SIR - Bradford made a valiant attempt to gain the Capital of Culture award. But has Bradford over the last decade forgotten that the theatre arts are a large part of any culture?

First the Library Theatre was closed making the survival of many amateur theatre groups difficult.

The Theatre Royal could have been renovated to replace this loss but it was demolished like most of Bradford's excellent architecture.

Now, to put the icing on the cake the Priestley Centre for the Arts is going under and one of Bradford's oldest theatre groups the Bradford Players and groups who teach our young citizens the skills of the theatre along with self-expression, self-worth, confidence and all manor of other educational values will cease.

Even the magnificent Listers Mill which had a small theatre for its work force realised the value of theatre and music.

People wonder why our youth have little to do. Don't blame the youth. Blame the older generation. Let's get our vision corrected and make sure we don't lose skills that can not be replaced.

Elizabeth Hellmich, Parkside Grove, Heaton.

SIR - What action have the police or courts taken with regards to the couple in Wrose living in a 'war zone' (T&A, January 8)?

It is no use the police being aware of the situation and giving out harassment orders/warnings. This is the easy way out.

Children take no notice of their parents so are not going to co-operate with the authorities. There is a very unhappy and disaffected generation in society.

There needs to be discipline in the home and action from police if children are to get on in life. The police always take action against people protecting themselves and this never results in the crime being dealt with at source. The criminals move on and repeat the cycle.

Susan Ratcliffe, Middle Lane, Clayton.

SIR - Mubarik Iqbal's letter of January 7, like so many of her missives, can be summarised in just five words: Muslims good, everyone else bad.

For the umpteenth time, do we have to remind her that the hijackers of September 11 were not extra terrestrials. Hamas suicide bombers are not Eskimos. Hindus in Kashmir are not murdered by Japanese Samurai. Christians in Pakistan are not blown up by Bulgarians. Nor were the atrocities in Bali and Mombassa the work of Methodists from Micklethwaite.

Unless Ms Iqbal, just once, can acknowledge that Muslims make a pretty substantial contribution towards global terrorism, no one can take her preposterously-biased letters seriously - except of course, those similarly-blinkered fundamentalists within her own community.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

SIR - I think the suggestion made by I Khan in his letter of January 2 was a disgrace.

If Mr Khan was really a true Asian, he would have backed up the Asian community.

I'm not saying he should have backed up the rioters and their families, because I know some Asians who are also against them. But all the letters I've read from Mr Khan say bad things about Asians. Is Mr Khan really a true Asian?

S Iqbal, Sundown Avenue, Bradford.

SIR - The deadline for objections for another mobile phone mast, at Clarendon Road, Eldwick, adding to those on Bingley's skyline, has passed, but objections are still being allowed for a few more days (tel: 757038).

Technically, objections can "only" be made on visual amenity grounds, but in fact human rights and local authority responsibilities as well as perceived health risks are theoretically, and in law, admissible.

Bradford recently held a symposium on this fraught issue and there is no shortage of excellent information on why no-one should live exposed to these emissions.

In 2002 the great epidemiologist Dr Alice Stewart died. She had said, after decades of brave research: "There is no such thing as a safe dose of radiation."

It was Alice Stewart who against all the might of the nuclear and medical establishment, found that very small doses of X-rays given to pregnant mothers would lead to a doubling or trebling of leukaemia in the child's later life.

Graham Carey, Granville Terrace, Bingley.

SIR - Re your January 8 report on plans to move Ashcroft Surgery, why don't the Primary Care Trust listen to what people want in their own area instead of pushing things through without studying the retired people who will have to travel further for their health care?

These PCTs were set up to help people, not put them under stress worrying how they will get to their doctor.

PCTs are just another example of how to waste public money over the district. There is extra management.

We need to stop this do-not-care attitude towards retired people. So come on all you caring people and write to your MP and councillors.

J R Smith, Flawith Drive, Fagley.

SIR - The report regarding the overflowing bottle bank in Ilkley firstly made me angry but now I'm simply bemused. Councillor Anne Hawksworth is the Environment portfolio holder and as such is ultimately responsible for the shortcomings of the bottle bank.

Clearly because nobody had the foresight to work out that there just might be more empty bottles after the Christmas festivities there now has to be an investigation which will take up the time of officers simply to tell us what we already know: next year we need extra bottle banks.

Ronnie Fieldhouse, Geraldton Avenue, Bradford 2.

SIR - Why, oh why, should someone have the bright idea of altering our City Hall exterior. They did the inside of the Wool Exchange but left the outside as it was, at least on Market Street. They are going to pull down Broadway so why not make a new Swan Arcade there?

The centre piece of a our old town should be left as it is, although City Hall could be given a good clean-up and something nice be done inside it.

J Clough, Holme Street, Bradford.

SIR - Many of your readers are rightly outraged at the campaign to reduce the sentences of the Bradford rioters. Our city has been severely damaged by their actions and it is essential that the peaceful majority make their voice heard on this issue.

I would urge Bradfordians to write to their local MPs and express their opposition to any concession to those involved in the riots. The peaceful majority should never again have to suffer at the hands of mindless thugs.

G Stevens, White Abbey Road, Bradford.

SIR - Thank you Sir Ken Morrison (pictured). With Tesco and Kwik Save holding the monopoly of supermarkets in North Wales, what excellent news I hear about the bid to buy Safeway.

Instead of the usual 45 miles for our fortnightly Morrisons shop, my journey would be a mere 26 miles. Perhaps Kwik Save could be next, Sir Ken, cutting my journey down to a walkable distance!

Ian Firth, Cae Rhos, Holyhead, North Wales

SIR - Has no one yet noticed another plus for Bradford? Two new airlines are due to begin operation from our local airport soon.

For years many holidaymakers have had to travel miles, due to the lack of capacity at LBA. Surely this is also another boost for the city.

Let's hear from you holiday-makers.

F Dunn, Thirlmere Gardens, Bradford 2.