Letters to the Editor

SIR - It was reported in the T&A that Lord Ouseley and Zulfiqar Ali condemned the harsh sentences passed on the men convicted of taking part in the Bradford riots.

The sentences were the culmination of a crushing process which began with the publication of police photographs in the T&A of men who had not been found guilty of any crime. Then the decision was made to bring charges which allowed for sentencing to take account not just of individual actions but also of the conduct of those around.

Riot has always been a weapon of resistance for those who have been subjected to persistent discrimination and injustice. This weapon is produced when justifiable anger erupts.

The prison sentences will do nothing to cure the causes of the riots. Instead we can expect that the young men will be subjected to brutalising prison regimes riddled with racism.

Gerry Sutcliffe condemns the group Fair Justice For All who campaign against the sentences.

He and Ann Cryer, who blames Asian culture for the drug problem in Bradford, should concentrate their energies on combating poverty, unemployment and racial discrimination.

Val Rowlands, Park View Road, Bradford 9.

Political decision

SIR - Lord Ouseley is right to criticise the sentences being dished out to those charged with "riot", in stark contrast to your own position as outlined in your editorial "Is this serving justice?" (T&A, July 5).

The same actions could have brought charges such as "violent disorder". The difference in legal terms is slight, but the consequences are not, doubling the maximum sentence to ten years.

The decision to bring a charge of riot is a political one, brought by the DPP. As Judge Gullick himself spelt out in court: "The charge includes not only the actions of the individual defendants such as yourselves, but also the unlawful conduct of all those around you as well."

That is, each individual is deemed to be responsible for everything that happened, as if it was a carefully planned uprising! In reality most were simply caught up, perhaps unwisely, as events unfolded.

It is somewhat ironic then that when they do finally join together to discuss these matters, there is outrage.

I know of no-one charged with "causing" a riot. Indeed those members of the National Front who carefully plotted their provocation remain free to continue.

A Taylor, 1 in 12 Club, Albion Street, Bradford 1.

Closure madness

SIR - I thought I had seen and heard everything from Bradford Council. However the latest plan really takes the biscuit.

Spend tens of thousands of our money to do up a school (Thorpe) that's not actually needed (only 40 on roll) and then decide the best thing to do is close the school down the road (Parkland) which is a large spacious, open building standing in acres of pleasant green playing fields with a good past and present teaching record and all the facilities the children could need, and move the lot up the hill to Thorpe an "old" Victorian, cramped, out-of-date building standing in the middle of a busy road with all the accompany pollution etc.

It seems that money-grabbing land sales come before the well-being of the children and their educational needs!

C I Dyson, Apperley Gardens, Apperley Bridge, Bradford.

Stop moaning

SIR - I have been a Bradford Northern/Bulls supporter for 52 years and have attended most home and away games.

I am fed up of Mrs Caisley's whinging about the support.

Now he is on about TV coverage being stopped by Sky.

Doesn't he realise there are plenty of supporters like me who supported them through thick and thin and now are pensioners? Some can't get to the matches and the only chance they have of seeing the team is on Sky Sports.

B Thorpe, Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, Bradford.

Thanks to donors

SIR - The recent sad death of Shirley Nolan OBE has created a lot of interest in her life's work. The Anthony Nolan Trust would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the charity since it began 28 years ago.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to all those who have volunteered as potential blood stem cell donors as well as those who have helped to raise the funds necessary to run the Register. You have all played a vital role in helping us save thousands of lives.

If you would like to find out more about the life and work of Shirley or know more about the Trust's activities, please look at our website, www.anthonynolan.org.uk.

We should also be delighted if donors on our Register, who we may have lost contact with over the years, could inform us of any change of address, be e-mailing: newaddress@anthonynolan.org.uk or writing to the charity at the Anthony Nolan Trust, PO Box 1767, London NW3 27R.

Ruth Dodd, Regional Controller, The Anthony Nolan Trust.

Town centre chaos

SIR - Contrary to the information in the T&A on July 25, there was no effective warning to residents in the Highfield area of Keighley that access to the town centre by vehicle would be disrupted in the middle of Friday to allow for a military parade.

The ensuing chaos - compounded by the delays caused by the closure of Oakworth Road - prompts this reader to ask whether there had been any joined-up thinking in allowing this to go forward at this time.

A further question as to what the Duke of Wellington regiment has recently contributed to the quality of life in Keighley also springs to mind.

Timothy Appelbee, Highfield Lane, Keighley.

Council hypocrisy

SIR - I am writing to register my dismay at the most unsatisfactory conclusion of the bridge restoration project in Saltaire. On completion of the main structural work, a stretch of approximately ten metres of original cobbles/setts connecting Victoria Road with the bridge was resurfaced with Tarmac. These cobbles were a portion of a section outside Salts Mill and the United Reformed Church originally uncovered by Jonathan Silver, the late owner of Salts Mill.

The Planning Officer concerned with Saltaire was contacted at the start of the recent resurfacing. He volunteered the explanation that Tarmac was chosen as "the cheapest option."

As a resident of Saltaire village and a homeowner, I am obliged to comply with stringent planning regulations.

When carrying out any structural or aesthetic work on the exterior of my property, I have to use traditional heritage materials at the bidding of the Council. This quite obviously is never the "cheapest option" available to me. What shinning hypocrisy Bradford Council displays.

Clair Townshend, Titus Street, Saltaire.

Dog problems

SIR - I would like to thank the two ladies who empathised with me over the problem of dog walking - the lady who wrote to me personally and the lady whose letter was printed in the T&A.

Being short of open fields in the area and only one bridleway, it is a problem for my dogs. I never let them foul on people's property.

My husband has been ill and I am recovering from a badly-broken leg (three places) held together with eight pins. It is hard to have two dogs pulling me all the time on the lead.

To suffer abuse is terrible and people should be more sensitive. It's not worth having dogs with so many dog-haters about. Thank you kind ladies for your support.

Doreen Webster, Buller Street, Bradford.

Rail link benefits

SIR - While the proposed retail development on Cheapside may have perceived benefits, this may pose future difficulties for the building of a rail link between Bradford Forster Square station and Bradford Interchange.

This is because it is not as yet clear whether the rail alignment between the two stations will be preserved as a result of the development.

It is important that the rail alignment is safeguarded so that a rail link could be built in the future.

The rail link will provide numerous benefits, such as directly linking the Airedale and Wharfedale lines with those of Kirklees and Calderdale. This would enable through journeys to be made, without either travelling to Leeds or alighting at Forster Square.

The link would also provide an additional route for the movement of goods, and would establish Bradford on the main rail network.

This would increase visitors to the city, which in turn would stimulate the local economy.

It is most necessary that the relevant authorities take the appropriate precautions in preserving the rail alignment between the two stations!

Alec Suchi, secretary, Bradford Rail Users Group, c/o Lloyd & Robinson Opticians, Westgate, Bradford 1.