SIR - Why is a certain section of Bradford people resentful over the sentences imposed on the rioters? To decent people of Bradford you have no case, and in fact four years for some was not enough when you take into account the cost of the whole saga.

The number of buildings that were razed to the ground, injuries to our police force, and animals, and some of the rioters were intent on murder.

These people who joined in this despicable act on life, limb and property did not think of their families then, so why should the Goody Two Shoes brigade look for sympathy now, because they broke the law?

Get your priorities right please.

B J Rudd, Roger Court, Undercliffe.

SIR - I read with interest your article regarding The Fair Justice For All campaigners, who feel that those that have been convicted of being involved in the Bradford Riots have been harshly sentenced.

As an organisation, maybe they should direct their energies towards helping raise Bradford from the ashes of those riots, and more importantly helping to get compensation for those in the community who suffered the most . . . the Bradford business community.

I have a solution, though. Let's total up all the cost to the police, the city and its community, and split it equally among those found guilty of the worst incident to affect the Bradford economy since the Second World War.

Then all those found guilty and imprisoned could sign a pledge to pay their portion back, and be released.

Dean Loynes, North Parade, Bradford.

SIR - It has been a triumph for law and order to see the jailing of the thugs who rioted through our streets. It is with some concern, therefore, that I read the police are considering closing the investigation.

Surely this cannot mean that if evidence came to light about a rioter in one or even five years' time, that person would not be arrested and, if found guilty, jailed.

It would be very satisfying to think that these thugs might spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders wondering whether, at any moment, they may feel a tap on their shoulder which could mean five years in jail.

These criminals must never be allowed to think they have got away with it because if they do thuggery will have won and law and order will have lost.

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

SIR - Mr Martin Elvidge (T&A Letters, July 2) accuses me of cheap political point-scoring with regards to Odsal Stadium. I assure him this is not the case.

Why is it that every time someone from an opposite political party questions government decisions, they are accused of this? Could it be that Mr Elvidge is a supporter or member of the Labour Party?

More importantly he states that the Council cannot adjudicate on planning applications it has a financial interest in.

This is incorrect, but he may be thinking of the fact that the Council cannot appeal to the Secretary of State if the planning authority refuses a Council planning application.

Secondly, and even more importantly, just because there may be objections to a planning application doesn't automatically mean it has to be called in to the Secretary of State.

Referring to my original letter, I did state that although there were a large number of objections to the last Superdome scheme, the then Conservative Secretary of State did not call a public inquiry.

The question still remains. Why is it that with a large number of supporters of the Odsal scheme, and with a smaller retail element, the Secretary of State authorised a public inquiry?

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

Sir - Ann Cryer, right, has hit the nail on the head once again, with her views on the Pakistani community and should be appointed as the government's ethnic minority affairs adviser.

I still await the first honest Asian politician who would admit to these problems.

I Khan, Leylands Lane, Heaton, Bradford

SIR - Once again we have seen the collapse of negotiations to develop Odsal Stadium. Why don't the Council come clean and tell the truth - that they have no intention nor ever had any intention of developing the ground?

There have been so many grand schemes to develop this prime site but to no avail.

The nearest it ever got was for the world speedway final. But then it was allowed to fade into oblivion again in spite of thousands of seats being put in and then taken out again and having housed 45,000 spectators.

The Council built the biggest white elephant Bradford has ever seen, the Richard Dunn Sports Centre, when it could have been incorporated in an Odsal Stadium development with a bit of foresight and common sense.

One wonders what they are incapable of doing next.

R Firth, former chairman of Bradford Northern RLFC (1964) Ltd, St Paul's Avenue, Wibsey.

SIR - The statement by Councillor David Ford (T&A Letters, July 3) that "there is not yet a deal signed and sealed to replace the building" should be of particular interest to those of us anxious to preserve the former Odeon building, repeatedly and accurately described as historic, in its entirety.

While the Planning Panel will not have "voted for its demolition," per se, certainly their action will have the same end result.

However, planning permission seems to have been granted - some seven months ago - when the conservation area revision process would already be under way, given the length of time these things usually take. If this is so, surely it is illegal, and should be revoked forthwith.

To designate an area for conservation, and then to collude in the destruction of one of its principal historic buildings, is outrageous.

During the late Eighties and early Nineties, as part of the ill-fated West End scheme, the Odeon was to have been converted to an Eastern Pavilion. At the time, this seemed unthinkable, but now...if only!

K A Webster, Abb Scott Lane, Bradford 6.

Sir - I feel I must reply to Mr Anderson's letter defending Leeds-Bradford Airport. The operators should be given an award for the least progress made by any airport since 1960.

I have been told by an employee that they turned down a budget airline as their costs were too much!

I saw an advert for British Midland International, who were charging £28 from Teesside to Heathrow and £40 from Leeds-Bradford to Heathrow. Why, when Teesside is further from London? Obviously because of landing fees.

Today I read that low-cost flights are being extended to Cardiff. When will the powers that control Leeds-Bradford Airport get into the modern world and realise the people of West Yorkshire are fed up of travelling over the Pennines in their millions to get to holiday destinations.

John Buchanan, Idle Road, Bradford 2

Sir- I agree entirely with Phil Boase (T&A Letters, July 3). I believe Britain is still the envy of the world and anyone who selects this country to be a citizen and gain the many benefits should be proud to be British - I certainly am!

It's amazing how such a small island has had such a big influence in the world. It is a trait of British people to put down their own country but those that leave often come back with their tails between their legs when the going gets tough.

Sarah Jakes Dudley Street, Tyersal, Bradford

SIR - The letter from Richard Corbett, MEP, in Tuesday's T&A was very interesting. He advocates joining the Euro, but only at the right exchange rate. Perhaps he would care to tell us what that is (I expect Gordon Brown would like to know as well).

And are all those Euro-enthusiasts among the business community aware of this magic number? Or do they each have a different one?

Estelle Lumb, Moorhead Crescent, Shipley.