SIR - Quite a lot of letters have been published regarding dog owners cleaning up, or not, after their pets. After getting our dog less than three months ago I've become champion pooper scooper.

I use nappy sacks, economical and practical, as they are scented. I would like to see doggie do bins, as it is sometimes a long way from home. However, this would only work if used properly and the bins emptied regularly.

Perhaps dog owners could pay some sort of subscription for this service.

The reason for this letter? Well, I really would like to know when visitors in cars, who park at beauty spots like Baildon Moor, will become more responsible for their mess and take it home. Do they believe that the earth opens to swallow up pop bottles, lager cans, takeaway packaging, and even disposable nappies?

No, what really happens is that dog walkers like myself come along and pick it up and dispose of it. Even dog walkers care about keeping areas clean for everyone to enjoy, perhaps the motorist could help too.

Yvonne Middleton and Poppy the dog, Laburnum Drive, Baildon.

SIR - I was shocked to read in your paper recently that some people have now decided that the sentences given to those convicted of rioting are too severe.

It is becoming more and more obvious to the decent people of this once great city that certain community members have decided they are now above the law and free to do whatever they wish with presumably no reprisals.

Parents that think it is too much trouble to educate their children or show them the right path, 'community leaders' that deny there is even a problem, attempting to pass the problem on.

There have been a number of riots in this city, twice in Marshfield's, once in Lidget Green and twice in Manningham. In the last two total disregard was shown for human life when the public houses The Coach House and The Second West were set on fire and the working man's club that was first barricaded in an attempt to make sure the people inside could not get out.

Phrases such as 'He only threw one stone', 'I was only having a bit of fun' and 'I only went to see what was happening' indicates lack of parental guidance.

What must be realised is that this country will never will be dictated to through intimidation and violence.

J Francis, St Margaret's Road, Gt Horton.

SIR - I refer to letters in the T&A (June 29) from Alex Leach and Peter Wilson, both of which are concerned with the democratic process.

I get the impression from Mr Leach that many republicans, in complaining about the unelected monarchy, are unaware of the fact that Her Majesty has no power. The dictum is: "The Queen reigns, but Parliament rules."

Democracy has to do with power to the people; the Queen is in service to, and for, the people, and has done a good job for 50 years. The strength of democracy lies in the ability of the electorate to remove an unpopular government from office; but things have changed and continue so do to.

Mr Wilson, commenting on Eric Firth's suggestion of replacing the present government with the military, writes indignantly of placing our destinies in the hands of a bunch of unelected Colonel Blimps.

However, our sovereignty has been handed over to the EU Blimps by the very people who are elected to protect it.

Unless this trend is reversed, we will all be controlled by an unelected EU and ruled by its bureaucrats. What use will democracy be then - even a republican one?

Walter Metcalfe, Central Avenue, Shipley.

SIR - Why do we pay Council Tax when we, the residents of Thornton, do a lot of the work for them?

For example, removing nettles and weeds from public footpaths when the so-called weed sprayer came up High Street only five weeks ago, not walking like they used to do 40 years ago when I first came to Thornton, but on a trolley. It was a beautiful village, self-contained and extremely clean.

We also had two lovely schools to which my children attended, not having to leave the village.

Now the Council has closed both schools which they are now in the process of selling.

On the matter of Thornton Swimming Baths - to which all my four children and my three grandchildren used to go - now closed by Bradford Council again, which is deteriorating badly, is also a great place for youths to hide out in and is now a dangerous place.

Why is Thornton always left out or picked on for so-called progress? All I can see is neglect.

Mrs F Warden, High Street, Thornton.

SIR - I see that school chiefs are seeking planning permission to build St Philips School on West Park.

This would have been bad enough but to read that they want to demolish the temporary one and build on the park and then in their wisdom build another park on the demolition site beggars belief.

The world has gone mad? Don't planners do any housekeeping or have they got unlimited funds to use?

It also makes one wonder what will happen to the new school, as complaints are that the old one is continually vandalised. This should surely tell them that the same thing would happen here.

If there are old allotments to be used in Fairbank Road, why don't they use them?

At least they would not be destroying bowling greens and quite a pleasant park.

Joan Howe, West Park Road, Bradford.