SIR - Your July 16 headline promotes a typically unbalanced view of foot and mouth. Government has long been telling local authorities that footpaths over three kilometres from infected farms should be re-opened.

It's just that they're getting a little impatient with the likes of Bradford.

If footpath re-opening be left to local councils, we could wait until Easter for a decent stroll in this area.

Even before foot and mouth reached the Aire Valley, the Council had shown scant regard for Government advice.

Of almost 1,900 cases, none has been attributable to walkers, and it beggars belief that after five months we are still seen as villains simply because we are soft targets.

You state that if sheep on Baildon Moor were considered at risk, there can be no guarantee that footpaths might not be contaminated.

Would these be the same sheep you recently reported wandering into gardens? Presumably there's no contamination risk here then, nor via the tyres of cars crossing the moor?

Just up the valley on Farnhill Moor, the authorities installed disinfected access points.

Did your "better placed" authority deem this unnecessary, or do they only take contamination seriously when it's convenient?

Paul Hannon, Broadlands, Keighley.

SIR - Regarding Malcolm Booth's letter of July 16 about housing transfer. I would like to reassure him that the Council is proposing transfer for one simple reason: we firmly believe it is in the best interests of tenants.

Transfer is a way of raising the extra money needed to improve homes and services, while keeping rents affordable and ensuring that tenants retain their rights. In short, transfer is the best way to safeguard tenants' long-term future.

It is not privatisation. The proposed new housing trust - made up of local housing organisations - would be set up by the Council and would not be run for profit.

All surplus money would be pumped back into improving services and homes. There would be no shareholders and no dividends would be paid out.

Tenants as board members would play a key part in decisions made by the management board of the trust and the local housing organisations, and they would all be accountable to the Government regulator, the Housing Corporation.

The reality is lack of funds means the Council would be able to offer fewer real improvements and less opportunity for tenants to get involved.

All tenants will be fully consulted about the details of the Council's transfer proposal, before voting next year.

Meanwhile tenants can call the Council's freephone information line on 0800 0730182 or the PEP - the tenants independent adviser on 0800 243082.

Councillor Kris Hopkins, City Hall, Bradford.

SIR - I read with interest that Asian "community leaders" are demanding a report into the latest Asian riots. Do we really want another report after so much time and effort has already been spent looking into that very thing?

Who are these mysterious "community leaders" who materialise every now and then, usually after some horrific piece of lawlessness? How are they elected to these positions of power and influence?

Why do the police, the Council and Government Ministers run around after them like frightened rabbits, and why is their advice sought by all and sundry?

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram.

SIR - Vanessa Doe (Letters, July 13) wrote "...a white girl cannot leave her house after dark for fear of harassment from young Asian men."

Women cannot afford to be complacent about their safety but "fear of" indicates apprehension rather than reality.

With limited finances and no car, I often have to travel on foot after dark. While I feel comfortable walking through predominantly Asian streets alone, the reverse is true of "white" inner-city areas such as the West End development at closing time.

The next day's Letters page was even more accusatory. Peter Blythe congratulated the "white" community, commenting smugly that they "didn't riot because four Asians assaulted a lone white woman on Saturday morning."

The hypocrisy of Caucasian men who use gender politics to make inflammatory and overtly racist statements like this offends me. If Mr Blythe scrutinised his local paper more avidly, he'd notice that plenty of "white" men assault women.

I find that the majority of Asian men are usually very polite and well-mannered. The unpleasant Caucasian drunkards who habitually lech, pick fights and vomit in the streets surrounding the Alhambra are not.

Ms L J Eastwood, Southfield Lane, Bradford.

SIR - Being a reader of your newspaper for many years before I moved to Canada and still reading it on the internet, I really want to say how much I enjoy being able to keep up with the Bradford news.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, through your internet pages to make contact with a very close friend of mine by the name of Betty Scaife who lived in Bolton Woods in the late 1940s. If any of your readers can help me, please contact me on my email (isl.teacup@bigfoot .com) or at the address below.

Thank you and I look forward to keeping in close contact with Bradford through the T&A website.

Harold Thickett, No 1 3248 Rutledge Street, Victoria BC, Canada V8X1N7.

SIR - On behalf of Gizmo Publications and Promoting Equality for Children (PEC), can I extend thanks to all people who attended the launch of Our Children, Our Future - The Bradford Edition (a good practice guide to equal opportunities) at City Hall recently.

We would especially like to thank all the children who submitted drawings for their hard work, and relatives for support and encouragement. Their interest and participation made the event a memorable one for all those involved in the project.

Irene Lofthouse, Gizmo Publications (pp PEC), Burnett Street, Bradford 1.

SIR - May I once again use your columns to thank everyone who so kindly supported our collection last weekend at the Interchange.

Our even smaller-than-usual band of loyal collectors were able to raise £215.31 for arthritis research.

Anyone wishing for further information about our activities should contact me at any time, when I will be only too pleased to answer your inquiries.

Anyone interested in giving us some help, please, pick up the phone! I'm waiting for your call on 01943 872067.

Elizabeth M Holbrook, Bradford Branch Hon Secretary, Bradford Road, Menston.