Letters to the Editor

These are some of the calls for help made by people who I know and all of them had a negative response from the RSPCA.

As for the dog found abandoned outside Asda in Shipley. Every attempt was made to find the rightful owner - without success. As he says, the "dog warden only works office hours" and was not available. Also the local police station was shut.

Surely the police are stretched enough without caring for stray dogs when we are supposed to have a caring animal welfare service?

If the RSPCA were concerned about the re-homing of this dog, they only had to ask and would have been able to see for themselves how well cared for and happy she is.

As for Mr Robertshaw's belittling of how we handled the situation, I should have thought he'd be grateful there are caring people like us about.

Mrs Sheila Robinson, Baildon Road, Baildon.

SIR - I was sorry to hear that Jenny Sampson's so-called neighbours won the court case, meaning she must now reduce the number of cats in her care. Well, they can now sit back and think of who else they can destroy.

Jenny has a lot of decent friends who will help and stand by her and her cats. To do what she does takes guts. These cats need people like her. Who can the Council ask to take in strays now?

Mrs Doreen Leggoe, Sevenoaks Mead, Allerton.

SIR - My cat has asked to write to you as she struggles a bit with the written word. She is a founder member of CAW (Cats Against Waste) and she and her friends wish to point out that they expect their food to be purchased in packaging that can be recycled.

They are quite happy with steel cans and those little square aluminium boxes but they are adamant that the new-fangled pouches that look like overgrown sauce sachets are quite unacceptable as they are not made of foil and have to be thrown away.

They point out that the kittens of the future do not wish to live in a world that has been spoiled by the present thoughtless generation and they fully expect their humans to be responsible and keen on reducing waste.

Councillor Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford 9.

SIR - Saturday last being a perfect day, I decided to visit Lister Park.

After admiring the beautiful colourful display in front of Cartwright Hall, also a nice wedding party, I made my way to the Water Garden.

To my horror six hooligans on bikes had taken over. I'm much too old and frail to accost them. I've no doubt I'd have ended in the water.

If the Friends of Lister Park have any power or authority, I hope they look in there or next week the skateboarders will be running wild. So much for peace and tranquillity.

Is this to become yet another playground for youths?

D Petyt, Highgate, Heaton.

SIR - Re Dr Tom Smith's article about stroke care (or lack of it) on July 24.

I was a victim of a mild stroke some nine weeks ago. The problem I had was to convince people that I had had a stroke.

It took a private consultation after five weeks to get the ball rolling (this was pushed by my daughter).

Mr Busby and his team at St Luke's were wonderful to me and I will always say thank you to them.

The issue is what can we do to make things happen quickly. It is the hours immediately before a stroke which are critical in defining future damage.

It is not the NHS's fault. All of these people are dedicated. When will the Government listen to the specialists? Emergency care will beat after-care.

John Gregory, Shetcliffe Lane, Bierley.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: For anyone wanting information about strokes, the T&A's medical expert Dr Tom Smith has written a book, Coping With Strokes, published in paperback by Sheldon Press at £6.99. It can be borrowed from Bradford Central Library.

SIR - In response to the letter from S Holmes (August 7) regarding Jack Tordoff, chairman of JCT600, pulling the financial strings at Bradford Bulls.

We would like to make it quite clear that, although we are one of the Bulls' major sponsors, we have absolutely no influence over any commercial decisions their chairman, Chris Caisley, and his board of directors might make.

One of the influencing factors in our decision to sponsor Bradford Bulls was the opportunity to be involved in the new Odsal Stadium development.

The fact that this is no longer a viable project was as disappointing to JCT600 as it was to the Bulls.

We are extremely proud to be associated with such a progressive team and, although their spiritual home may be Odsal, cannot see them returning to it in its current state.

It must have been distressing for Mr Holmes to have his car vandalised but a bit short-sighted to blame it on one of the club's main sponsors without whom the club would find it hard to exist.

Chris Gilliver, Group Marketing Manager, JCT 600.

SIR - S Walsh writes (Letters, July 29) of his contributions to this column over the years, warning of the evils of "extremism" and "socialism".

So what prompts him to pick up his prolific pen once more? Well, his somewhat out-of-focus letter doesn't make it very clear, but I presume it is the unions' claim of £5 an hour for council workers. FIVE pounds an hour! Such rabid extremism cries out for the exhumation of Mr Walsh's beloved Baroness Whiplash, does it not?

I see Mr W lives in Bingley; but from the general tone of his letter, it might well have come from the planet Zog - from another time, from another dimension.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

SIR - Over a period of four weeks my late husband, Willie Jackson, spent time in the care of the staff of Ward E3 in St Luke's Hospital.

May I express, on behalf of the family, our deep gratitude to the wonderful consultants, doctors and nurses who kept us informed at all times and were so caring and helpful to us all at this distressing time.

In these days of criticism of the Health Service it is so pleasing to place on record our congratulations on the award of Three Stars recently achieved in the Government performance ratings.

Mrs J Jackson, Flower Garth, Greengates.

SIR - I was shocked to read about the proposed closure of Parkland Primary School. All my three children attend there, and as a parent I think it is an excellent school. It would be a shame for it to be closed.

The Government keep telling us that there's more money for education, so why are they now closing our school down?

Everybody involved with Parkland Primary - parents, teachers, children, family and friends - must stick together and try to save our school for our children and future generations.

Peter Shoesmith, Cavendish Road, Idle.

SIR - Clearly Bradford should become European Capital of Culture in 2008. The Manchester Road guided bus way appears on a postcard promoting the bid.

Metro have shown tremendous innovation by introducing this scheme. Many of Bradford's competitors will not have guided busways. In those cities bus passengers will have to spend hours stuck in traffic jams but in Bradford buses cut through the traffic in next to no time.

This means more people will use public transport and Bradford will have cleaner air than many of its competitors.

The Manchester Road guided busway means people get into the city centre quicker and can spend longer enjoying its numerous attractions like the Alhambra theatre and the National Museum of Photography.

Mick Beaty (Leeds Friends of the Earth), Holt Farm Close, Holt Park, Leeds.