Letters to the Editor

SIR - I read in amazement and anger in your January 7 edition about the "axing" of three Labour councillors by the regional Labour Party. Why? Because of their age.

Three councillors who have given the best years of their lives to Labour. They do not deserve this sort of treatment.

Councillor Mangham, I have known for a lot of years. Outspoken, yes, but truthful.

This situation is disgusting and I hope the people of Wyke, Undercliffe, and Clayton will voice their concerns and also that the three MPs (they have one councillor each in their constituencies) will speak up.

Ageism is a terrible disease. We fought the Tories to be rid of it. Now it seems it is returning via Labour.

Terry Britton (secretary T&GWU 601 branch), also Eric Firth (chairman T&GWU 601 branch, Textiles), Leamside Walk, Holme Wood, Bradford.

Shops: the facts

SIR - May I respond to some of the comments by Amjaz Pervez in your report on corner shops (January 9)? First, I didn't issue a report. I just gave a lecture, and was interviewed about it by some journalists.

Second, I never said that all young British Asians are highly educated professionals, in IT or elsewhere, although some are.

Third, I agree with Mr Pervez that there has been a big move into fast foods, and share his belief that this may lead to over-capacity. As in food retailing, part of the cause will be competition from major chains. In areas like Bradford, another cause will be hyper-competition among Asian outlets which will restrict prices and profitability. Such businesses might, however, prosper in richer parts of the country.

Nearly 30 years ago the growth of Asian businesses in Bradford, my native city, prompted me to begin studying ethnic minority enterprise in the UK and elsewhere. It is well-established that relatively few children of immigrants follow their parents into self-employment in the same small business.

It isn't that the children reject hard work, but they usually hope for better rewards for their efforts than their parents could obtain.

David McEvoy, Liverpool John Moores University, and Knowles Lane, Gomersal.

Lesson in tidiness

SIR - Having just returned from a wonderful New Year break in Marrakesh, Morocco, I couldn't help but be struck at the contrast when I returned to dear, dirty Bradford.

The people of Marrakesh are poor. There's no industry and unemployment is rife. The whole economy seems to be based on tourism, and indeed many of the problems of the city are very familiar to anyone from our neck of the woods.

The difference is that everyone seems devoted to keeping the city clean and tidy. They are for ever sweeping and sluicing the tiled shop floors and pavements. There are adequate litterbins (and they are quite attractive, shaped a bit like Etruscan vases) and everyone uses them.

There seems to be a collective responsibility for ensuring that if the city has to depend upon tourism for its survival, then it has to be made attractive to visitors.

I think there's a lesson for us here at the time of our application to be European City of Culture. Let's adopt a similar collective responsibility. Don't step over litter and say "I didn't drop it, so it's not my problem". Pick it up, and dispose of it.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford 8.

Not just for Bulls

SIR - I read with anger Mr Caisley's recent comments about who can and can't use the facilities at the proposed new Odsal Stadium, eg no speedway or Bradford Park Avenue ground sharing.

I don't recall Mr Caisley ever being made a member of Bradford Council and I am angry that he is dictating who can and can't use the facilities at what is and will continue to be a Council-owned stadium.

By only having rugby in the stadium he is denying the Council revenue from other sports wishing to lease the facilities, as well as local businesses' much-needed income.

If a new stadium is to be built with the help of council taxpayers money, then I believe it should be for the benefit of as many different sports as possible.

If Mr Caisley wants a stadium for the exclusive use of the Bradford Bulls, then he should pay for the redevelopment himself, and not expect a stadium at the expense of the Bradford ratepayers.

I think Mr Caisley should make it public exactly how much the Bulls are paying towards the redevelopment as well as the total cost to Bradford tax payers.

C A Asquith, Maidwell Way, Woodside, Bradford 6.

Product of tradition

SIR - It is curious that in reply to my original letter, Mr Mills asserts that all religions have caused harm, while the teachings of Jesus Christ would restore peace and harmony (T&A, January 3).

He is thus making a questionable distinction between organised religion, which includes Christianity, and Jesus's teachings.

However, an organisational structure emerges from any teachings which gains popular support. Those closest to the source of the teachings usually acquire the strongest influence, as they endeavour to ensure that the original intentions of those teachings are maintained.

However, over time the organisations which had emerged from the teachings evolve and become more distant from them.

Invariably doctrinal and ideological differences emerge, causing schisms and breakaway groups, as had occurred at the Reformation.

From this is it can be seen that religions are not the guardians of perennial truths but are rather the products of tradition, and reflect the values of society, in which they are a part.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.

Dealing with yobs

SIR - L Cartwright (Letters, January 8) may like to know that there is a way of dealing with yobbish neighbours. It is not too difficult, and it works.

Do not let them provoke you, but make a list of unacceptable activities with dates and times. A solicitor or Law Centre will help to apply to the County Court for an injunction. This is a court order which prohibits specified activities.

Once the injunction is granted, further misbehaviour will not be just "domestic". It will be breach of a court order. This is a criminal offence, and is imprisonable. It would be dealt with in the criminal courts.

There will be costs, but the other suffering neighbours could share these.

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford 2.

A part to play

SIR - After reading Andrew Bolt's letter (January 8) I say "Hear Hear!" He has hit the nail on the head!

The Odeon is a lovely building, and should not be replaced by bars and clubs. We have enough of them in Bradford, and all they do is make and leave a mess all around.

Make the Odeon (like Andrew says) into something useful in the heart of the city.

Mrs F Pickles, Wadehouse Road, Shelf.

Name-calling no substitute for rational debate

SIR - Many of your correspondents, including N Brown and D Burnett (Letters, January 8), are fond of using the phrases "do-gooders" and "bleeding heart" as pejorative terms of abuse.

Might I remind these people that the direct antonym of a "do-gooder" is an "evil-doer", and that the only hearts which tend not to bleed are those which are made of stone.

I think that they should also consider that infantile name-calling is no substitute for rational debate, and merely serves to underline the fundamental weaknesses of their arguments.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

More advantages keeping our own currency

SIR - So because John Murray (Letters, January 8) has just got back from a coach tour to Austria, he feels his experience proves that we'll all benefit from the euro.

Such small items as holidays and the inconvenience of having to have more than one currency do not outweigh the advantages of keeping our own currency.

It's not just keeping our currency but control over its value via interest rates etc to look after our own economy. The Governor of the Bank of England's handling of interest rates has had much to do with our economy thriving ahead of the 12 who have adopted the euro and whose economies are now controlled by Frankfurt.

Mr Murray says more than half our trade goes to Europe. Wrong! Over half of our exports perhaps, which only account for a bare 50 per cent of our total trade. The remainder is home trade, which is helped by a strong pound keeping import costs down for raw materials.

If we had pegged the pound to the euro when the other 12 did we should have had to devalue the pound. How much would this have permanently cost Mr Murray on his travels?

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.