SIR - That was a cracking letter from Mrs Milwain (T&A, January 12) about the importance of reducing the waste we produce, and her list of ways of setting about it was excellent. I do hope her attitude and effort is contagious.

I would also recommend buying milk in returnable glass bottles, if you can afford to, and certainly composting all the green waste (and teabags) from the kitchen if you have a garden.

If all those with gardens in Bradford kept their vegetable peelings, banana skins, dead flowers etc and general garden waste out of the wheeled bin and in a compost heap we could reduce the amount of waste collected by almost one quarter, that is about 50,000 tonnes a year.

If you add torn up cardboard and old egg boxes to the heap it will be even more.

After a year the result can be dug into the garden or used as a mulch, and as it decays without being deep down in a landfill site it helps slow down the rate of climate change as the most serious greenhouse gas, methane, is not produced.

Councillor Keith ("Teabag") Thomson (chairman, Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee), Heights Lane, Bradford 9.

SIR - With the brinkmanship being played out by two nuclear rivals over Kashmir, the Kashmiris are understandably worried about the possibility of war in the native homeland of many Bradfordians.

We British Kashmiris do not want to see an escalation over the cease-fire line which divides Kashmir. This line is the Berlin wall of south Asia, which forcible divides Kashmiris.

However Britain and its allies need to take a pro-active position to resolve the long-festering issue through peaceful means with involvement of India/Pakistan and importantly the Kashmiris who are caught up in the crossfire.

Kashmir historically has been an independent nation state. India and Pakistan have made Kashmir into a battle of egos, where neither India nor Pakistan can be seen as winner or loser.

Kashmir's UN resolutions, which remain unimplemented, firstly call for both India and Pakistan to withdraw their armed forces from the territory, followed by granting the population unfettered self-determination including independence. Once this happens the subcontinent will be able to move forward. Freedom and independence is the destination of Kashmiris.

Sagir Ahmed (Bradford branch secretary for Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front UK/Europe), Aberdeen Place, Bradford 7.

SIR - If only the death rate was equal to the birth rate as stated by Saeeda Naz (Letters January 7). You only have to visit Eureka in Halifax to see a "clock" showing the rate of population increase. Projections suggest that world population could increase from the present six billion to 14 billion by 2065.

If future generations are to have a reasonable standard of living, birth rates must drop now, particularly in developing countries.

I do accept the remainder of Saeeda Naz's letter. America needs to carefully consider future foreign policy. Interest payments associated with loans cause poverty and environmental degradation in developing countries - consider the current chaos in Argentina.

However, developing countries need a strong world economy as much as developed countries. Tall towers (Kenneth Higgins, Letters January 7) are therefore not a problem provided the world embraces sustainable development.

The world's problems are everyone's problems and can be solved. A big step forward would be the expansion of fair trade. Ask your local retailer to stock Fair Trade coffee, tea, bananas, chocolate and honey. You'll pay a bit more for them but at least you'll be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Bob Jowett, Idle Road, Bradford 2

SIR - I was appalled that Brayshaw development at Clayton Heights was given the go-ahead, although as work had already begun this was hardly a surprise.

As a member of planning personnel informed me over the phone, the Council has to decide what land can be used for building as it is far more valuable, so money really does talk, no other criteria appear to be considered. So now locals must suffer more years of noise, dirt, danger, having already put up with Westwood estate, thanks to our caring(!) Council.

Mrs J Smith, Highgate Grove, Bradford 13.

SIR - I'm writing in reply to a letter

from J M Kinsey (December 26).

I'm a 21-year-old store manager and work in the city centre, so I see people of my generation everyday.

It totally agree that most of them lack in manners and respect, not just for their elders but for people in general.

But please don't tie us all with the same bow. I think people of all ages lack manners.

I hold doors open and give up my seat on the bus, but it's not very often people say thank you!

Respect earns respect. I personally believe that parents are to blame, and are the parents of my generation not the children of yours?

Punishing youths is not the answer but training people to be good parents is.

If you teach family values, respect, manners and most of all discipline, then the city would be a nicer place to live!

M Pritchard, Scarlet Heights, Queensbury.

SIR - With reference to the article about stray houses (T&A, January 10).

As a once resident in West Bowling, I would like to pick up a point by Councillor Ruding who said Bowling Park is in East Bowling.

I know they (the "Easties") have always thought of themselves as a bit above West Bowling, and now the more so with the likes of Ken Morrison and Gareth the Pop Idol favouring the locality.

I think the councillor will find if he is familiar with the boundary lines for the two Bowlings that the middle of Bolling Hall Road is the official boundary line twix East and West!

Kenneth E Higgins, Carr Bottom Grove, Little Horton, Bradford 5.

SIR - Re Mr R G Jennings's letter (January 11) regarding Lister's Mill.

It seems incredible that so much time has now elapsed since plans were discussed (T&A, May 17, 1995, with large headlines "SOLD"), and you printed one of my letters, May 27, in which I responded with the news that would have meant so much to Bradfordians.

It is to be hoped that despite promising ideas and ventures taking place over the years, that this old, now sad, neglected and once famous building will not be left much longer to crumble away, without the due care and attention it so richly deserves.

Time is passing. Please save this historic piece of Bradford.

Mrs Doreen Wilson, Flower Haven, Haworth Road, Bradford 9.