Letters to the Editor

1. Bradford Council will raise the council tax by more than the rate of inflation;

2. Bradford councillors will raise their allowances by more than the rate of inflation;

3. Bradford Council will create jobs for the boys that have no use to the council tax-paying public;

4. Bradford Council will continue to ignore any infringement of the bye-laws relating to highway obstruction, litter, etc.

5. The outcome of the referendum on the Yorkshire regional assembly is also a foregone conclusion.

I base this on the article in the T&A of June 17 which stated that John Prescott expects the assembly to be up and running. He doesn't "hope" he "expects." If that isn't a foregone conclusion then I don't know what is.

P A Lightbody, Plumpton Lea, Bradford.

SIR - I notice with great interest that the Silent Majority of Bradford are being blamed by some of your readers for the city's decline.

I can identify with this perception because while I was a resident in Bradford up to 1994, I despaired at my fellow citizens' reticence to complain about the political policing.

I challenged the local police and the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire about their inaction at the simmering tensions in the inner cities.

The first major riot of 1995 surprised nobody. It was a travesty that nobody was brought to court. The Silent Majority should have taken to the streets in huge numbers to protest.

Alas! There wasn't a whimper.

Of course the 1995 riot proved to be a catalyst for further disturbances.

My new Toddy friends berate me for leaving a sinking ship when in reality I left because of career convenience.

I love Bradford and would never shy away from admitting my roots. Those who do have probably unwittingly contributed to their city's demise by their inaction.

Mrs Veronica Arnold, Saxon Street, Todmorden.

SIR - Today the Government said that it's to help disabled people back into work. Great! But hang on! Then why is Bradford Council intent on closing specialist help centres like DATA that cater for all disabilities from wheelchair users to the deaf?

Bradford Council is to put these people into Bradford University and bring in outside specialist helpers at a cost far exceeding anything that places like DATA cost and that's only for personnel.

The cost to set up larger aisles in classrooms, get new ramps so wheelchair users can get up and down to use the main facilities will be beyond belief when there is such a place in existence.

How are these councillors who live in a world of equal opportunity so blind? And what happens to these specialists at DATA? Wasted on unemployment benefits.

K Fry, Beacon Road, Wibsey.

SIR - The European Union is soon to encompass ten new countries, for which there needs to be a revision of the rules - that is, a new constitution. What worked for the original six is not going to work for 25. Yet Councillor Andrew Smith's brand of patriotism (Letters, June 15) wants to rule out anything to do with Europe, even if it is in our country's best interests. He appears tinged with jealousy that it is a Labour Prime Minister who is dealing with the matter.

He must know that it is possible to be a Conservative and still support British membership of the EU.

As Thatcher said in the 1975 referendum on Europe, "The Conservative Party has consistently supported the European Idea". After all it was Churchill who founded the European movement in 1948, Heath who took us into the European Community in 1973 and Thatcher who signed the Single European Act in 1986.

We need this constitution for the European Union, whether it's handled by a Labour or a Conservative government. As long as they're both patriotic.

John Murray, Moorside Road, Honley, Holmfirth.

SIR - From Iain Duncan Smith to Andrew Smith (Letters, June 14), Conservatives seem unable to come up with anything more than a pathetic list of NON reasons why we should not join the Euro and reject the new European 'Constitution.'

What is wrong with a federal Europe?

What is wrong with a Europe with its own president, foreign and defence ministers?

What is wrong with being a citizen of Europe?

Where is the loss of sovereignty in countries like France and Germany?

What have we to fear other than losing the right to fish the stocks in our territorial waters to extinction without EU interference?

In saying he is opposed to such things, Coun Smith is expressing an opinion, not developing a coherent argument.

If the best he can come up with is "Tony Blair wants to be president of Europe" I can see why he fears the proper debate which Mr Blair is now hoping to head.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley.

SIR - I am writing to express my disgust and anger about those people who go round vandalising graves in cemeteries. My family has recently been victims of just such a crime.

My nan, who was loved very much, was laid to rest in Bowling Cemetery only six weeks ago. As most people do, we placed things on her grave in her memory to make it look nice - items such as windmills, scarecrows, flowers etc.

Not long after, we visited the cemetery only to find vandals had stolen most of the gifts. This was very upsetting for me and my family.

What do these people get out of doing this, other than causing grieving families further heartache?

Cemeteries are for people to pay their respect to loved ones they have lost, and to look after their graves, not for vandalising and destroying. It's hard enough grieving for my nan. To have this happen just adds more sorrow, as well as anger.

Something needs to be done about these petty criminals in cemeteries before it all gets out of hand. I'm pretty sure most families who have loved ones in Bowling Cemetery will agree with this.

Clare Greenwood, Irwell Street, East Bowling, Bradford.

SIR - Re the letter from E Sinclair (June 16). The toilets in Myrtle Park are cleaned on a regular basis by a very dedicated cleaner called Joe.

He says he cannot be on site 24 hours a day but he thoroughly cleans them, by disinfecting and scrubbing them clean - not a pleasant job! Only after he has finished do they get into a "filthy" condition.

These toilets are very old, and could do with being modernised.

M Nicholson, Otley Road, Eldwick.

SIR - The War Memorial at Greengates should be left alone and roadworks built round it.

Certain councillors have stated that the fumes from traffic are affecting it; this is not correct. What about traffic in London? Have they moved that one?

It is time councillors took notice of what the people want instead of their own ideas.

So come on all you ex-servicemen and women, fight once again for your fallen comrades.

J R Smith, Retired Persons Action Group, Flawith Drive, Fagley.

SIR - On several occasions recently I have noticed a particular type of vehicle, illegally parked, causing an obstruction.

These police mobile camera units can apparently park in places where normal motorists would be fined.

I would suggest that the practice of breaking the law to enforce the law is unethical and hypocritical.

Q K Nash, Chapel Street, Calverley.