute from say Bingley to Halifax and other routes which may take cars off our congested roads.

A well-connected Bradford would mean a greater number of visitors as well as more people changing trains here. More people equals more money for the city as some will spend money.

A cross-rail link may also encourage businesses to establish a base here, especially if direct routes to other major cities were established.

Tony Watt, Titus Street, Saltaire.

SIR - I was sorry to read about the death of Don Alred. I met him often when I was honorary publicity officer for the Bradford branch of the Royal Life Saving Society.

In those happy days I was able to take the lift up to the newsroom floor without any protocol or security cards and walk straight to his desk. He was always pleasant and had a smile on his face whatever time I called.

On one occasion he asked: "What have you got for us today?" His assistant, David Swallow sitting at his side said: "This lad always brings good stuff in!". A much-appreciated compliment, I felt.

Don's predecessor had a severe "I've seen it all before" face more like the kind of news editor portrayed in films.

I phoned Don several times after he had retired and he was just the same pleasant, interesting chap.

Peter A Rushforth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth.

SIR - I am surprised that there have not been a lot more accidents in Gaisby Lane. Every day cars and motor bikes speed up and down it. Also much of the traffic takes a short cut down Lilac Grove at about 50mph. Sometimes it feels as if I live next to a motorway.

I have already had my vehicle bumped by a speeding car in Lilac Grove, and then my subsequent courtesy car also got bumped. How many more accidents must there be before something is done?

If they can put speed cameras up Leeds Road, why can't they put them on Gaisby Lane?

L Cartwright, Lilac Grove Shipley.

SIR - In view of Mike Priestley's vicious attack on our beloved Prince William just because he likes killing a small antelope with a spear (T&A, August 16) I suspect he'll have to wait a bit longer for his knighthood!

I feel that, in calling the Prince a prat, he's done a grave disservice to a reputable furniture firm not to mention a Spurs player, John, who scored at Elland Road in the 1970s when Revie's men were almost unbeatable.

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - I am writing to let you know that good things DO happen in Bradford! I recently went to see a Bradford rock band called Threshold Shift and felt compelled to tell you about our very own home-grown talent!

Threshold Shift are like a breath of fresh air in this day and age of manufactured pop mush. As well as doing excellent cover versions they also perform many of their own songs.

The Bradford public are showing their support as they attend the band's gigs in their droves - Bradford's public obviously recognise good rock music when they hear it!

It is such a shame that the record company representatives are so biased in refusing to venture out of London to see what the Bradford music scene has to offer!

Rachel Lloyd, Earls View, Sutton-in-Craven.

SIR - I see that the Iraqis don't care much for the transition to democracy and that the Americans/British have been a bit too simplistic in the "before and after" parts of the action in that benighted country.

It is about time that the Western nations acknowledged that they do not understand the Arab mind and the culture of Islam. They have a way of life that is described as "peaceful" but has the most horrific way of showing it, ie Twin Towers in New York, Bali, and now the UN building in Baghdad.

Such gratitude makes the task of repatriating both sets of military presences so much easier and "let Iraqis stew in their own juice". What would surely follow would be anarchy for a while but whatever happened it could not be much worse than that under Saddam.

With the depth of stupidity that the Iraqis are now displaying, they deserve all they get.

I was in favour of ousting Saddam and still believe that weapons of mass destruction will be found but now I am in favour of letting the cauldron that is the Middle East bubble away.

Phil Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke.

SIR - One has recently learned that anti-social behaviour can only be dealt with if wilful damage is done and has clearly to be proved and caught in the act, otherwise the authorities generally are powerless.

Small wonder, then, that so many of the electorate, on this issue alone, don't see the point of bothering to vote, either at local or general elections and that doesn't just apply to young voters.

G Steff, Wharncliffe Road, Shipley.

SIR - We all know that well-known warning: Don't take the law into your own hands. Have you noticed that it doesn't apply to everybody? Take the case of disabled driver Konrad Durak (T&A, August 22), not only disabled but on low income, who parked in the wrong place at Shipley Station.

Wrong, that is, according to the "rules" of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

Some Authority, wouldn't you say? They make their own laws and judge their own cases. They hand out penalties without the benefit of a trial for the "offender." Nobody can plead, let alone win, mitigation.

The infamous clamping brigade is another example of such privileges. Their patches of land are often traps for the unwary, no matter how aged or infirm the victims.

Isn't it time for the elected law-givers, and they only, to take the law into their hands?

M Tetlow, Ashwell Road, Heaton.