Letters to the Editor

What he fails to take into consideration is the knock-on effect for the teachers and staff of the schools affected, with lessons prepared only to be cancelled.

If students justifiably wished to protest they could do so in their own time, either at lunchtime, after school or at the weekend, though this would appear to be less appealing. They could also use their study time allowed in school more effectively to both debate the issue and write to their MPs, thus learning new skills.

This was not a spontaneous action but was carefully orchestrated with the press and media being well informed beforehand.

I suspect that many students would have joined the protest not because they fully understood the reasons for the action in the Middle East but because they had the chance to miss one of their least-favourite lessons or a test they did not wish to do.

Stuart Herdson, Bradford branch secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers

SIR - There have been a number of letters recently commenting on the redevelopment of Bingley town centre, many of them containing inaccuracies.

Kevin McDade's letter (March 20) is in a different league. It is so misleading that it requires a factual response.

The Shipley Area Committee does not deal with planning applications so cannot possibly have approved any. Readers can check the powers and responsibilities of Shipley Area Committee on the Council's web site.

All planning applications are a matter of public record and can be accessed via the Council's web site. Readers can verify for themselves that with the exceptions of the old fire station and Wetherspoons, both of which are now a credit to Bingley, there have been no recent applications relating to the central area of Bingley.

Joan Donkin's suggestion (March 19) that one should deliberately drive through Bingley to see the crocuses flies in the face of a majority view expressed during consultations.

The whole point of most suggestions has been to enjoy the freedom to walk through Bingley without the hassle and suffocating fumes of yet more traffic.

Councillor Robin Owens (Conservative, Bingley), chairman of Shipley Planning Panel

SIR - I take on board P J Hunter's points in regards cruelty to animals (Letters, March 20). I gathered from his letter that a previous correspondent chose simply to concentrate on one form of cruelty to animals, i.e. fox hunting, and did not refer to others.

In the same way Mr Hunter chose to select one form of "ritual slaughter," i.e. halal meat, and not any other, e.g. Kosher practise, battery hens, mass breeding, herding and electrocuting (commonplace in all slaughter houses) and mass slaughter which depending on your views could be considered as ritualistic and cruel.

He also chooses to use the "PC line," in my opinion, asserting that the general consensus is not to address issues as regards ritualistic practices, in this case Islamic practice, because it would cause a storm.

Well of course it would. However, this would be the same as addressing any other traditional rituals associated with any other religion or practice.

It is human nature to do what has always been done and resent any changes from outside influences. It is not exclusive to Islam.

I. Habib, West Park Road, Bradford 8

SIR - Councillor M Blackburn (Shipley West) would have readers believe that local representatives have no effect on local issues when he tells us that Shipley East councillors did not influence the one-way traffic exodus from the massive new housing development in Bolton Woods.

The traffic die was cast back in 1998. With Labour dominant on the Council both the Shipley Town Council Country Planning Sub Committee and the Council's Transport, Planning and Design Committee turned down the plans.

Councillor P Thornton (Shipley East) was a strong critic citing danger to children, noise and congestion, the strategy being to oblige the development to seek other access (T&A, July 29, 1998).

The only possible alternative route was via Bolton Villas on to Wrose Road: danger to children, noise and congestion neatly transferred.

Reassessing the proposed Wrose Parish Council, Labour councillors may feign strong local interest but it will evolve along party political lines. Residents should be aware of the parish precept added to your Council Tax, at present £6.60p Band A - £12.10p Band F.

What is this pressing need for another level of bureaucracy?

R J Lacey, Wrose Road, Bradford.

SIR - The US government has for some time held - privately if not publicly - that it would go to war with Iraq with or without UN consent. This action sets a dreadful precedent for international relations.

Contracts already prepared by the construction and oil companies (with ties to members of the US administration) eloquently illustrate the ulterior motives behind such military action in the Middle East.

While the US bemoans rogue states, it is now behaving like one itself. With immense power should come at least a modicum of humility.

"Might" does not always equal "right".

Digby Stalman, Shirley Street, Saltaire.

SIR - What a situation for a Labour Prime Minister to get himself into. Tony Blair finds himself supporting an extreme Right-wing Christian fundamentalist president, George W Bush, and opposing the great majority opinion of his own party. However, it is not just the policy of George W Bush towards Iraq that should deeply worry those in the Labour Party who support Tony Blair.

Teachers of evolutionary sciences in the universities and colleges of the United States are being told by fundamentalist allies of Bush to stop teaching "atheistic science" and to teach "science" as it is written in the book of Genesis.

The extreme Bush-ite Christian Right is attacking the right of women to choose, attacking the few remaining rights of organised Labour in the United States and is further undermining the advances made by ethnic minorities in that country.

Let there be no mistake - these people are extremely dangerous. They are turning the United States into a bastion of Christian fundamentalist reaction armed to the teeth with nuclear and conventional weaponry.

This kind of evil claptrap has been given credibility by Blair and Bush.

Sean Connor (One Planet, One People Organisation), Cunliffe Road, Bradford 8.

SIR - Because of French reluctance to conform to UN resolutions we are now obliged to fight their war again, as we did in 1940.

The "Entente Cordiale" has been dead for many years because of obvious French hatred of anything British.

In recent years they have refused to accept our beef and lamb, they have burned our lorries containing lamb and with obvious official approval have blockaded the French posts.

They deliberately built the Sangatte refugee camp near the Channel Tunnel to encourage these unfortunate people to enter Britain illegally.

The time has now come for the British people to boycott anything French, be it apples, wine, cars and certainly choose alternative destinations for holidays.

Let's give them a taste of their own medicine then perhaps they may have a less arrogant attitude towards Britain.

T Waddington, Wellington Road, Wilsden.

SIR - There can be no genuine peace and stability in the Middle East without wholesale regime changes. Starting with Washington and Downing Street.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

SIR - I am writing to encourage your male readers to get on their bikes and raise money for Cancer Research UK. Cycle for Life, which is now in its second year, brings together men across the UK in a series of bike rides to help raise vital funds for research into cancer. Last year more than 3,000 people took part and this year we're hoping to make it even bigger by recruiting 9,000 participants.

The 15 mile-long Cycle for Life will take place in 18 locations across the UK, starting at the end of June and running until the first week of September, including Harewood House on August 31.

You can come alone or bring a friend. Some men even bring their wives or girlfriends.

Last year the average age of entrants was 35. That's eight years older than the average age of a Premiership footballer, so there's no excuse for not taking part.

If you would like more information or want to enter, call the Cycle for Life hotline on 08701 611 010. You can also enter by logging on to the website www.cancerresearchuk.org/cycle

It costs just £7.50 to take part. Children can get involved too, providing they're accompanied by an adult.

Sven-Gran Eriksson, on behalf of Cancer Research UK