Letters to the Editor

She doubts the findings about youth alienation and disadvantage because only 300 youngsters were interviewed. Yet it is probably the largest scientific survey of youth ever done here.

She complains that negative reports are bad for the city's image. But has she read the copy that must be on her desk?

The press release and articles elsewhere make very clear that the study's emphasis was on how the young can be helped to fulfil their potential, and that a Belle Vue Girls' School project was exceptionally successful.

The Council must truly admit its past failures, and actively engage the community in defining new forms of participatory citizenship where ordinary people's views really count. Only then can we hope to achieve the community cohesion that is so sorely needed.

Ian Vine, Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies, University of Bradford.

SIR - I assume the presupposition is that Bradford's blatantly political bid for "Capital of Culture" will unlock the door to significant European funding. This will, no doubt, be partly successful.

In this aspiration to intellectual enrichment, the proposed demolition of the former New Victoria art deco twin domes and the imposing Provincial House, to be replaced by 21st century "gin palaces", have a contemporary similarity to the destruction of Swan Arcade and Kirkgate Market.

The cerebral ethos is further debased by the use of "culture" as a descriptive analysis of modern-day Bradford: where the Brontes, almost deified in Japan, are hardly acknowledged in the place they were born, where Life Force attracted no-one, where the Priestley Centre for the Arts teeters on the edge of bankruptcy...

A city where an effective curfew operates for all pensioners, where racial divisions and hostility run deep, where filth and litter compete with greengrocers' detritus for domination of the streets, where no-go areas exist and car drivers are fair targets, where churches are attacked, where boarded windows, foul-mouth tirades and expectorating youths accost visitors, where true Bradfordians do not admit they live and students no longer come as once they did...

This is Bradford, European Capital of Culture entrant.

Alan K Biggin, Bostock Boyce Welch (chartered accountants), The Business and Innovation Centre, Bradford.

SIR - Re the Council publication "Community Pride", subtitled "Making Diversity Work in Bradford". On reading it I groaned.

I note that the Council has taken on ten youth participation workers and a co-ordinator. At what cost? The report states that a crucial factor will be the ability of the Youth Parliament "to influence decisions made, for example, by Bradford and Bradford Vision".

Call me Mr Cynical, but I shudder to think what recommendations will be made by the "Yoof". I'm pretty certain that they will all cost money, and will be targeted mainly at inner-Bradford.

I further note the setting-up of yet another costly system - Bradford Homehunter - with an ethnic Project Manager plus two bilingual outreach staff and two support workers - and of course, information in community languages.

I don't believe Sir Herman Ouseley's report was intended to be hi-jacked and used as a huge job creation scheme, and I venture to suggest that the long-suffering council tax payers in outlying districts who suffer from poor public transport, crumbling village schools, lack of any police presence, and absence of adequate library facilities etc, will feel that that they are to be short-changed - yet again.

Robert Hughes, Manor Gardens, Cullingworth.

SIR - Every week or so, a timely reminder appears in your always interesting letters section of how much we all owe to the staff at our local hospitals.

May I, on this occasion, put on record the appreciation my mum and I feel for the kindness and care provided by ward 23 at the BRI recently.

In this cold, grey time, such valuable members of our community provide the sunshine that represents the very best in human nature.

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Joe and Anita McCallion and the other volunteers for their dedication, and the hard work they have put in to our Community Centre.

Without them, the many activities and events that now successfully run at the centre would not have been possible. The kick-boxing sessions, youth club, parents and toddlers, Christmas parties and other social events all owe their success to these people.

However, for these events to continue and new activities to develop, more people are needed to come forward and offer their help. Lower Grange Centre desperately needs more enthusiastic people to offer whatever support they can. This is essential if the success of the centre is to continue.

Would anyone interested in joining our volunteers please contact the Steering Group on (01724) 545186. Once again, thanks to all concerned.

Maggi Chapman, Lower Grange Youth & Community Centre Steering Group, Chaffinch Road, Lower Grange, Bradford 8.

SIR - I would just like to say that bullying in this city is going unnoticed all the time. My niece is 14 and is at the moment being bullied at school.

When her mum goes to the school to sort it out, they haven't got a clue about it and no idea how to solve the problem.

We had to involve the police a few weeks ago and a girl was cautioned as a result, but the school simply has no idea how to deal with the problem at all.

I think it's time something was done in all Bradford schools.

Joanne Noble, Kingfisher Grove, Bradford.

SIR - Re the possible closure of the Lostboys store in the former Dillons bookshop. It really is time the Council considered a means of stopping the rot in the city centre.

I have lived in Bradford all my life and have seen it change from a thriving centre to one of dilapidation, closed shops, derelict buildings, a city in name only because we have a cathedral.

There is a dead-end railhead due to lack of foresight and still nowhere to park within reasonable walking distance of the main stores.

The Forster Park complex has good parking but a lack of choice in that similar stores occupy the site.

Benjamin Jowett, Thornton Road, Thornton.