Letters to the Editor

It has been recorded as the worst riot on mainland England and as I drove down the road at 6am the following day on my way to work it was apparent why. I had to deftly pick my way through the debris and still-burning cars strewn all over the road.

I was actually sad to see the expressions on the faces of the police who clearly had not slept all night and were totally drained of all energy. Firemen were just looking on as the Upper Globe burned, again with no energy to train their hoses on the fire.

The march is a good idea and should be seen as a "New Beginning for Bradford" but only so long as lessons are learnt by all. Plan the march well and let us put an end to this regrettable event forever.

Martin John Petty, Haworth Road, Bradford 9.

SIR - I read Syd Matthews' comments after the ATL conference and your own editorial about faith schools. Mr Matthews makes a distinction between church schools and faith schools with the latter meaning "Islamic" schools, which in his view should be discouraged. I think this is a mistaken distinction if it is Voluntary Aided Schools that he is referring to.

All voluntary schools are part of the State education system and are subject to the National Curriculum and to Ofsted inspections. It would be indefensible to permit Christians and Jews to provide Voluntary schools but not the Muslim community.

It is not often appreciated that there is only one Muslim Voluntary school in Bradford and Immanuel Church of England Community College is very glad to be in a link partnership with Feversham Muslim Girls School.

It is sometimes thought (and your editorial implies this) that Church schools are less mixed than other maintained schools. In fact this is not so and the official Education Bradford statistics show that Church of England voluntary-aided primary schools are more mixed than maintained 'secular' primary schools.

It is awkward when the actual facts do not match the rhetoric.

The Ven Guy Wilkinson, chairman of governors, Immanuel Community College, Leeds Road, Idle.

SIR - With reference to Keith Robinson's letter regarding blocked gullies, this seems to be a problem in all the outlying areas of Bradford.

Last year I noticed that all the roadside drains were blocked in Sheriff Lane and, consequently, when it rained the whole road was like a stream.

I telephoned Bradford Council to complain about this several times and was told each time that something would be done but, of course, nothing was!

It was only when I took the matter to the complaints department that something was eventually done (after several months).

We walk regularly around the Bingley area and most of the drains are blocked. Why is this? We pay a very high Council Tax but seem to be ignored in favour of inner cities. Surely it is not too much to ask that the drains be cleaned on a regular basis - which is what used to happen.

A Woodford, Sheriff Lane, Eldwick.

l A Bradford Council Highways Maintenance spokesman said: "All Council-maintained gullies on adopted highways should be cleaned annually in line with the National Code of Practice for Highways Maintenance. Some areas may suffer from blockages more often than others, due to the amount of traffic, wash down or seasonal problems such as fallen leaves. These need to be cleaned more frequently. However, Council resources can not always meet this demand. The Council is currently reassessing this service to ensure that improvements are introduced."

SIR - Re Councillor John Carroll's response to the article on March 4 about burned-out cars in Frizinghall.

Coun Carroll seems to have taken offence at my role in prodding the Council to remove wrecks in Frizinghall.

The facts are these. I initially reported the matter to the Council on March 4 and not March 5, as indicated.

That was not the first call the Council had had. A local resident who was trying to sell his house had contacted the Council about these cars several times over a number of weeks and every time had been told it was a police matter.

Therefore I contacted the Council again on March 5 to ensure that some action was being taken.

Coun Carroll's version of events must have taken place in some parallel universe.

Vanda Greenwood, (Shipley Labour Party, secretary), Oakleigh View, West Lane, Baildon.

SIR - In regard to Bradford's bid to become Capital of Culture, to have this you also have to be a capital of democracy. In this respect, Bradford is sadly lacking.

Where I live (Bolton Hall Road, Wrose) they are building 200-plus houses on the Quarry area. To access this new estate, they are going to use Bolton Hall Road into Wrose Road, which is already overloaded due to Morrisons and traffic to and from Shipley.

In January, notices were affixed to lampposts in the area for people wishing to object to this access.

More than 150 wrote letters of objection. The net result: nil. Probably all the letters went in the waste bin.

Surely there must have been some salient points in those letters, or is it that people in Bolton Hall Road do not have a say?

I am taking this matter up with the Ombudsman. Forms can be obtained at City Hall.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose, Bradford.

SIR - An outdoor market in Bradford? Not before time. Leeds, Wakefield, Dewsbury and other Yorkshire cities have been holding markets for years very successfully.

But why only one day a week when most have three market days plus one day for second-hand goods? Let Bradford show it is as good as any other city.

Neil Ramsden, Felcourt Drive, Holme Wood, Bradford.

SIR - Regarding the letter from Shirley Jones of Selby (April 2), who has deserted Bradford, although she tells us she visits regularly to use our library.

She says the town is grey and people look dejected. What nonsense! The city is vibrant and most folk have a smile on their faces.

The good people of Bradford will surely be offended by the comments of outsiders like Shirley Jones.

Incidentally, if anyone wants to see a grey town and dejected people, just take a trip to Selby! It's a cross-roads in the middle of nowhere.

Mike Naylor, Springmill Street, Bradford 5.