Letters to the Editor

Have they no sense of the past and the pride with which our ancestors lovingly commissioned one of the finest Council chambers in the country? It breathes history from every pore.

As one walks along its panelled corridors it inspires a sense of pride and of the importance befitting a city such as ours.

The lady interviewed in the T&A who said it was "just a building" has obviously never visited the place. I think it should be open to the public far more often so that they can have the opportunity to savour the richness of the general grandeur and the all-embracing feeling that this is where the very roots of our local inheritance were set down..

City Hall is the very hub of debate and discussion and it must never be debased by turning it into some kind of exhibition hall.

Catherine R Thomas, Grovelands, Bradford 2.

SIR - From the grand plan for a Civic Hall (T&A, January 21), it is obvious that much of the plaza will be sacrificed, but I suppose the several years it has been in situ is considered long enough in our throw-away society.

The artist's impression of a Council chamber reminded me of something I have seen before. Could it be the Council chamber in City Hall minus the panelling and superb craftsmanship?

Maybe our councillors could grow exotic fruit and flowers in their glass civic chamber and sell them to supplement the rates and when it gets too hot they will be able to cool off in the bars and pavement cafes proposed for the former Abbey National site.

The various barmy plans for the modification of our splendid City Hall emphasise the necessity for a civic society as suggested by Alec Suchi. However, it takes time for such an organisation to deliver and make its voice heard above the din of drills, diggers and cement mixers and as time is not on our side, it may be necessary to call in the services of a firing squad.

K Ellison, Verdun Road, Bradford 6.

SIR - The idea seems to be that the majority of young people in Bradford don't know what they are talking about, so why listen to their views? But there is a small minority of the youths in Bradford who have a little taste and culture and the Council should listen to them.

City Hall is a beautiful building with lots of history so why change it? The Council should be looking to transform other parts of the city, like Quebec Street and the mills along Thornton Road, into nice little cafe bars, restaurants and small shops like you see in the Corn Exchange in Leeds, not changing buildings that are beautiful just the way they are. They'll be wasting money.

But hey, all I am is a 24-year-old DJ/music producer who's got taste in every aspect. At the end of the day I think I am just wasting my time writing this because they're not going to listen!

Andrew Hickey, Allerton Road, Allerton

SIR - The plans to transform City Hall and Centenary Square area look very impressive.

So many people are against it, but these plans propose the conversion of the beautiful historic building for modern uses and will provide Bradford with the facilities which are currently lacking such as a conference centre, exhibition area, more green public spaces, an open-air market place and a greater selection of cafes and restaurants which would complement the proposed development across Centenary Square.

I bet if these proposals were put before other cities such as Leeds or Manchester, they would have better public support because these cities contain many historic buildings that retain their ornate faades, but have been tastefully converted; examples include the Corn Exchange buildings in both cities that now serve as shopping centre.

If it gets the full go-ahead, this development could be a real asset and a major showpiece for Bradford.

This is a big change for Bradford, which will see the City Hall converted, NOT demolished, and put to better use for the 21st century.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - Having seen what they want to do with City Hall, are the councillors going to start something else and abandon it like they did with the old Rawson Market which is now just a shell?

Why in Heaven's name can't they spend the money to try to get shopkeepers back in Bradford? All the beautiful buildings Bradford has torn down or is wanting to tear down. It's a great shame.

Look at Leeds and Halifax and Shipley. What has Bradford got? A bomb site.

Please, city fathers, change your minds and spend money for the good of Bradford people and not on people who want to destroy Bradford.

Mrs Pat Hirst, Charteris Road, Fairweather Green.

SIR - Once again the Council seems to be hell-bent on vandalising something. They don't seem to understand that City Hall belongs to the people of Bradford. Why can't they let well alone and let us enjoy our heritage?

If they need to alter something let them go to Blackpool and build sand castles as that seems to be the only thing they are fit for.

G Barker, Park Drive, Heaton.

SIR - Re the proposed changes to our City Hall. It would be madness and pure civic vandalism to change the exterior of this beautiful building. We have lost so much of our heritage in Bradford, it is outrageous that changes are even being considered.

Judith Meggison, Jowett Park Crescent, Thackley.

SIR - My thanks to everyone who helped raise £20,000 to provide the most up-to-date cosmetic artificial limbs for my daughter, Laura.

To raise such an enormous sum of money so quickly is a tremendous achievement by any standards and great credit should go to those who over the summer organised so many fundraising functions. It is regrettable in this day and age that families and friends of amputees find the need to raise the necessary funds themselves to enhance the quality of life of their loved ones, most of whom find themselves in this situation through either accident or severe illness.

Surely it is not such a great deal to ask that if such products are available they be given to everyone as a matter of right rather than ability to pay. It would mean so much to them. With the love, affection and support shown towards her over these past few months, Laura has been given so much to look forward to in life for which both my wife Christine and I are eternally grateful.

Special thanks to Brian Verity of Skipton Properties, White Rose Bikers, family and friends, the people of Bradford and the T&A for their support.

Graeme Campbell, Chapel Grove, Crossflatts.

l Laura's story - Just Relax! Page 15

SIR - Mubarik Iqbal (letters, December 17) praised her own communication skills but gave credit to her teachers in Pakistan and Bradford. As well as teaching her how, did they teach her what to communicate?

She has supported Muslim rioters and terrorists, condemned western democracy as uncivilised, accused judges and magistrates of racism when hooligans were jailed after causing £10 million of damage to our city, and declared that Muslim lives are precious. Presumably other lives are not.

Should people who hate and oppose Britain and its culture and tolerance be allowed to reside here and hold British nationality?

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford.

SIR - Re the letter "Hanging demand" (T&A January 13), I agree with every word penned by S Ratcliffe of Clayton, but would add that jail sentences should be so harsh (starting with serving bread and water) that villains would never want to return to prison again. As it is, it seems that prisoners have more facilities and home comforts than many hard-working and law-abiding citizens.

When are the feeble-minded politicians and judges going to have the guts to do what I believe the majority of the British people want: Zero tolerance of all petty and violent crimes, etc, and pass the severest sentences, with no remission, under any circumstances, thus giving long overdue justice for the victims.

Millicent Smith, Plumpton Avenue, Wrose.

SIR - I read with dismay about the planned removal of many green belt areas all round the city. Developers have already destroyed an unacceptable level of green belt and to take even more of the little that remains (especially Queensbury, Clayton, Clayton Heights) is surely wrong, both environmentally and for the misery caused to local people.

J R Smith, Highgate Grove, Bradford 13.