SIR - I was very surprised to read your March 3 report about a consultation exercise being undertaken by Bradford Council using only the internet as a research tool. While I understand the advantages, I fail to see how the needs of minority ethnic communities have been taken into consideration.

How many minority ethnic parents have computers or the capacity to access and fill in a form on the internet, if they can fully understand the language and thus the question being asked in the first place?

I think to even say that "not a lot thought has gone into the survey" is a gross understatement. What is more worrying is the fact that even though people have raised concerns which again I am sorry to say do not highlight the above, the Council is still thinking of going ahead with considering the report.

Is it not about time minority ethnic communities were also given consideration as a matter of course and not as an afterthought? In this case it seems that they have been forgotten altogether.

Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, co-ordinator, Manningham Healthy Living Initiative, The Carlisle Business Centre, Carlisle Road, Bradford.

SIR - Consultation on an important issue via the internet just demonstrates the rarefied dreamworld in which senior council management must live.

Is the implication that those who do not use the internet do not deserve to have their opinions heard? Or is it someone's view in the Council that internet users are more likely to give the answer which the Council wants to hear?

Is the objective of the exercise to conduct a sham consultation just so that the Council can say that consultation has taken place?

This is another disgraceful episode in the long-running epic "Carry on bungling".

K J Trocki, Birchdale, Bingley.

SIR - So Councillor Sunderland and no doubt her Conservative friends think their latest debacle is a "People's Budget". Which people? Rich councillors or Ken Morrison and the like, certainly not ordinary citizens of Bradford especially OAPs and other people on low income.

Money is short for most people with interest rates at an all-time low, pension fund failures, low old-age pensions etc.

So these lunatic schemes they have in mind - central library, new city centre police station, vandalising the City Hall etc - should be put on the back burner. There are more important uses for funds, if any are available.

I intend to write to Tony Blair about this rise which I personally think is illegal.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

SIR - Regarding the motorists who throw their rubbish on to the M606 road. Many years ago, so family legend has it, one of my great-aunts, who lived in a village close to Bradford (I'm the only member of my family who has defected) came upon a motorist who had thrown a cigarette packet out of the window of his parked car.

Picking it up, she presented him with it, saying "I think you have lost something".

"Oh, no," the motorist is reputed to have replied, "I don't want it!"

"Ah", replied Great-Aunt tossing the discarded packet into the car. "Neither do we!"

History does not record what transpired after that, but I suspect the motorist departed without saying more.

Perhaps a team of suitable Great-Aunts, selected for their experience of dealing with children of all ages, could be stationed in the appropriate area?

Tim Carter, Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

SIR - If Cullingworth Parish councillors Hobson and Coultous (February 10) want to comment on the proposed Great Northern Trail, why don't they take the trouble to check some facts?

Sustrans has built in the region of 8,000 miles of cycle paths/routes over the last ten or so years without anyone noticing the kind of crime wave they fear.

They could always talk to Kirklees Council and the police about the effect of the Spen Valley Greenway on the neighbouring houses. In Kirklees' council review of the effects of the Greenway, the police praised it as a valuable community resource, but made no mention of any crime wave.

In places, it also runs above ground level, but with no reported peeping toms. It runs near primary schools, but hasn't proved a "stalking ground for perverts".

As for it providing an easy getaway for thieves, when was the last time any of your readers saw someone legging it with a 28in TV strapped to the back of a mountain bike?

By the way, Spen Valley residents voiced the same fears, but finished up sending councillors the first complimentary letters some of them had ever received.

Mike Healey, Trafalgar Gardens, Morley.

SIR - After reading the letter from D Jewitt (T&A, February 7) telling me I am wrong regarding the fox, who is he/she to be judge and jury?

The very word "vermin" means that it has no commercial value, which means that humans cannot make any money out of it. Vermin can also be used in the humanoid sense. It always amazes me (and millions of others) what goes through the mind of people who use dogs to tear another animal apart while it is still alive. I know what goes through my mind regarding these people and I wish it could happen to the perpetrators of this vile, abhorrent practice.

As for the rat, this poor creature goes through terrible torture, being pumped full of carcinogenic cultures that don't prove anything, as rats and humans do not respond equally due to their different acceptance and resistance in genetic values.

At the moment of writing this letter I have just been fortunate enough to repair the damaged wing of a pigeon (it's taken four months) but when I saw it fly away with its friends I know what went through my mind.

D Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford 4.

SIR - I have never had a good word to say about Tony Blair - until now. For five years he has totally ignored this country in his selfish dreams of European leader, but he has been brought back to reality by mainly the French.

This country is finding it hard to believe him in view of other stupid comments on crime, asylum etc. But he is totally correct on Iraq.

Appeasement of dictators has never worked, and the peace marchers would not have been on the march if we had not faced up to Hitler. How soon they forget the sacrifices made for living in England.

Many Asians were on the march, yet had Hitler won not one would be on the continent of Europe.

Gary Lorriman, Long Lane, Harden.

SIR - Referring to the letter History Mission by Alan O'Day Scott (February 13), I would like to thank him for all the very interesting work he is doing for the West Bowling History Group. I am also very grateful to him for photo copies and the W B History newsletters he sends me in Oz. They certainly bring back many happy memories.

I lived in West Bowling at 9, Thirkill Street from 1952-1960. I am looking for old photograph copies of Thirkill Street. If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it.

I am also interested in hearing from anyone that might remember me. My maiden name was Kenningham.

Catherine Hamlyn, Lot 547, Medlow Road, Uheybury, South Australia 5114.

SIR - Re the Barkerend "gravy train". Barkerend Road is not full of neglected or rundown properties. That is why residents in the Regen area object to money being spent on them.

My own street is full of litter and houses fallen into disrepair and no help is provided for repair - not even gravy. The whole of the Regen area should be treated equally.

Ashiq Hussain, Curzon Road, Bradford.

SIR - In reply to Sid Brown's letter (T&A, March 4), I have been attending the Waterloo Cup held in Southport for 14 years, only missing two due to foot and mouth taking hold of the country and once when it snowed.

In all the years I have attended, I have never seen hares torn to pieces.

Has Mr Brown been to the Waterloo Cup to get his facts or does he just sit in his armchair writing to the T&A for something to do?

By the way, I was one of the "sad cronies" in the picture. I think there are more important things to think about in this world.

M Claridge, Roseberry Avenue, Shipley.