SIR - Re the question of travellers leaving a mess when they quit a site. The only way to make them clean up after themselves prior to leaving a site is to confiscate any pulling vehicle until the site is cleaned and if it is not cleaned - jail 'em.

They ought to pay rent but don't. Why should I have to pay council tax and other taxes when the travellers pay nothing towards the cost of keeping Britain on the road to solvency - no income tax, no water rates (instead they send kids with big shiny milk churns to houses for them to fill up for them) and, to rub it in, they know Bradford Council will just let them go to get rid of them.

It isn't good enough, councillors. It's about time you got some starch in your collective backbone and behaved in a responsible way towards the paying citizens of Bradford.

P Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke.

SIR - Your columnist Mike Priestley makes a valid point (North of Watford, July 21) when he argues that a sound knowledge of English is needed, if members of the Asian community are to realise their full potential in our wider society.

Unfortunately a significant proportion have very limited or non-existent knowledge of English.

The Asian communities are in large part living in effective isolation from mainstream society, which would account for the above. This situation is reinforced as partners are brought from the sub continent. As A Hussain had stated (July 21), the majority of Asians in Britain do seek marriage partners on the sub continent.

It seems reasonable to suggest that while the above will not entirely end, more marriages should occur between those already resident in Britain. In time the knowledge of the English language would increase in the community, permitting more effective participation, reducing isolation and hence mutual suspicion.

Perhaps those who would vehemently disagree with this letter should examine their own motives before expressing righteous indignation.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - The last couple of weeks have given us a taste of prejudice and it doesn't feel good.

It may feel easier to carry on holding simple stereotyped views about other people in the community. You can blame them for what goes wrong, and lump them all together as "they".

For many years too many of us have done this, while living separately and hoping to avoid the "problem".

Generations of children have grown up knowing little about "the other community", and relying only on rumour and clich to form their opinions.

But, as the events of the riot weekend show, there is a huge cost if we do this. We must all accept some responsibility for allowing large numbers of young people, black and white, to grow up without feeling a sense of pride and belonging about where they live.

From a very young age, children need to learn about different communities and the opportunities that such diversity brings. They also need to understand the damage caused by prejudice to the potential in all of us.

We now need to begin to work together to repair the damage. Our children will thank us for it, and Bradford will have a future.

Sarah Hodgson, Ashburnham Grove, Bradford 9.

SIR - The Bradford Council home mailing, re the recent riots, was very commendable and we should take heed. However it does speak in a generalised way about the issues and gives the impression that Bradford is a seething bed of discontent, with the populace at war, certainly on racialist grounds. I don't think this is so.

The vast majority of those of us over 25, of all races and creeds are not looking for friction, nor do I think the majority feel victimised.

The trouble is mainly to do with hot-blooded teenagers, who crave excitement and are all too willing from their gang security to invite and fabricate friction.

It was always so and I guess it happens in all-Asian societies in Asia and it has been happening here since I was a boy, when there were no Asians (although at that time we did have many East European immigrants, who have now successfully integrated).

Law and order must prevail, regardless of race or area. It is the fear of good law enforcement which keeps all societies balanced, honourable and responsible.

The police must be seen and they must be active - not turning a blind eye or hoping the problem will go away. Elders of all races and religions would subscribe to such containment of their younger family members providing police enforcement was even-handed.

Raymond Wilkinson, Haworth Road, Bradford 9.

SIR - I think that Evie Manning (T&A, July 11) should take into consideration how divided Bradford is on race matters at present times after the recent riots. It's a bit thoughtless arranging a "Women's Peace March" in times of this division. Let's divide the sexes too? Great thinking!

The "Women's Peace march" of 1995 evidently did not work (though Evie being only 11 at the time, I doubt will have much of a recollection about that).

Why did Evie not arrange a peace march for all in Bradford? If I arranged a men-only peace march, it would be known as sexual discrimination, so why is a woman's peace march OK?

Equality and peace is something that should be for everybody, not just the parts of society that were once discriminated against. How can we move forward if we are forever holding on to the past?

Come on, show you care about equality and peace, Evie. Scrap the women's peace march and arrange a march for everyone.

R Copley, Fairhaven Green, Idle

SIR - Re complaints about junk mail. I am a postman and I don't like delivering this rubbish any more than many people like receiving it.

To stop it, just write to: The Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ, with a request to that effect. All it will cost is a piece of paper, envelope and five minutes of time.

S Clarkson, Bolton Court, Bradford 2.

SIR - My friend and I would like to say a big thank you to the kind person who found a pension book plus £20 and handed it in to First Bradford Lost Property.

It's nice to know this world is not as bad as some times we are led to believe.

Mrs R Sutcliffe, Rooley Close, Bradford 5.

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