SIR - Passing briefly through East Morton, I was privileged to be able to attend, along with about 150 others, the meeting held at the village institute concerning the proposed children's home, in Carr Bank.

The lynch-mob atmosphere, the compulsion to talk and not to listen, the mindless shouting, all served to confirm southern prejudices regarding the bigotry and ignorance of those living in rural Yorkshire.

That man with such a nebulous grasp of statistics can't be a real doctor surely. I was particularly amused by the man who tried to take the moral high-ground while wearing a Leeds United football shirt.

All that puffing and huffing about just eight deprived kids desperately in need of welcome and support. I understand there was barely a word of protest about the building, on prime green-belt land, of the ugly 400-house quasi-council estate alongside Swine Lane. How many children aged 10-16 there I wonder?

It was only when I returned to the much more civilised environment of Brixton that I realised how very sad it all was.

GEOFFREY BROWN

Brixton, London

SIR - I want to tell you about my grandson.

On his 15th birthday he was bringing his little sister, aged two-and-a-half, home from playgroup when he was attacked by three youths at the corner of Becks Road and Oakworth Road.

They hit him in the face, pulled a gold chain from around his neck and stole all his birthday money -- £80 and this was at 3.15 in the afternoon.

It's not the first time he's been robbed and a lot of his friends have also been robbed of money and mobile phones. It is very traumatic for boys growing up to become targets for gang muggings.

It's not safe for them to go to school alone anymore, or even in pairs.

I dread to think what it will be like when he reaches his twenties if this sort of behaviour is not brought under control.

The police were very prompt when called, they were very helpful and will no doubt do their best, but even if these thugs are caught, it has really spoiled his birthday, upset him, his sister and all the family and its very certain he will not get his birthday money back or take away the trauma suffered by him and his sister.

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

SIR - Bradford Council's asset-stripping programme may possibly have hit a snag even before the brains at City Hall have pawned the city's allotments and schools or melted down Keighley's mayoral chains.

I urge all readers with access to the Internet to look at the press notice issued by the Government Treasury Committee, of 12/2/2003.

It would seem that one of the possible companies that could be involved with Bradford's re-mortgage machinations is a group called Mapeley, which is at the heart of an Inland Revenue tax avoidance scandal.

Bradford City officials, at the behest of their political masters, shouldn't even be contemplating becoming involved with such Establishment city types. These types could consume all the limited brainpower ensconced in City Hall with the ease they use when eating caviar-topped hors d'oeuvres. In the view of clear-thinking tax payers, madness.

The city of Bradford's past and present political mismanagement is still continuing, which is the reason that public assets are to be deposited at the Establishment pawn brokers.

City officials and politicians who have already proved to be incompetent should be downsized, (what a wonderful word that is) and forced to see how real people deal with real situations.

Keighley Market is a case in point. Bradford has more chiefs than Indians in running what should be a local asset. The market people, business people all, should be able to run the market as a business, with just a light touch of accountancy help, via a management company comprising local Keighley people and the market traders. Will it happen? Only if the public gets off its backside and kicks off all those party politicians who seek power but who haven't even the brainpower to get out of bed in the morning.

David Samuels

Station Road

Oxenhope

SIR - During recent weeks, I have read with interest the various articles relating to traffic congestion in our town centre.

Not wanting to criticise the actions of others, but I feel that unless we tackle a more fundamental issue then we will only reap a reduced benefit.

There are many issues that I could raise here, but for the sake of space I offer three:

One - Drivers overtaking patiently queueing traffic in Hanover Street to turn left on to Cavendish Street, cutting across oncoming traffic, and then turning right on to Lawkholme Lane.

Two - The junction of Alice Street and North Street where the "No Right Turn" sign might as well read "No Enforcement Here So Do As You Please".

Three - Any junction that is controlled by lights as many drivers interpret a red light meaning five seconds until the other traffic reacts so put your foot down.

I accept that the local police struggle with staffing, but it would be nice to have visible policing at the busy periods to discourage law-breakers.

Mark Pullen

Thorn Street,

Haworth

SIR - Mujeeb Rahman (in his 8/8/2003 "report") was keen to tell us all what he dislikes about Western culture, but not too keen to tell us what he liked about it.

If he dislikes Western culture so much why doesn't he emigrate -- like the Puritans did -- to a less Godless part of the world? Why not Islamic Saudi Arabia, for example, where people are put to death for "licentiousness".

Or why not Iran, where women used to be killed for not wearing the veil?

In the West there is no evidence of "diminishing morality". Has Mujeeb Rahman read any histories of, say, 17th or 18th century London? No; there is plenty of evidence of increased morality here in the West.

