Letters to the Editor

You state, "In an ideal world, the streets of Bradford and other cities would be kept crime-free by an abundance of police officers..."

Quite wrong! In an "ideal world" there would be no need for an abundance of police officers nor other "street wardens"; no need for marines, SAS, armed forces either.

Our streets would be crime-free and litter free; our mail would hold no fears; our skies would be safe to travel.

The elderly and vulnerable would live without fear; there would be no need for traffic-calming measures to prevent carnage on our roads; there would be no drug dealing; no sex abuse; no firework nuisance; no car theft; no stabbing of prostitutes and no need for a soup kitchen for Bradford's homeless - all items from Friday's T&A.

In an ideal world all people would live and work together like the three lads from Manningham and Heaton (T&A, October 26), building up the common good, instead of destroying it.

The world was created perfect, and would be ideal if everyone took to heart our Lord's Commandments and worked to keep them each day and every day.

Dorothy P Ellis, Woodrow Drive, Low Moor.

SIR - I am writing to you at my wits' end with the attitude of parents who park their cars on the pavements and across driveways on their way to drop/collect their children at Shibden Head Primary School in Queensbury.

It is unbelievable to watch as they come up Hainsworthmoor Drive and pull up on to the pavements, bumper to bumper, opposite each other and across people's driveways, causing parents who walk their children to school to sometimes have to go out into the road to get past them. This has to be stopped.

I walk my children in all weathers past this school to their school in Queensbury village and I cannot understand why people have to bring their children to school in a car. I have asked many times for the school to send out a letter asking parents not to park on pavements, but still they do it.

I am going to set up a petition to try to get this situation solved. One day I feel that there is going to be an accident due to these inconsiderate parents.

Mrs H. Grosvenor, Hainsworthmoor Drive, Queensbury.

SIR - I recently had occasion to attend a meeting at City Hall in which the viability of linking Forster Square railway station with that of the Interchange was discussed.

During the course of the meeting it became clear the scheme was economically viable and posed no serious engineering difficulties.

The advantages of the scheme are numerous. Firstly, it would directly connect the Aire and Wharfedale lines with those of Calderdale and Kirklees. Passengers currently required to change stations would be spared this inconvenience, and in turn would encourage greater train use and less car dependence.

Secondly, it would enable a more integrated transport system, allowing alternative routes to be used in order to reduce congestion on current lines, and would apply to both passenger and freight journies.

Thirdly, it would confer an element of civic pride, as it is unusual for a city of Bradford's status not to have through lines.

Bradford Council had hitherto shown a lack of enthusiasm for the scheme and must be convinced of its viability. Those in favour of the scheme should communicate their thoughts to Councillor Margaret Eaton at City Hall.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - 'Fly posters' have been appearing in this area calling on people to demonstrate against the war in Afghanistan.

I don't in any way condone war, but we must fight terrorism in any form. Our democracy took years to develop and protecting it cost the lives of many in two world wars.

People who live among us and support the Taliban are jealous of our ways, but they want things all at once and if they don't get it they are like spoilt kids.

The Taliban and its supporters want to take us back to the Middle Ages. Their form of Islam means suffering and violence.

Colin McLean, Kensington Street, Girlington, Bradford.

SIR - Reading Jangir Akbar's letter (October 30) caused me grave concern. He said one day he hopes to condemn the actions of September 11. To me this means that currently he supports the terrorist attack of September 11, supports the death of thousands of innocent civilians and supports Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaida terrorist network, together with all the other terrorist organisations and countries who support them throughout the world.

He believes this is a war against Islam. How wrong he is! This is a war against fundamentalist and extreme people who use Islam as an excuse to try to stir up support for their terrorist plans and actions.

Many who are misguided enough to believe Osama bin Laden's call that this is a "holy war" and a war against Islam are obviously un-educated, such as the 7,000 tribal peasant people from areas such as northern Pakistan who want to support and fight with the Taliban.

If they, or more to the point, anyone within this country feel the Taliban are a good Islamic regime, then the Western world is not for them, and they are a threat to our national security.

I would have thought people in this country who have had the benefit of some education would be able to differentiate between religion and terrorism. Obviously for people like Jangir Akbar education has been wasted.

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con, Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - Re your recent report on bulk refuse. It was stated that the number of calls had increased. I can believe this, but I think a lot of these calls were repeat calls for the removal of the same rubbish.

I personally have used this service on three occasions. I had to make five calls before all the items had been collected when three should have been enough. So no wonder the numbers of calls has gone up, but it makes false statistics.

Mrs I Kerry, Griffe Drive, Wyke.

SIR - I felt I must put in a good word for the NHS after all the complaints. My husband has just spent five days in Ward 24, BRI. He has been treated quickly, efficiently and with kindness at all times. The wards were spotless. Thank you everyone.

M Smith, Mary Street, Saltaire.

The telephone number for the Oxfam Afghanistan Appeal Hotline is 0845 300 7070. The number supplied to us by Ofxam and published on the Letters page two weeks ago was incorrect.