Letters to the Editor

This questioned the value of completing the Council's review of the Unitary Development Plan in view of the Government's decision to change the system.

When Ministers launched the consultation on the reform of the planning system at the end of last year they urged councils not to use the fact that reform was on the agenda as a reason to stop working on current reviews. The Deputy Prime Minister's Officer reinforced this position on July 9.

The reforms announced in July do not radically change the nature of UDPs. The new Local Development Framework proposed by the reforms will continue to include policies, sites and a proposals map. There is also provision for a public inquiry to resolve objections.

So there would be no money saved by abandoning the replacement of the current plan, as the revisions anticipate many of the ideas suggested by the reform proposals.

The current plan is out of date so if we do not replace it now we may incur extra costs through an increase in the number of appeals against decisions made on individual developments.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for the Environment.

SIR - For many years we have visited elderly people in their homes and in private care homes. Our mother's home is Meadowcroft. She is 104 years old, having lived in Bradford all her life and working voluntarily for many years.

At 99 years, when it was clear that it was dangerous for her to be in sheltered housing, she chose Meadowcroft herself, even bringing treasured furniture!

Meadowcroft is a wonderful role model for any care home, situated in a pleasant open aspect, with brilliant staff. To even think of closing it is unacceptable and cruel.

Residents are always given privacy and respect. Independence is encouraged and every effort made to provide stimulation, even entertainment, for those who want it. Regular outings are the norm even for those with little ability.

Meadowcroft is superior and a credit to local authority care. Mother was very distressed when she heard talk of closing and it must be very difficult for staff to deal with residents' real fears.

Shame on Bradford Council! This is a completely heartless, uncaring way to save money when so much is wasted on other projects.

Bernard and Carmel Scanlon, Raymond Drive, Bradford 8.

SIR - I read with interest Mr Caroll's comments in the T&A on August 5 (about being called "mate" by a doorstep canvasser, and about the "race card"). I also come from a direct-sales background and I work for a very big company based here in Bradford.

I constantly used to give out my name to customers ringing in for quotes to go on holiday but nobody ever phoned back using my name to book with me. After a few weeks I wasn't getting any sales and was starting to wonder why.

I was speaking to a colleague who pointed out to me that it was my name that was the problem, so I changed it to something easier, let's just say John for argument's sake, and guess what? Since then I have never failed to hit my target.

I didn't use the race card. I just put it down to ignorant people.

Oh, and one last thing Mr Caroll. If someone called me "mate" I'd prefer that to someone who just droned on as if he or she was reading from a script. As for playing the race card, it works both ways. Maybe Mr Carroll should stop being so pompous.

Waseem Butt, Bannockburn Court, Bradford.

SIR - Did you attend the Priestman School during the period 1954-1959? If so, and you would be interested in meeting up with some of your school pals, we are trying to organise a reunion for next year.

So far 14 of us are in touch again and the local ones have met up a couple of times.

We are still looking for Jean Harrison, Joan Storey, Anne Milestone, Margaret Pollard, Sheila Padgett, Margaret Fitzpatrick Jessie Hool, Valerie Gray, Verena Gavin, Andrea Brown, Margery Gott, Brenda Thompson, Barbara Britten, Benjamin Fielding, Stuart Atkin, Stephen Gledhill, David Lavin, Rodney Lupton, Eddie Bartle, Kenny Firth, Steven Ortmeyer, Malcolm Jowett, David Coulter, Pete Senior, Trevor Pickles, John Sharp, David Kaye, Trevor Smith and anyone else interested.

Please contact either myself or Edwin Siswick at the addresses below.

Mrs June W Blackwell (nee Pickard), 32 Watering Pool Lane, Lostock, Preston, Lancashire PR5 5AP and Mr Edwin H Siswick, 11 Ganton Way, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

SIR - Re the proposed closure of Meadowcroft Centre.

My family and I can never forget the kindness, love and compassion shown to Mum there over a period of several years. She felt secure there and enjoyed her visits while my brother and I could have some respite.

Old folk need to be somewhere familiar, not to be shuffled from one place to another like parcels. I would urge Bradford Council to think again.

Barbara A Dickinson, Byland Grove, Allerton.

SIR - In reply to the letter of Mr Applebee regarding "town centre chaos" (August 1). Surely one day's chaos is not going to make much difference to anybody's life - if you could call it chaos.

To watch such a fine regiment march past is an honour, considering what it has done in previous wars defending this country.

What has Mr Applebee contributed to the life of Keighley recently except moan?

I may be biased but my late father was a soldier in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Bradford.