SIR - Good luck to Bradford in its bid to become European Capital of Culture 2008!

My closest friend lives in Brighton and I visit the town frequently. Brighton is a place we are competing with for the 2008 title. It is vibrant, lively, interesting and full of many different cultures and peoples. Is not Bradford a city of the same mould?

True, Brighton has the sea, a fantastic beach and its famous pier but Bradford has its own gems.

When visiting Bradford, my friend is in awe of the buildings, the countryside and the great mix of people and influences.

We should be proud of this. Lister's Mill amazes him. This magnificent monument dominates the skyline and easily compares to the Pyramids and the Coliseum. Believe me, I have seen them! Let's do something to preserve it soon, please!

Bradford needs to brush off its negative press instead of believing it all. We should all take pride in our heritage and aim to become great again. This is why 2008 is great for Bradford.

Bradford DOES stand a chance. We CAN beat somewhere like Brighton.

Andrew C Whitton, Leafield Avenue, Eccleshill.

SIR - If the Capital of Culture bid is a "people's bid", why was there no room on the 19-strong executive board for even one elected representative of the people?

Jim Flood, Redburn Drive, Shipley.

SIR - I am puzzled to read City fans nit-picking at the Bulls' temporary use of Valley Parade, even suggesting City built the ground without external aid.

What saved City in the Eighties wasn't the purchase of 20,000 shares each by Stafford Heginbotham and Jack Tordoff. Nor was it the huge contributions from the West Riding County Council, the sports council and government.

City's saviours, without whom Valley Parade would have been sold, were the tens of thousands who leapt to solicitor Roger Suddards' appeal to reimburse the relatives of the deceased and the injured.

Most people never realised that, initially at least, the money raised only defrayed compensation that would have been paid by the Commercial Union, City's insurers. The point was City's public liability policy was only for £1 million. Without Suddards' money City would immediately have gone bankrupt.

So City supporters, remember who took you in when you were homeless, where you moaned by the thousands at Odsal's primitive facilities. Never forget the Bulls never wanted to come to Valley Parade, they were badly betrayed, for nine years, by our thoroughly obnoxious council.

Les Brotherton, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - Re your headline on March 29. When are we going to hear Bulls chairman Chris Caisley say he is going to put his hand in his pocket and spend some of his money on the revamp of Odsal Stadium?

All we Bradford council tax payers hear is "the Council has a legal obligation to carry out improvements".

Mr Caisley should try following Bradford City chairman Geoffrey Richmond's example and fund it himself, as it is a business venture not a charity. Or does he think we council tax payers have nothing better to do with our money?

The Bulls have done a magnificent job of helping restore the good image of Bradford by being the world club champions, but if Mr Caisley wants (as most sport-loving people of Bradford do) a new stadium, then it is up to him and his board to find the necessary financial backing to get the job done.

D L Hillam, Hawes Terrace, Little Horton, Bradford.

SIR - After six years or so of trying to find a "miracle" cure for a painful shoulder problem, or any other cure for that matter, using private consultations & private physio, osteopathy, acupuncture, faith healing and even toe fondling (reflexology) costing around £1,000, I was finally referred by my GP to St Luke's physiotherapy dept.

I expected that if all the private concerns could not resolve the ailment, then the NHS would be struggling. I could not have been more wrong!

Appointment times were honoured and the physiotherapist was both pleasant and extremely professional. After only one visit, she had diagnosed the problem and given me a series of exercises to alleviate the pain.

After a further two visits, I can see a marked improvement. The whole department deserves a pat on the back. Private is not always better!

James Brumfitt, Lingfield Crescent, Clayton Heights, Bradford.

SIR - I would like to thank all the staff at the BRI for the great care and attention given to my mother during her stay. Special thanks to the paramedics who attended her on the way to hospital, all doctors and nurses in Casualty, also nurses and doctors on Ward 23.

They all earn every penny they get.

Mrs A Bairstow, Northcliffe Lane, Thornton.

SIR - It doesn't surprise me about it having taken more than seven police officers to carry out a seatbelt check (Mr Southern, Letters, April 1).

We live in a society where violent crime is at an all-time high, yet Dickensian legislation, administered by old fogies who sit on red leather seats (The House of Lords) still insist our police force operate to the tune of Softly, Softly or Dixon of Dock Green.

Much of our street crime originates from the ghettos of the US. We should therefore have a similar police initiative as theirs to combat it.

The suggestion of putting PC Plod back on the beat on the streets of Britain today would be akin to throwing guinea fowl to a pack of wolves!

Jim Varey, Gavin Close, Bradford 3.

SIR - Like some other T&A letter writers, I too keep getting literature from the BNP, of which I am not a member and never have been. In fact, I belong to no political party.

But in my opinion this government is the worst we have experienced.

They are ruling under false colours, because they have abandoned all Labour policies.

Privatisation was a dirty word to all real Labour politicians. They have cut ties with trade unions, and treat the poor and pensioners like pariahs. It seems to me they would like us all to die off at 65 then they could forget us.

Also thousands of the men they are allowing here as asylum seekers are young enough to have stopped at home and fought for their country.

Tony Blair has a lot to answer for. He is more interested in foreign policies than Britain and its people. I feel betrayed.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.

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