SIR - Further to the sale of green areas in Wyke, a village in rural surroundings.

Once isolated from Bradford, it is now part of the city as the outlying districts of Bankfoot, Odsal and Low Moor have grown and created the link.

Yet there is a sufficient gap between Low Moor and the outskirts of Wyke to retain Wyke's individuality.

The green areas in Wyke (even those in the estates) are important to the image of Wyke as a village. By removing them Bradford Council will be creating another mere district of the City of Bradford, such as Marshfields, Bankfoot and Odsal where there is no district boundary line between them and the city centre.

We wish to retain our important village image. We do not wish to be merely another district of a large city.

Wyke is individual with its own character, its own way of living. Giving up our green areas is the beginning of losing that character.

Mike Stocks (chairman, Community Association for Regeneration of Estates), The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.

SIR - I would like to concur with B A Houseman's opinion that the Silent Majority of Bradford are feeble (Letters, May 8).

They have allowed the current state of affairs in Bradford to develop by sheer apathy and now they whisper their discontent in corners.

If they had displayed half the campaigning zest of the idealistic Left it could have turned out better.

I speak of partisan regeneration grants to selected homeowners, ineffective policing in "sensitive" areas and the advent of political correctness to stifle debate.

Indeed, it is my contention that the 2001 riots would not have happened if the earlier version in 1995 had been policed correctly.

One reaps what one sows in this world and the mainstream have allowed things to happen by remaining silent.

Perhaps Mr Coates from Bingley (Letters, May 20) would be better employed directing his anger at these issues rather than the crusading Mr Houseman.

Nancy Shields, Moore Avenue, Wibsey.

SIR - Re Miss Ela Mistry's letter of May 26, I find her remarks about Mike Priestley most insulting. Perhaps she should realise that we all have different opinions about all sorts of subjects.

It does not mean, because we don't conform to her "culture diversity", that we are all "racist". She is too quick to use that word as an excuse not to accept other people's views and remarks.

I suggest she take off her rose-coloured glasses, and perhaps she would see people in a different light.

Barbara J Rudd, Roger Court, Undercliffe.

SIR - Re "Insulting language we don't need", scribed by P J Hunter (Letters, May 22). I read his comments with great interest and have to hold my hand up to being the one who called certain people "sad plonkers". It is obvious to me that another "sad plonker" has crept out of the woodwork to tell us how to conduct ourselves and praise other members of the Interference Party!

The whole point of having a letters page is to promote comment and different points of view. If he requires the starchy solicitor'-type letter, then the T&A is not the place he should be looking. Also, he is not obliged to read the Letters page if it offends him so much.

Finally Mr Hunter refers to me as a "lager lout". Doesn't this tar him with the same brush as myself and therefore invalidate his argument?

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose.

SIR - I was talking to my parents recently about loyalty, something a lot of people don't have these days.

There was a time when everyone had their own butcher, greengrocer, grocer etc and everyone shopped in the town and city centres, and the markets were at the hub of life.

The reason I shop in Bradford is because I have a sense of loyalty. I don't see the point in travelling far out of town to stuffy overcrowded shopping centres when there is a perfectly good range of shops and everything I need right on my doorstep.

It is pleasant shopping in the city centre and convenient and it is nice knowing I am supporting local shops and helping the local economy.

Perhaps more people should try using local shops, and show some loyalty for a change.

Come on people, shops in Bradford are waiting to serve you!

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - I was pleased to see that the T&A on May 22 published my attempt to stimulate thought as to the real reason why successive governments have been keen to delude the population into thinking that fluoridation is a benevolent measure to give impoverished children decay resistant teeth.

However, my letter, as submitted clearly stated "Belgium, which does not practice fluoridation". As Printed by the T&A, the word "not" had been deleted.

On the same page I read P J Hunter's preference for outspoken but well-researched argument and M Cook's statement that ME is costing Bradford £31 million a year. Perhaps Bradford should research the possibility that fluoride assimilation during gestation and/or vaccinations in infancy have caused or contributed to this neurological condition.

Dennis Edmondson (secretary), Calderdale Citizens' Protest Against Fluoridation, Duck Hill, Pecket Well, Hebden Bridge.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We apologise for the inadvertent deletion of a key word.

SIR - On behalf, I'm sure, of all residents of Holme Wood, may I thank the Holme Wood Executive and especially Pam Riley for such a marvellous job in organising the recent clean-up which has just taken place.

People were coming out from all over carrying things to skips, vans were collecting rubbish from people who could not manage it themselves and the whole project went along brilliantly.

Once again, many thanks. Keep up the marvellous good work.

Brian R Harrison, St Margaret's Avenue, Holme Wood.

SIR - The support for the speeding "medic" gives one food for thought.

What price human life? If the said medic wishes to risk his own life to save that of another, so be it, but I feel it is wrong of him to put others at risk of being killed, maimed or injured for life to save one.

Speed kills. Let's not forget this. A pile-up would have been a catastrophe as we are well aware.

I think it is time to get a balance and get our priorities right.

D Walsh, Church Street, Bingley.

SIR - I would like to thank the T&A for the tickets we won in the Fiddler on the Roof competition. It was a fantastic show and the evening was a great success. The seats we were allocated at the Alhambra were brilliant, as were the cast (led by Paul Nicholas, pictured right).

Although not a regular theatregoer in the past, after watching this show I think we will be going more regularly - Cats, maybe.

Once again thanks for my new experience and I pledge my support to our local newspaper.

T.R. Bennett, Hew Clews, Great Horton.