Letters to the Editor

There have been incidents of muggings, property burgled, property damaged, cars stolen for joy riding, parked cars damaged on streets, drug addicts waiting on streets for pick-ups and many others.

Some of the problems arise from having local corner shops selling alcohol to these gangs. This drinking in the streets has then led to violent behaviour.

These kinds of incidents have been happening nearly every single week and many reported after midnight.

People are afraid to leave their homes because of these incidents, and feel intimidated by these gangs who hurl verbal abuse at every passer-by. The police have been called on numerous occasions.

It is time something concrete was done about this matter. There have been talks about evicting troublemakers from the council area, blocking snickets and building walls, and creating local facilities for teenagers.

These need to be implemented urgently, so people can get on with their lives and live in a peaceful community again.

Mrs G Smirthwaite, Carrbottom Road, Bankfoot, Bradford.

SIR - I felt compelled to write after seeing posters in Bradford informing us of the coming rally against unfair, disproportional sentencing regarding the Bradford rioters.

These sentences were wholly justified. It sickens me to see words like "Justice For All" spread across the poster. Implying what? Where is our justice? Let's remember what these people did to this once-glorious city. They made world headlines for all the wrong reasons. They created an exodus of the middle class.

Businesses moved out and others decided not to invest. Property bucked the national trend and actually decreased in value. These people have cost this city millions and we will be paying the price for years to come.

Who will compensate the people of Bradford for this?

D Smith, Foster Park, Denholme.

SIR - I read with confused amazement the article regarding the young man with cerebral palsy who desires the chance to attend a school designed for his needs (Friday, August 16).

The officials of Bradford Education refuse to fund this lad's placement and seek to force his parents to appeal to a specialist tribunal.

What is going on in this mixed-up authority? How can there be any sense of fair play when the adjoining article carried in your paper shows a jubilant Chief Executive of Bradford Council agreeing to hand over £4.6 million so that Bradford Bulls can return to its spiritual home?

Can there be a different criterion that is applied?

Can there be less regard given to this young man's education than to whether or not the Bulls play at one venue or the other?

What do our elected representatives think about this, or are they keeping quiet because Bradford Education is being run on their behalf by a private organisation?

David Wilson, Station Road, Keighley.

SIR - It was with great dismay that I learned of the proposal to close Greenacres EMI residential and day care centre, where my mother has been a resident for the past two years.

Before she moved there my wife and I had support in caring for her in her own home, where she lived alone. Despite that support and daily visits from ourselves, the fire brigade were called out twice to her house because of accidents with cigarettes.

Her security consciousness was rapidly dwindling and she was becoming a danger to herself. Despite wanting her to remain independent, we realised that 24-hour care was the only option.

Other circumstances prevented us from being able to provide this and we are eternally grateful for the support we have received from Greenacres, both the day care centre and the residential home.

Statistics show that the number of people with dementia is rising and there is a growing elderly population. It is hard enough now to find good care and the prospect of it becoming harder is very frightening.

I feel that the proposed policies are detrimental and the council needs to listen to carers, relatives and those who have dementia.

Michael Stephenson, Low Green Terrace, Great Horton.

SIR - I would like to thank Sarah Walsh for the sensitive article on my daughter, Emmeline, regarding her remarkable exam results, despite having to bring up a two-year old daughter. The article demonstrates that events that appear to be fraught need not have an unhappy ending if everyone pulls together.

It goes without saying just how proud Diane and I are of Emmeline's achievements at Hanson, a school where the quality of teaching and learning is first class.

In particular I would like to thank Clare O'Neill, Richard Pember, Seyed Mansoor, Lisa Porritt and Beryl Neal for the amount of time and effort that they were prepared to expend.

I would also like to thank my wife, Diane, for bearing the brunt of the work in caring for Sophie when work pressures made it impossible for Emmeline to devote the time that a lively two-year-old demands. Thanks are also due to the extended family at St Luke's Church in Eccleshill for their prayers and support.

Finally I would like to publicly congratulate Noshin Hussain, Ruqayyah Collector, Nazia Ali and Omar Khan from Grange Technology College for their own outstanding results at A Level; they are a credit to themselves, their families and the school.

Ian Parsons, Alexandra Road, Eccleshill

SIR - Your report on August 1 of a survey by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young stated that Britain is missing out by not being part of the Eurozone. This is simply not true.

According to the latest figures from the OECD, over the three years since the euro was launched, the volume of Britain's exports to the Eurozone has grown by 23.5 per cent. By comparison, trade by Eurozone countries with other member states has grown by an average of only 19 per cent over the same period.

Britain also has lower unemployment than the Eurozone, lower taxation and higher inward investment. Furthermore, our economic growth rate is forecast to be the highest in Europe. So in what way are we missing out?

Britain currently has the best of both worlds. We can use the euro when we choose to and keep control of our own economy. Why should we risk this successful combination?

Judith Donovan, chairman, Business for Sterling Yorkshire.

SIR - I do agree with Mike Priestley quitting the Lottery because of the grants given to anti-deportation groups when it could do more good for the people of this country (T&A, August 17).

Like Mike, I too am planning to quit the Lottery when my ticket expires at the end of August.

If the Thornton people could get one of those grants for the Thornton swimming baths to reopen, we would support anyone who could help.

The summer holiday is here yet there are no happy voices of children enjoying the inflatables and teaching their younger sisters and brothers what fun they could enjoy at the swimming pool!

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.

SIR - I am a 20-year-old student due to start my last year at University, studying for a degree in sports science.

In my final year I need to write a 10,000-word paper and the subject of this paper will be 'England Home Internationals Played Away from Wembley Stadium Since 1945.'

The game against Holland at Leeds Road, Huddersfield, on November 27, 1946, was the first international played outside London after the war and is therefore very important to my research.

If any of your readers went to this game, or played in it and have press cuttings or an original copy of the match programme, then I would very much like to hear from them.

James Barcroft, 14 Beresford Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0PY.

SIR - As I read it, the Prison Service may release inmates out to work to help them rehabilitate to the outside world when they are released and to help them start a new life. OK for Joe Bloggs.

Lord Archer, however, having served about a quarter of his sentence, is included in this scheme. How tough! His Lordship can drive himself in his BMW to do theatre work and visit home as long as he is back behind bars at night.

I hardly think he will need much help when released. No doubt he is using his experience to write a new novel or even play to earn another million.

Is this punishment or his reward for being a lord and not Joe Bloggs?

Reg Agar, Folly Hall Close, Wibsey.