Letters to the Editor

Bradford cannot compete with Leeds if it plays the same game by the same rules, so it needs to be different. And my plan is so different that the prejudiced rail-lobby can't (or doesn't want to) understand it.

My statistic of five per cent rail commuters is certified national data - Michael Ramsden's self-generated 70 per cent is plainly too ridiculous to waste time discussing.

And as for the money: currently 100 per cent of income tax and council tax payers provide outrageous subsidies to support a mere five per cent of blatantly-underpaying rail passengers (mostly going to Leeds!). Take that away and my Bradford 20-Year Development Fund is already starting to grow.

This is all about Bradford - not railways, not trams, not cars, but helping Bradford to peep over the mountain top and see a vision of how to reverse its current inexorable decline and create a future of which all we loyal Bradfordians can be proud.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

SIR - Following Nick Carroll's ill-informed criticism of the proposed bi-lingual policy, it is now Alan Biggin's turn.

I accused Nick Carroll of "being off his trolley" if he believed that the policy will lead to the compulsory use (for heaven's sake!) of Urdu, Punjabi etc. in our hospitals, schools etc. I don't accept Nick really believes this nonsense and I assume he was just trying to stir up trouble.

Incredibly Alan Biggin (T&A, August 16) believes that this is a view "which could hardly be called unreasonable". Scary stuff.

I cannot be tolerant of intolerance, especially when it is based upon ignorance of the facts which, in this case, could easily be rectified by reading the policy document itself which clearly emphasises the importance of developing English language proficiency.

He talks about members of the Asian community having a "disinclination" to learn English - doesn't he know about the waiting list to get on to English language courses?

Mr Biggin refers to Bradford as a "desperate city" but I believe it has a great future if we all work together. By running it down in this way Mr Biggin is not helping.

Councillor David Ward, Clara Road, Bolton Villas, Bradford 2

SIR - So in a city not overly blessed with decent toilet facilities as it is, we are to lose even more.

Bradford Council should not be looking to close toilet facilities. Instead they should be providing new ones. There is a definite shortage of toilets in the city centre, especially disabled ones.

What Bradford needs are clean, centrally-located facilities with disabled access and baby-change facilities. I hope that the designers of the new Broadway development will take notice.

Louise Craven, Flinton Grove, Fagley.

SIR - In reply to Mrs J E Lambert's letter (T&A, August 12) about Greengates Cenotaph. I was born 50 yards away from the Cenotaph in the Grove. I was baptised at Greengates Springfield Methodist and married at Greengates Church.

I did not notice any fuss when they pulled the Methodist Chapel down.

I also would like Mrs Lambert to know I worked 35 years at G Garnett and Sons, and have been a member of Greengates Liberal Club for 58 years, so I do know a little about the village.

The site I mentioned, bottom of Redcar Road, is not out of sight and it is a safer place for access.

If the Cenotaph is moved to make way for a safer junction and it saved just one accident and possibly a life, would it not be worthwhile?

I and many of my friends who had relatives and loved ones killed and maimed in both wars would not think it any less revered if it was properly blessed possibly by a Bishop and carefully looked after, like it always has been down the years.

G Long, Leeds Road, Thackley

SIR - "Well done!" to everyone involved with organising the Windhill Clean-Up Campaign - a good idea which has worked well and brought back a bit of pride in where we live.

The whole area looks cleaner, and cared-for again. It also brought people together again as neighbours, which is another good thing.

The gents we spoke to who were collecting items were a cheerful, efficient crew, so we gave them a clap, and they took a bow! All in all a very successful job done well.

Thank you.

Sue Price, on behalf of all residents of Prospect Mount, Windhill.

SIR - With regards to Mrs. Harrison's letter about language teaching, I totally agree with her that we must integrate with each other. However, does this apply to only ethnic minority communities, with the indigenous community having no responsibility towards it?

One lady has told me many times to keep my mouth shut as the rest of the ethnic minority communities do instead of airing my views through the newspapers.

Governments (Labour or Conservative) have been trying their best to get the British to learn/speak foreign languages, eg Spanish, German, Danish etc. I wonder whether there are more Danish, Germans, Spanish etc. or Asians in Britain?

Learning one's own or other languages in schools is a lot better than in religious places. The knowledge of one's own language builds confidence and improves one's ability to succeed in any field one desires and bring people closer as is the case of united Europe.

Pupils should be allowed to speak the language they're learning in that class.

Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford.

SIR - So according to Mike Priestley, life in Iraq under Saddam was not all bad (North of Watford, August 16).

Visit that place, Mike, and ask relatives of all those being discovered in mass graves who they would rather have in charge.

You will note the nasty US and UK don't have a record of killing thousands and despite no water, no power etc people are at least living, albeit with a struggle.

Let's get Saddam back and ask him to show us how to keep law and order while still filling a few graves, of course.

F Dickinson, Larkfield Road, Rawdon.

SIR - Why is the Church concerned about civil funerals? Surely the whole point of a civil funeral is to avoid the religious aspect of the ceremony - unless, of course, it's concerned with yet another source of revenue disappearing.

If you are religious you can choose a religious ceremony. I would like the same rights please, and I am grateful to the T&A for announcing that the Council offer this service.

Shirley Bilton, Kilroyd Drive, Cleckheaton.

SIR - I collect ashtrays and beer mats from long-deceased breweries. I have 500 and my aim is to collect one from each brewery which existed.

I recently visited Bradford, but had no luck in tracing a mat or ashtray of Waller's Bradford Brewery, which was taken over in 1935. I visited a few pubs and shops, but without success.

Is there a reader who has encountered either, so that I can judge whether my quest is sensible or not. I would aim to respond courteously to any information.

Geoffrey Hammond, The Pilgrims' School, The Close, Winchester, Hants SO23 9LT.

SIR - The feature "Red Letter Day!" by Helen Mead (T&A August 16) tells readers that there is ample free parking at Harewood House, but makes no reference to the ease of access without a car.

During the last three years the Harewood House Trust, in conjunction with Transport 2000, has developed a Visitor Travel Plan to encourage car-free visits and make the attraction more accessible to households without a car.

The plan enables visitors arriving by bus to gain half-price admission to the house and gardens on presentation of their bus ticket or voucher from the bus driver.

Harrogate & District service 36, Leeds-Harrogate-Ripon, passes the gates every 20 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on Sundays.

In addition Utopia Coaches minibus service 923 provides a link from Menston, Otley and Wetherby three times a day from Wednesdays to Saturdays.

A free buggy operates between the gates and the house, avoiding the need to walk along the drive.

A J Sutcliffe, Hauxley Court, Ilkley.