SIR - So the new era at Odsal Stadium will not include much of interest unless you are a rugby fan.

When the Council "fast-tracked" planning approval to a corporate pavilion on the site of the speedway pits lane, it sent a clear message that motorsport was unlikely to be part of Odsal's future.

Interviewed on the radio, Councillor Simon Cooke indicated that Bradford Council was willing to look at ways in which motorsport events could once again be staged in the district.

Let us not forget that five years ago Bradford was home to a world-renowned speedway track and Bradford Dukes - a Championship-winning team.

I hope that this and any future Council will be true to Coun Cooke's words and honour a "moral obligation" to help establish a new home for speedway in the district.

Anyone interested in the future of speedway in the city is reminded of the dedicated website ThisIsBradfordSpeedway where you can join the debate (www.tibspeedway.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tibsweb/index.html).

Ray Allen, TIBSpeedway, St Johns Crescent, Bradford.

SIR - So the Bulls are finally redeveloping Odsal. Surprise, surprise, no motorsport whatsoever. We knew that was coming, didn't we?

Fifty years of speedway and stockers at Odsal, then a certain Mr Caisley says "no more!"

He doesn't want shale on corporate shoes when they walk to the centre of the pitch to wave to the crowd now, does he?

This community programme with the kids is just a publicity stunt. If he really cared about the people of Bradford, he wouldn't deny thousands of Bradfordians the spectacle of two motorsports just so he can feed the franchise.

Corporate, corporate, corporate. It makes you sick.

N Dawson, Broadstone Way, Bradford.

SIR - As an ex-Bradfordian I keep a keen interest on the affairs of the city and I am horrified how certain readers perceive Islam to be such a paragon of virtue, and attack their dissenters in the manner they do.

More than 200 die in Nigeria and everybody is blamed except the Islamic fanatics. First it was the beauty pageant to blame for accepting the country's invitation to take part, then it was a controversial newspaper article that caused the troubles!

Meanwhile we have heated discussions about the morals of an innocuous beauty competition, while the bloodshed in the name of Islamic bigotry is glossed over.

In no way do I claim that all Islamic people should be lumped together for criticism, and it would be crass of me to intimate that they should. In fact I believe that most people can separate the genuine peace-loving Muslims from the terrorists and murderers.

But one should not get too sensitive in putting the blame firmly at the door of the murderers, no matter what religion they reckon to adhere to.

Alan Turner, East Road, Longsight, Manchester, 12.

SIR - It is an outrage that so many rioters have the audacity to protest against their sentences.

The TV programme "Trouble Up North" was showing the suffering of the families of the youngsters who have been sentenced.

While I hold no ill feelings towards the families, I can honestly say that I think that the rioters got everything they deserved. If anything, they got off too lightly and should be made to pay for the damage to our city that they caused.

The riots were unjustified, inexcusable and downright shameful. The reputation of our city was ruined by these idiots running wild in the streets. Race relations have been setback even further than ever.

It is time for these families to wake up and see what their kids have done to our city and maybe then and only then will they realise that these prison sentences were correct. As for the rioters, stop whinging and take your punishment like men.

Aman Ullah Khan, Manningham Lane, Manningham.

SIR - May we please thank, on behalf of our family, the ambulancemen who attended my grandson when he suffered serious scalds on December 13.

In the panic we did not get their names but we want to let them know how grateful we are for the speedy response and the expert attention they gave to Thomas, which we are sure saved him from more serious burns and suffering.

Thanks also for their patience and caring attitude towards a very distraught family on the scene and on the journey to Sheffield Northern General Burns Unit, where Thomas is doing very well and recovering quickly.

Thanks to them both, and wishing them and their families a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Kath and John Campbell, Leamside Walk, Bradford 4

SIR - I often pass the tribute to Enoch Priestley in Wibsey Park. Recent items mentioning him lead me to ask if something can be done to make the descriptive reading on the memorial more readable.

The years have almost eroded the gold-leafed inscription and account of his life.

I believe the memorial was raised through public money in acknowledgement to his life and keeping him in the public eye would be Bradford's money well spent.

Kenneth E Higgins, Bempton Court, Great Horton.