SIR - Has anyone noticed the draconian and totally inconsiderate changes made by our gallant Council to the policies and regulations governing the collection of domestic waste?

Something extremely simple and straightforward, until March 31, 2002, has overnight become complicated, riddled with bureaucratic red tape and dare I say it, extortionate. When I pointed this out to the Council representative responding to my call recently, I was advised to hire a skip!

Arbitrary charges made at officials' discretion are now the order of the day, as are equally arbitrary limitations to the quantity/number of things they are prepared to collect.

Obviously no thought has been spared, as usual, for the large number of people unable to trek to the household waste sites, hire a skip or to cough up the Council's asking price. Let them wallow in their own filth as far as our councillors are concerned.

Capital of Culture? Spare me!!

Dr Nadeem A Nasir, Canford Drive, Allerton.

SIR - I read in the Telegraph & Argus of the very unfortunate accident involving a nine-year-old girl run over by a bus in Manchester Road. Her father was very obviously upset at this terrible accident, but what I would like to know is why such a young child was crossing such a busy road without adult supervision?

Had an adult been with her, then surely she would have used the correct crossing and therefore prevented both herself and the bus driver from the trauma they are now both going through.

Two days later, I read in the paper of a 13-year-old girl being sexually assaulted at 11.30pm in a snicket in Eccleshill. Why was a 13-year-old out alone at that time of night? The story claims she had had words with someone and had walked out - whoever she had words with should have made sure she stayed firmly indoors at that late hour.

Mrs J M Wainwright, Leyton Crescent, Idle.

SIR - Odsal is not just a stadium, sports facility or ground. It is home, just as I feel relaxed in my house, Odsal produces the same feelings. Whether it is full or empty, these feelings are always there. I feel pride, passion and a buzz, I can't get anywhere else.

Not that there is anything wrong with the facilities at Valley Parade, but when I am there, I feel like an intruder, a squatter, and I don't belong. I almost feel like an away fan.

All the Bulls fans want is a place we can call home and be proud of; Odsal is that place.

Everyone is caught up in blame, regrets and false promises; this no longer matters. It is time that everyone stopped passing the buck, and came together in this time of despair to gain a viable solution to take us back where we belong, home; and fill our hearts with pride for our city once again, instead of one being constantly let down.

Come on Bradford, the people of this city are worth it, our teams are worth it, and our city deserves it.

Kelly Hargreaves, Westbury Street, Bradford 4

SIR - How sorry we feel that Bradford Festival was such a disappointment. How can the organisers call it a resounding success?

The organisers state that they only had five months to arrange the festival. If they were not able to improve on the previous festivals in this amount of time, surely they should not have taken the job away from the people of Bradford who have proved what a fantastic job they are able to do, making the festival a truly international event.

Anyone visiting the Mela for the first time certainly won't be coming back again.

This year's organisers, UZ, have had their chance. Now the organisationof the festival should be returned to the original team, if Bradford is serious about becoming European Capital of Culture.

B Johnson, Beacon Grove, Wibsey.

SIR - Bradford celebrates. Celebrates what exactly? Has Bradford suddenly become a first world city? A capital of culture? No, of course not. The only reason Bradford has not had an anniversary riot is the fact that a small selection of last year's rioters have been given prison sentences.

This has sent out a warning to other arrogant thugs that they too, will face prison if the riots are repeated. Bradford celebrates? Pull the other leg, it's got bells on!

Antony Allen, Mount Street, Eccleshill.

SIR - Regarding the one month's free travel for newly retirement-aged people on the Metro and West Yorkshire bus and train operators.

What about the more elderly passengers like some of our over-90 residents going free for one month. Is this age discrimination? Come on, be fair, give us all a little treat.

Mrs I Lee, Hudson Gardens, Bradford 7.

SIR - I recently received some glossy literature from Gerry Sutcliffe MP. In this literature there was much spin and gloss, especially about planning and large-scale housing developments.

He states: "I am genuinely concerned that the council is giving blanket permission for house building and of particular concern the number of developments in Queensbury. Particularly Broomfield."

I can assure Mr Sutcliffe that the council is not giving blanket permission for house building, and as he knows actually refused the Broomfield application. The applicant appealed but that was also refused. Both myself and Councillor Michael Walls attended the public enquiry but I didn't see Mr Sutcliffe in attendance.

The reason for all the large-scale developments in Queensbury is simple. The previous Labour administration designated great swathes of green fields for housing under the last UDP. If he looks at our proposed UDP he will see that no more green fields are proposed for housing!

It really is about time he and his government stopped misleading the general public. No wonder people are fed up with our national representatives at Westminster.

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con. Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - When I read in the T&A (July 3) that a full report of the case concerning Mr Robert Hustler, who was jailed for life six times over for fire bombing a number of houses, would be published in the T&A on Thursday, I thought we might find out what causes a man to turn to such drastic action.

Your article stated that Mr Hustler had begged the police to help him, he had also begged the Council to move him away from the trouble he was regularly faced with, but both ignored him. He then took the law into his own hands.

What concerns me is the comments on Page 3: "If he could simply have ignored their cries, they would eventually have become bored and sought out more game prey to antagonise."

Who said these words? Do they think it would have been ok to move on antagonise someone else?

How many of the vandals and thugs have been brought to justice for terrorising Mr Hustler? And who are they antagonising now?

A Maddocks, Parkstone Drive, Eccleshill.

SIR - May I express my annoyance at people who promise to phone, and do not. I refer to my advert to sell a mahogany dining suite. One couple came to measure, said they would ring, they did not.

I had two calls from women who said they would ring the next day, and neither did. While it is obvious they did not want the suite, it shows good manners to phone and say no thank you. At least that's the way I was brought up.

S Widdop, Quaker Lane, Bradford 5.