Letters to the Editor

At last we Bradfordians have some clarity on the issue. It is now apparent that without a sizeable retail element no private investor will ride in on a white charger to develop the site, leaving it in the hands of its current owners - US !

The decision is now incredibly straightforward, if our civic leaders will actually ask us what WE would like them to do with the site.

If we want a stadium befitting the finest club team in World Rugby we must be prepared to pay for it. We must be willing to contribute in the form of increased Council Tax over a number of years, as the people of Sheffield and Huddersfield have done for their excellent sporting facilities.

If after the necessary vote we decide we are unwilling to contribute (and there are those who are not, and are absolutely entitled to feel that way), then we only have ourselves to blame if the stadium rots and the Bulls leave town.

Now all we need is a council with the initiative to ask us.

Damian Farr, Vint Rise Idle

SIR - In response to Councillor Smith's letter (T&A, June 24) regarding the Odsal situation. Name-calling and mud-slinging are more commonly associated with primary schools. Mr Sutcliffe MP isn't to blame. It's another case of "Who's fault is it..? Surely not ours?".

Perhaps the Bulls should have made a public commitment to remain at Odsal post redevelopment instead of playing games with the developers and the Council. Headlines which suggest they may consider leaving the district don't help.

Perhaps Sir Ken Morrison could have directed his management team not to put in an objection to the scheme. As a 'Bradford Lad' with squillions in the bank a small dip in profit wouldn't hurt him - would it?

Councillor Smith should target his comments at those who really have caused the scheme to fall: the objectors, the Bulls, even the Government.

It's not one MP's fault the scheme didn't happen.

Ian Stone, Knowler Hill, Liversedge

SIR - So, the London Mafia have again conspired to dump on poor old Bradford. Firstly they wangled the National Sports Stadium being granted to London, stealing it from various northern cities including Bradford.

Secondly, by delaying proceedings, they have succeeded in terminating the building of Bradford's little stadium at Odsal.

Thirdly, having squandered £750 million on a useless dome, they now hatch a cunning plot to give it away and, among other things, build yet another magnificent sports facility on that site.

Finally, with crime in our city virtually out of control, the London Mafia contrives to make Bradford pay for the riots by offering only the smallest settlement towards their cost. This means that money which could have been spent on fighting crime has been lost forever.

Does the London Mob really care? I don't think so. After all Bradford is only an insignificant little city well north of Watford and therefore totally unimportant.

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

SIR - Although I am a Bradford Bulls supporter, I am often quite annoyed at the aggressive comments reported to have been made by Chris Caisley, right, when he makes demands of the Council to spend ratepayers' money on Odsal Stadium.

I support the club but do not believe that ratepayers' money should be involved.

Is it not time for the Council to give Odsal Stadium back to the Bulls plc and cut their losses? Surely this would stop the complaints of Council mis-spending of public money and give the board of the Bulls the chance to show how they can raise enough sponsorship cash to improve the ground and make the club a top-notch outfit which is capable of standing on its own two feet. Surely this could be possible with crowds of 16-18,000 at Odsal.

Duncan Higgins, Oaklands, Bradford 10

SIR - Odsal is Bradford Bulls' home and it always will be despite the Council's determination to let it decline and rot. The notion to reduce the capacity to 14,000 is ludicrous!

We consistently achieved higher than that at many Super League matches and the removal of all seated areas in the ground is not only impractical but discriminates against families, the elderly and the disabled.

Something must be done to prevent this great, historic ground from being driven into the ground. Despite the Council's determination, the Odsal spirit will never die!

Alex Kaye, Weatherhead Place, Silsden

SIR - Bradford Council is to be advised that the abject sum of £660,000 is adequate to bring Odsal up to Super League standard. This is absurd!

To even consider this charade is a kick in the teeth for the players and the fans. Unless Bradford Council removes its rose-tinted glasses, the Bulls may have no choice but to leave the city which would further prove the perception that Bradford is a vanishing city as correct.

My late step-father, a supporter of Northern/Bulls for nearly 50 years, would be spitting feathers that the World Champions still do not boast a state-of-the-art stadium.

But why should we be surprised because papering over the cracks is a speciality of Bradford Council.

Miss J Dawson, Necropolis Road, Lidget Green, Bradford 7.

SIR - You read everyday about people being made ill or worse by unjustified demands for money they have already paid. Today I experienced first-hand the effects of this.

Because of illness, I have made myself responsible for paying bills and Council Tax and rent etc for another person.

I paid the 2002/3 Council Tax, and arranged repayments of 2001's outstanding amount on June 6 at the payment office in Shipley (before the time due).

But today a County Court summons was delivered, issued on June 14, eight days after payment at a cost of £30 for the tenant.

I rang the Council Tax office and it was then scrapped. But does no-one check records?

Irene Ford, Eskdale Rise, Allerton.

SIR - Sandy Parkinson from Australia (T&A, June 21) made a point about dog mess on the streets of Bradford and informs us that our cousins "Down Under" are fined for walking their dogs without a yellow poo bag tied to their dogs' leashes.

I have owned my dachshund "Alan" for 12 years but I nearly lost him last year after he underwent surgery for a slipped disc. Did Mr Parkinson even consider the strain that carrying a bag full of his own famously large stools around his neck would put on my dog ?

Not only that, but Alan has very short legs and chances are the bag would rub on the ground before bursting and spreading its contents all over their little creator.

Joe McGrath, Warren Crescent, Barnsley

SIR - Contrary to common belief the majority of asylum seekers do not enter the country illegally. Most asylum seekers are people who have been initially issued with student visas, travel visas, work permits, and any other visa that our generous government liberally hands out.

When it is time for these people to bid goodbye to our shores, instead of thanking us for our hospitality, they assume new identities and possibly nationalities.

By playing the asylum system they can extend their stay by five years or most likely to last a lifetime. By just closing Sangatte the asylum problem will not be solved.

I Khan, Leylands Lane, Bradford

SIR - Whether, by the time you get this letter, "events dear boy", (as Harold MacMillan put it) will have overtaken us I know not. But judging by recent T&As (June 19 and 20) both the Italian football team and the Learning and Skills Council for West Yorkshire seem to be showing about equal public relations skills and nous in dealing with the media.

It is to be hoped that our hard-working, dedicated local teachers will not be in the position of being "lions led by donkeys" to coin a phrase which, I believe, was used in 1914 to describe the British Expeditionary Force!

S Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.