SIR - One of the main arguments against building a Bradford crossrail scheme is the height difference between Forster Square and the Interchange. However, there are examples in the UK of such height differences being overcome.

Thameslink in London descends down a real slope on its way north from Blackfriars station and the new East London Line extension will also have to cope with a big height difference between Whitechapel and Shoreditch.

Cost is the other main reason against. Yet the AA says that modern twin-bore road tunnels cost about £50 million per kilometre. So let's say a single two-kilometre mainly cut-and-cover tunnel under the city centre for a railway would probably cost about the same.

Running from the Interchange via a tunnel under Petergate, Forster Square and then emerging past the Hamm Strasse section of ring road, the construction of a new line would be possible. The Interchange would still be retained as the principal station and perhaps the existing Forster Square Station could be sold off to help fund the project.

Jim Rayner, Granville Road, Colchester

SIR - Councillor King asserts that because of the difference in levels between the two railway stations, lines emerging from the Interchange would only touch ground at Queen's Road (T&A, May 16).

However it is possible that an extended descent from the Interchange along a viaduct would allow lines to meet the Bradford-Shipley line at the current Forster Square station.

Contrary to Councillor King's concerns, a viaduct would not necessarily detract from the area. They can be made to look part of the landscape.

Councillor King is correct that funding a cross-Bradford heavy rail link would require Government funding, but Leeds has enjoyed substantial investment, such as renovating its railway station and a commitment to install supertrain.

If the Council properly understood the significance of a link it would have commissioned a survey to investigate the viability of a cross-Bradford link. The survey referred to by Councillor King was taken under different political circumstances, when investment in railways was less than today.

Alec Suchi, (secretary of Bradford Rail Users Group), Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - Mike Priestley (North of Watford, May 17) suggests that nurseries and schools should teach children to use fluoride toothpaste as an alternative to fluoridation of water supplies. Therein lies an even greater danger for some children swallow the toothpaste.

GPs have not been educated to recognise fluoride poisoning and how to deal with it. However, the 1999 edition of "Medicines for Children" (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, copy available in Bradford Central Library) states: "Sodium fluoride reacts with the Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach, having a corrosive effect. Systemic effects include nausea, vomiting, tetany, tremors, respiratory arrest, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia and failure... If the suspected intake exceeds 5mg/kg body weight emergency admission to hospital is indicated, treatment to include use of stomach pump."

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

SIR - I was greatly shocked to find out recently that our local chemists are in danger of closing and am at the moment collecting signatures appealing against it.

Are the people behind the decision to close these vital shops aware of the hardship this will cause to many people - the disabled, the blind, and the care workers who collect vital medicines for disabled people?

Do they really care? I think not. Lots of people do not own transport and are unable to use public transport, and as the local health centres are close to our chemists it has always been convenient for lots of people locally.

Speaking for myself I have found our chemist on Tong Street has always been a friendly place and always helpful.

So I hope the powers-that-be will see our petitions and listen to the public for once.

Catherine Alderson, St Margaret's Avenue, Holme Wood.

SIR - I sympathise with some "socialist" ideals, but as something to argue for, not to have imposed by an unrepresentative clique! Labour councillors are refusing once more to take any responsibility in the running of our balanced (not "hung") Council (T&A, May 20).

Like other extreme, idealistic "lefties", eg militant (which aims to get power with minority support through infiltrating mainstream politics), Labour wants seats (and a majority) on however small a number of votes.

This was also the aim of the BNP. They nearly got a big enough minority to win at least one of the few seats in which they stood.

The sooner we send extremists of all political parties packing, the better!

Even better still, introduce proportional representation for local elections as they have in Northern Ireland, and as is planned for Scotland, then nationally!

John Hall (Shipley Lib-Dems), Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - May I, through your newspaper, thank the person who found and duly returned my son Robert's passport on the 612 bus on May 12. It is much appreciated.

Elaine Birkett, Ayresome Oval, Bradford 15.