For example, what about the increased concern for the environment, for women's rights and for the poor in Third World countries?

All this is not "diminishing morality" -- it is simply a different morality.

A morality which doesn't see sex as one of the greatest of sins.

Paul Murphy

Temple Street,

Keighley

SIR - I recently asked an assistant in my local supermarket about what the labels meant on the meat products.

I saw labels saying "free-range", "farm assured", "organic", "freedom food" and many others.

He wasn't able to help, so I thought I would try to find out for myself. In doing so I discovered a little booklet that other readers might find of use. I am sure they are as confused as I am!

Compassion in World Farming has a "Compassionate Shoppers Guide" that explains all these labels and what they mean about how the animal has been treated.

It explains how to tell from the label whether an animal has been kept in a restricted environment and if it has been given suitable food and bedding materials.

If your readers are interested in the welfare of farm animals I would recommend they call the organisation for a copy. The number is 01730 268 863.

GWYN HAMILTON

Burnroyd Ave,

Cross Hills

SIR - While taking three of my grandchildren out for the day last week, we visited both Myrtle Park, at Bingley, and Cliffe Castle, at Keighley.

The visit to the children's playground at Myrtle Park was very short as the area was very unkempt and what appeared to be excrement was dried on to the "Stagecoach slide", so we returned to Cliffe Castle playground. This was not much better but it was useable and my grandchildren enjoyed themselves.

While my wife took the older two into the museum, I pushed my grandson around the gardens, the state of which was deplorable, litter, weeds and flowerbeds in need of attention, the varnish peeling off the castle windows.

The traffic islands get the attention obviously because they are being sponsored by local firms.

Why do we allow our town to be downgraded and our leisure facilities ignored. After all we pay our taxes and if I was visiting the area I would not return.

PETER J WILD

Springfield Court, Keighley

SIR - I wonder if you could bring the following to the attention of your readers.

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

I recently visited Keighley but I had no luck in tracing mats or ashtrays of Ogden & Co Ltd, which ceased brewing in 1932. 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,

Hampshire SO23 9LT

SIR - Just a quick note to thank you for a great news service for all us ex Keighley residents who now live abroad.

I read the Keighley News web site every Sunday, and enjoy all its pages. Keep up the good work.

A Holt

Calpe, Alicante.

Spain

SIR - With the start of the grouse shooting season on August 12 came the inevitable criticism from animal rights organisations on the "cruelty" or "barbarism" of shooting sports.

How wrong that standpoint is. New independent studies organised by the Countryside Alliance and the Moorland Association and carried out by ornithologists and moorland managers have shown that rare birds, such as the curlew, golden plover, lapwing and snipe, are thriving on and around the well-keepered grouse moors of northern England -- in stark contrast to other parts of the country where they are in serious decline.

The studies show a strong link between thriving wader populations and moors with full-time gamekeepers -- testament to the huge contribution shooting and keeping make both to the rural economy and the conservation of moorland areas.

Gamekeepers and grouse shooting are fundamental to the survival of these rare species in the UK -- shooting's detractors should not be so quick to judge in future.

John Haigh

Regional Director for

Yorkshire

Countryside Alliance

Firethorn House

Front Street

Thirsk

Sir - I am writing in reply to a letter that you published in last week's paper, entitled Laughable View, by M P Thompson.

I personally found the letter laughable that someone who I do not know and who obviously does not know me, should question my loyalty to Keighley.

My personal desire for the police headquarters to move to the edge of town is to see that Keighley gets the type of service that it deserves. The officers and staff currently work in cramped and antiquated conditions that do not reflect what is supposed to be a modern force.

If Keighley is to truly move forward, as is being seen by major investment in the town, then why should the town not have the most up-to-date standards of law enforcement.

The writer believes that crime is only abundant on council estates. I used to live on such an estate and never once had any cause to contact the police to report a crime.

Yes, I do now live on the edge of town but within three years I have had two cars broken into and had one stolen and never recovered. Crime has no physical boundaries and takes no account of gender or race.

Crime is crime, it's as simple as that.

As regards to my loyalty, I take great offence. Over the last three years I have become chairman of the Town Centre Management Committee, looking to improve the partnership between retailers and consumers.

I am an active member on the Keighley Area Committee, supporting and encouraging initiatives to provide a better environment, and now chair man of the Keighley Transport Forum. This year I became a member of the town council, to make a positive step in securing for Keighley the status that it deserves.

Between running two businesses and my council work, I often work a 60-hour week and pass my family on the stairs on my way out.

How many councillors have shown that level of commitment over the last three years and been involved in major issues that have affected this town.

You can answer that one.

Cllr ANDREW

MALLINSON

Conservative Keighley North

Aireburn Avenue

Steeton