Letters to the Editor

This is certainly true of the Low Moor and Bradford City tragedies but no comparable monument stands to commemorate the Newlands Mill 54.

But thankfully Bradford Trident, the local community-led company currently carrying out improvements in the West Bowling, Marshfields and Park Lane areas, is soon to put things right by erecting a memorial stone and plaque to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the tragedy.

It is fitting that a special site here in West Bowling is to be landscaped for the memorial to those young mill workers, many of who lived in the area. Newlands Mill also once stood in Upper Castle Street, only two to three minutes walk from the proposed memorial site.

My thanks to Jim Greenhalf for his much-appreciated mention of the Newlands Mill 54 and a huge thank you to Bradford Trident for listening and doing something in honour of this forgotten tragedy.

Alan O'Day Scott, co-ordinator, West Bowling Local History Newsletter, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford 5.

SIR - Isn't it time heavy vetting was introduced when people apply for jobs in social services or education to eliminate any chance of persons with a past mental illness or conviction of child abuse from obtaining such a post?

Further, is it not time to take stock of our legal system in general? A life sentence should be just that, not 25 years, and for certain types of murder there should be capital punishment (ie multiple murder, terrorism etc)?

The do-gooders say capital punishment solves nothing and in fact quote the fact that innocents have died at the hands of the hangman, but yet clearly something is wrong with the British legal system.

Colin McLean, Kensington Street, Girlington.

SIR - Congratulations to Chris Caisley and Ian Stewart and the rest of the Council. At last common sense has prevailed regarding the Odsal saga, and constructive dialogue has produced a formula to suit all parties.

The reaction to the arrangement in some quarters has been quite predictable, but the Council are only honouring their legal responsibilities. End of story.

There have been some cheap shots at Rugby League, the Bulls and their supporters recently which I find rather contemptible - especially the rather vitriolic letter from one of your correspondents who had the audacity to suggest the Bulls should stand on their own feet.

This from a man whose club is in debt for £36 million, needed a multi-million pound loan to survive and left creditors owed thousands of pounds.

Now the future of the Odsal Stadium is secure, its undoubted potential can be realised not only as the proud home of the Bulls but an asset to Bradford and the community.

G Walker, Pasture Rise, Clayton.

SIR - This country's inability to protect young people seems to become more serious every day.

Mixed messages on crime and punishment, going soft on drugs and the rest, also seem to be matters of daily comment and report.

I do not remember politicians of any party telling us before the election that they proposed to pass legislation on moral and conscience issues about which all of us have opinions that should be taken into account.

Looking at our MPs of all parties, they seem to be a pretty mediocre bunch. What right have they to try and force their moral values on the rest of the country?

Is it not time that legislation on moral and conscience issues was only allowed after a referendum to consult all of us in this country?

Before this Government legislates further on the repeal of Section 28, the legalising or reclassification of drugs etc, there should be a consultative referendum for all of us to participate in, whatever our views.

Perhaps we could also have a referendum on the restoration of capital punishment for child murderers; the views of everyone of us on these moral conscience issues are as important as those of our MPs.

Councillor Andrew Carter, Leader of the Conservative Group on Leeds Council, Clarke Street, Calverley.

SIR - I have read several letters recently in the T&A regarding the possibility of Meadowcroft Care Home being closed. I endorse all that their writers have said about it being such an excellent place as I have personal experience of being in there.

One very important part of Meadowcroft however, which so far has not been mentioned, is the re-hab unit. People come straight from hospital with broken limbs or joint replacements to stay there for six weeks.

Two years ago I broke some bones in my pelvis. After two weeks in BRI, I was transferred to this unit.

I do hope that Meadowcroft will not be closed as apart from the residential side, which was excellent, the closure of the rehab unit would be a loss to so many people who would otherwise have benefited from the personal care and encouragement that I received.

My stay there for six weeks made it possible for me to return to my own home, so I will always be grateful to Meadowcroft and its wonderful staff.

Mrs K M Thornton, King Edward Terrace, Thornton.

SIR - The Government is singing the praises of the New Deal, saying it has helped 351,340 young people aged 18 to 24 find work up to January 2002. However, the Adult Learning Inspectorate tell the real story of New Deal.

Actually 40 per cent (112,000) went into full-time education and training, and only 30 per cent of these gained a qualification. Of the 60 per cent who got jobs, 52,000 went into Government-subsidised employment, 60,000 to the voluntary sector and 56,000 to the Environmental Task Force.

The Audit Commission also stated that only 20,000 out of the 700,000 New Dealers went into jobs that were not specially created for the programme. Another government programme, the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme, is a disaster too with 64 per cent failing to complete it.

These facts may confirm that this Government is still working to the socialist ideology of state employment and subsidised by the taxpayers, but the real tragedy of New Deal is that it has let down the very people it was set up to help.

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con, Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - The status of divorced women within Asian cultures should be deplored, because they are perceived as being used merchandise that serve no purpose in life. Asian culture also dictates that men are beyond reproach and totally blameless for any failed marriage.

Asian men expect their wives to be virgins, even if they personally have an active pre-marital sex life. Asian culture is littered with such double standards.

The whole concept of the extended family is another critical factor that leads to break-ups, notably meddlesome mothers-in-law.

It is about time divorced women were shown the compassion and sympathy that they deserve, instead of being stigmatised.

I Khan, Leylands Lane, Heaton

SIR - Mike Priestley's North of Watford (August 18) criticises Lotto money spent on asylum seekers who are resisting deportation orders and also laments the scruffy appearance of the rail routes into Bradford.

Would Mike be keen on funding a day trip (by train) to Bradford by these asylum seekers? By what the T&A says, this rubbish-strewn city is no advert for life in Britain!

Personally I suggest Mr Priestley quits the T&A and is given a newly-created government job - telling foreigners how scruffy parts of Britain are, thus putting them off coming here.

Not that I want Mr Priestley to leave, of course, but this is my response to his thoughts.

J Taylor, Park Hill Drive, Bradford.