Letters to the Editor

Jeff McQuillan, the Great Northern Trail Forum chairman, says the only concerns about the proposed leisure trail "came from landowners along the route". He should not be surprised at this.

Would he like a leisure trail through his garden?

Who will take responsibility for the walkers, cyclists etc if they have an accident on land belonging, for example, to a farmer?

Who will police the trail and who will finance its upkeep?

Why should landowners be told to do something with their land that they do not want to?

Your report states that 300 people visited the exhibition at Cullingworth and Thornton. This is a fraction of the number of people living in these areas. Do the villagers realise that the leisure trail will go through a privately-owned tunnel? Would not this tunnel just become a haven for drug dealers etc?

I suggest the Great Northern Trail Forum answer some of the above questions out of courtesy to the landowners mentioned before the scheme goes any further.

Mrs Janet Nicholson, Cragg Lane, Thornton.

SIR - When the Government announces the results of its five economic tests on the euro they should rule out joining the single currency for the rest of this Parliament. By any realistic measurement the economics are just not right.

A recent study by Oxford Economic Forecasting showed that our economy is four times more sensitive to interest rate changes than the Eurozone's because of our housing market. If we had been in the euro since its launch we would have faced a recession similar to Germany's, where unemployment is now twice the level of the UK.

Look at the problems that the UK faced in the Exchange Rate Mechanism when having to accept the wrong interest rate saw a doubling of unemployment and 100,000 businesses going bankrupt. We don't want to return to that.

The simple fact is that we are doing well outside the euro, and to join now - ignoring the economic costs - would damage business across Yorkshire.

Judith Donovan (chairman, DIY Direct Marketing), Ringbeck Road, Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

SIR - How interesting to see the report from the Treasury Select Committee with regards to the euro. This body has revealed that, should we join the euro, we shall see Britain excluded from 20 per cent of the relevant meetings involving the European Central Bank.

This body controls interest rates - of great concern to those with mortgages and to businesses funded by bank loans.

Those who believe that we get to "have our say" in the EU should soon be relieved of this misconception.

One of the greatest flaws in the pro-euro argument is that there is a tendency to pretend that a pan-European, single interest rate will suit every nation. Simple common sense dictates that what is good for Portugal and Ireland may be disastrous for Belgium or the UK.

"One size fits all" is an absurd notion. Every economy needs to be able to "fine tune" as necessary.

The Stability and Growth Pact is the "sledgehammer" used by the EU in a largely unsuccessful attempt to control budget deficits. This acts as a straitjacket and means that governments effectively lose control of their own economies.

Les Arnott, Athelstan Road, Sheffield

SIR - D Stringer's account of the Second World War (Letters, April 24) will surprise both historians and older people with good memories.

Prior to Pearl Harbour the USA did assist the Brits in our struggle with the Axis powers (eg with the transfer of 50 destroyers to protect vital transatlantic convoys: see P Calvorcoressi and G Wint, Total War 1972 p 197).

The idea that the Americans only "came running" when we Brits were "on the way to victory" is frankly preposterous. We were doing our best, but our role was becoming distinctly secondary.

A leading authority on World War Two thus concludes that the USA uniquely contrived to fight the war on numerous fronts: Europe (on the ground and in the air), the Far East (likewise plus at sea), and the Atlantic: "All of these fronts competed with each other for resources of manpower, shipping and weaponry, and all bar the Atlantic were thousands of miles from the security of the home country" (Richard Overy, Why the Allies Won 1995 p 316).

Surely an early example of shock and awe?

John Sanderson, Ilkley Hall Park, Ilkley.

SIR - It's a great feeling when people like Ketan Gandhi from the Bradford Youth Service are really putting all their efforts towards making it happen out there for our young people, especially when it feels like youngsters of today seem to be getting the raw deal in society.

As a parent and a pro-active member of the community, I am always concerned especially when the school holidays are upon us. Summer is only a blink away and I personally feel it is vital that we should encourage our youngsters to expand their existing skills.

Young people should be encouraged to use their energies towards more engaging activities such as summer schemes, an initiative which in the past has been supported by individuals such as Ketan Gandhi.

Throughout the vulnerable school holiday period in July and August, Bradford Youth Service works really hard and I think we should applaud them on their efforts!

Abid Hussain, Ellercroft Avenue, Bradford 7

SIR - Last Thursday, April 24, my sister was walking down Whiteways to catch the 846 bus into town when she fell. She couldn't move. This car stopped and some Asian youths got out and helped her up.

I would like to say a big thank you to them through your newspaper. There's not many who would do that.

My sister is 80 next month. If she falls in fine weather what will she be like in winter?

There was no trouble when the smaller buses used to go up Whiteways. Why don't they bring them back? Pensioners have a raw deal all the way round.

A Lamont, Hodgson Avenue, Bradford 3.

SIR - Your Comment of April 25 regarding the Easter Market near John Street made some interesting points.

However, having visited the market on its first day I must contrast it with the Easter market in Leeds which I visited a week previously (actually at Easter).

The Leeds market took place in the principal civic area (Millennium Square). Bradford's took place in a side street.

The Leeds market featured the largest mobile Ferris wheel in Europe. Bradford's had a rather tired-looking bouncy castle.

The Leeds market had around 80 stalls with genuine European traders selling genuine European food and other goods. Bradford's had no more than a dozen or so selling, in my personal view, the usual market tat.

The Leeds market was open and welcoming with no sign, as far as I was aware of overt security. In contrast, the Bradford market featured barriers and security guards.

Finally, while I very much support the work that the Council has done at the Oastler Shopping Centre, those responsible for the management of the markets in Bradford need to get out a bit more - go to Leeds and other cities where they may learn something about high standards of presentation and content.

Paul King, Upper Piccadilly, Bradford 1.