Letters to the Editor

For the last 16 years we have lived in what was a very quiet and peaceful area of Heaton. We have had an abundance of wildlife which we strived to protect and conserve, for the benefit of all.

However, three years ago, the explosions began. We have one, two or three of these fired up every day, at differing times, in close proximity to our garden.

These are not fireworks. They are air bombs with no display whatsoever.

I have, on a number of occasions, had to search Heaton Woods for my dog, which has bolted when one of these things has been set off. We are losing our wild life. Animals/birds will not breed where they are subjected to such explosions. This is no longer a peaceful or relaxed area in which to live, for we are constantly on edge, waiting for the next bomb.

I do not wish to condemn people's enjoyment, but when we are all trying to live together in harmony, consideration for all must be a priority.

V Johnstone, Wilmer Drive, Heaton.

SIR - Jack McPherson is wasting his time pleading with any of Bradford's councillors, or planners, about anything they intend to demolish in our city (Letters, April 8).

You can try and plead with them, get petitions and finally go to one of their meetings. Invited of course to fight your corner. What a joke that is!

You are allowed one question, to which the answer has already been decided beforehand, and then very rudely cut off before you can open your mouth.

It is the biggest farce you will ever encounter, if you ever go down that road, because in the end they do exactly what they want to do.

The city of Bradford has been torn down to satisfy the egos of the City Hall gang who have not got a clue about the architecture of what was once a wonderful and proud city.

Mrs B J Rudd, Roger Court, Undercliffe.

SIR - I refer to a recent letter criticising the guided busway on Manchester Road both in terms of its conception and its apparent dangers to those on foot.

May I respectfully remind the writer that unlike the United States we do not have a jay-walking law in this country.

Too many citizens have no concern for their own safety in the way they cross the public highway and while the writer feels the busway is an idiotic idea, I must ask him to consider the idiots that clog up our hospitals due to totally unnecessary pedestrian "accidents" with vehicles.

John Murphy, Rock Terrace, Manningham, Bradford.

SIR - I recently experienced the "new-look" Interchange having caught a bus into the centre of town. What an improved facility!

Sadly, upon alighting from the bus one is greeted by a dense smog of cigarette fumes in the glass-covered waiting area. It really is quite oppressive and unpleasant. I certainly wouldn't like to spend any time there waiting for a bus.

In a way this is typical of many developments in Bradford - let down by the small detail.

Bradford needs to generate as many positive perceptions as it can but this isn't the way to impress visitors expecting a cultural experience.

John Dewhirst, Beechwood Avenue, Moorhead, Shipley.

SIR - I would like all the older people in Bradford to give support to our group in getting action from the police and Council to protect all of the elderly in Bradford.

I am fed up of the "No money, no action" attitude that the Council takes, and also the police authority. Money is wasted on schemes for youth in all areas. Take this money and use it to protect our elderly.

The Home Secretary announces schemes but with no money to carry them out. So come on all you retired people and join our group and we will be able to demand that Government and councillors to do the job they are paid to do.

We have a Territorial Army in Bradford, why do we not get them to patrol our elderly people? They surely would be willing to do this if given the go-ahead from the politicians.

J R Smith (chairman, Fagley section, Retired Persons Action Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley, Bradford.

SIR - Post offices will get cash to close. What is happening to our country? Not only do people get their pension and family allowance from the Post Office but a lot of people are in the budget plan for gas and electricity, all paid at post offices.

What about TV stamps, postal orders and bills people pay at post offices, and stamps to send letters?

Not everybody has cars to trek round to see which post office has been left open.

Leave our post offices alone.

Mrs P Woodruff, Rowelstone Rise, Greengates.

SIR - Simon Cooke complains about a council refusing to fly the union flag during the World Cup. Why should they?

I'm assuming that a member of the Conservative and Unionist party realises that the Union Flag is not England's national flag, that England does have its own flag? And that the United Kingdom is not in the World Cup?

It's the English flag that should be flown. In fact English supporters should boycott any establishment not flying our national flag during the tournament.

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

SIR - The real reason why the English do not celebrate St George's Day is because England does not have an English Parliament because we are governed by foreigners.

Tony Blair is proud of his Irish roots, Iain Duncan Smith is a Scot and Kennedy is a Highlander. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments but the English are denied theirs, because the others know they would lose out if it had.

It is time we had an English Parliament and I for one will never vote again unless it's for an Englishman.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Bradford 2.

SIR - Jayne Lister (Letters, April 5) wonders why some of the chevron markings outside James Street School, Thornton, have just been repainted when the school is now closed. The answer is quite simple.

Under the New Roads and Street Works Act of 1991, when a public utility, (such as gas, water, electricity, BT and cable), digs up a road or footpath they must restore it to the state they found it in. Just over two years ago, Yorkshire Water dug up James Street by the school. When they'd finished they re-instated the road surface, and repainted the yellow chevrons.

The re-instatement is Yorkshire Water's responsibility for two years. As the yellow paint had worn away, their contractors recently returned to repaint some chevrons. They didn't notice that the school was closed. The costs of this work fall on Yorkshire Water, not the Council.

Councillor Clive Richardson (Conservative, Thornton Ward), Bront Old Road, Thornton.

SIR - Re the Broomfield site at Queensbury. It is a relief that the cemetery will not be disturbed, and the cemetery gates will remain intact.

The builders think that they can spoil our village by building houses "willy nilly" on every bit of greenery in Queensbury. We must not let these get-rich entrepreneurs ruin our village.

Well done to the Queensbury people who signed the petition, and our councillors who represented us. Without them we would have lost our case.

Also well done to the T&A for keeping us informed about what was going on. Keep up the good work.

Violet Ingham, Low Fold, Queensbury.

SIR - With reference to the letter from Mrs B Smith regarding Council Tax (April 4). Wake up woman! The Council Tax goes up every year because the Government is incompetent, as are the police. Don't use Asian youths as a scapegoat and excuse.

Giving heavier sentences won't work. It will provoke more well-organised riots.

P Ahmed, Wheatlands Drive, Heaton.