SIR - Re "Thackley Sports" (T&A, May 27). Nowhere to play? Manager Mr Stephen Midgley should take a walk around Ellar Carr Road, at Thackley, then he would realise that soon there will be more than enough football pitches for everyone to play on.

Six more pitches are now being constructed on what was ten acres of the best grassland on our Bradford Council farm. We have lost half of our livelihood in the name of the "flagship school", Immanuel Community College, and football.

Why six more football pitches? How do you tell a herd of cows that they can no longer go into fields where they have grazed for years? Still they wait by the fence around the site, after nearly three months, since the work started.

Believe us, this mess has done nothing for the community around Ellar Carr Road.

Mr & Mrs B Lazenby, Park Hill Farm, Thackley.

SIR - I couldn't agree more with your Comment column re the failure of the system to help a mother with her 14-year-old son (May 29).

The comments of the spokesman for the Council Social Services showed no sense of compassion. He should be removed from his job, and then we in turn could say that we have given him "appropriate support".

He must think "appropriate" means "none".

Must they always use trite remarks like "The Youth Offending Team will be addressing his offending behaviour"? Balderdash.

If her MP has seen the article, surely he will insist help is given without consent from the offending 14-year-old. Action must be taken now!

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - It was interesting to read about Bingley Show returning to Myrtle Park and being given a weekend date.

The organisers say they hope the new day will attract more visitors "and ease congestion problems".

In respect of the latter, how very wrong they are, as this will create more congestion problems on the A650 through Bradford to Keighley. This road is just as busy on a Sunday as it is on a weekday, especially with the car boot sale at the Auction Mart.

I hope the organisers realise that the "residents only" parking scheme in the Poplar House area is applicable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This means there will be very little on-street parking available in this area.

I hope this event will be well advertised and that consideration is given to the residents in the Poplar House area.

Rachel Somers (petitioner - Residents Only Parking Scheme), Park Avenue, Myrtle Park, Bingley

SIR - In response to Audrey Raistrick's call for a permanent Bradford base for Forum Focused on Pensioner Power (Who's Counting?, May 29). Our group has been fighting for this for a number of years. But we need it for all groups and not just one group.

The Royal Commission have given £1 billion a year for elderly services nationally. So why does the Council not give the elderly and retired people a place for all the groups of Bradford to meet and discuss what the elderly want?

This would help the Council and Government to listen to us and put OAPs' minds at rest that they are being listened to.

J R Smith (chairman, Retired People's Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley, Bradford.

SIR - Like Mike Priestley (North of Watford, May 17) I notice the many asylum seekers loitering in Centenary Square during the day. What strikes me is the physical capability of these men to go out and earn their benefits.

It would probably infringe a passage of the discredited Human Rights Act to put these people to work in the community to earn their keep, but it would give them a purpose in life and also provide the hapless taxpayer with a little reward for the hand-outs.

There is much environmental work to be tackled, as well as the mountain of rubbish/litter to be shifted.

Of course the bleeding hearts would wring their hands at such a notion, and their influence is paramount in such matters.

As for letter writer Ela Mistry's inference of racism in Mr Priestley's observations of Centenary Square - he is only reflecting the views of the general public.

Nancy Shields, Moore Avenue, Wibsey.

SIR - Well, who would have believed it, eh? According to letter writer Ela Mistry, columnist Mike Priestley is a "racist" (T&A, May 26).

What I find even more disturbing is the thought that if someone as level-headed, liberal and impartial as old Priestley can be accused of racism, where does that leave me?

I have no time whatsoever for asylum seekers, whether they be in Centenary Square or elsewhere.

Nor do I support the view that immigrants have all contributed to this country and enhanced it with cultural diversity.

So according to Miss Mistry's line of reasoning, that should just about put me to the political right of Mussolini!

Miss Mistry is the one guilty of stereotyping by labelling anyone who takes a different view on immigration to that of her own as "racist".

Such jibes stifle the opportunity for any serious debate about issues as serious as immigration and asylum seekers.

A J Clarke, Halifax Road, Bradford 6

SIR - Stewart Hanson ("No to the Euro", Letters, May 27) cites difficulties in German unemployment as a problem of the single currency. How short some memories are!

Germany was two countries until recently, having two currencies (one weak, one strong), two economies (ditto), and two political philosophies. Even today what suits the West may not suit the East.

The West took on a backward country needing restructuring, hence losing many unproductive jobs. Germany understands long-term industrial investment.

The City of London believes we can solve problems by devaluing our currency and tinkering with interest rates.

Any benefits are short-lived; Germany operates on a longer time scale. Mr Hanson may find little to knock in a few years' time!

I have yet to hear a plausible argument against the euro. Where have all the letters gone knocking the weak euro and praising the strong pound?

Things have changed, as they are bound to. How many jobs have we to lose to the continent in manufacturing before critics start looking at the real arguments for and against a single currency?

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - What a pleasant surprise when I opened my post this morning!

I was delighted to find that I had won the Stephen H Smith's Barbecue Competition.

We have been along to the Aire Valley branch today to collect it. Just in time, hopefully, for some decent weather to enjoy some barbecues.

Peter A Rushforth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth.

SIR - It would be wonderful if Wetherspoons and other places would curtail swearing as reported. I am a great advocate of Wetherspoons. I admire what they do. They take lovely buildings and renovate them inside and keep our heritage.

Besides the Sir Titus Salt in Bradford, The Wetherspoons in Harrogate's Spa Baths has to be seen to be believed, and with prices so low.

Susan Bannon, Glynn Terrace, Bradford 8.

SIR - I am a prisoner in my home after it took me 20 minutes to turn into St Abbs Drive as the traffic was the full length of Upper Netherlands, which is "Residents Only".

The police said that it has been passed by Highways that the diversion goes up the upper part of Netherlands. Highways' emergency number cannot be contacted.

I would like Councillor Anne Hawkesworth to come next weekend and see for herself.

Jack Woodhead, St Abbs Drive, Odsal .

SIR - I am researching the life of the Bradford-born film actor Michael Rennie (1909-1971) and would be pleased to hear from any readers who may have any information about him and his family when they lived in the Bradford, Knaresborough and Harrogate areas. I am particularly keen to hear about Rennie's early theatrical work.

I can also be contacted by e-mail at bcwresearch @aol.com

Barry Whatton, Upside-down-Cottage, Fore Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7BG.