SIR - At the end of a week of hatred, violence, arson and even attempted mass murder in the streets of our city, it would be easy for us to conclude that there is no hope left, and that all our efforts over the past 40 years have been a waste of time.

However, the decent, ordinary people of Manningham think differently, and last Saturday I saw them prove that evil and thuggery are not going to win.

The annual summer garden party at St Paul's Church, Skinner Lane, was due to take place that afternoon - and it did take place. No-one stayed away; in fact, the attendance was much larger than usual.

Children played children's sports on the grass while adults enjoyed the traditional tea and buns. Asian and English people, young, old and middle-aged, mingled willingly, talked effortlessly and had fun. The sun shone, and all was well.

The people of Manningham, who have had to witness so much horror, have shown us the way. Whoever and whatever we are, let's unite to denounce and defeat the hoodlums and reclaim our city.

Councillor J Stanley King (Heaton ward), Heaton Road, Heaton.

SIR - How refreshing it was to see the whole Manningham community working together at the St Paul's Church garden party on Saturday.

This is not the sort of thing news headlines are made of but it is the reality as we go forward from the events of last week.

The whole local community, regardless of creed or colour, was in evidence both in manning stalls and in attendance. Thanks are particularly due for the gift of food originally intended for another postponed event but presented and sold by Asian members of the community for the benefit of church funds.

We can and must use the conflicts of last week as a springboard to move forward. There is no point in supporting a culture of blame or in recriminations.

The future of our city is at stake and to survive we all need to work together, whatever our background, to secure our own future and, more importantly, that of our children.

Ian J Fletcher, Heaton Grove, Heaton.

SIR - I write in connection with the proposed sale of Great Horton Methodist CC.

As scorer and tea-maker for many years, I know this club has gone from having nothing to where it is today. First-class facilities for both players and catering staff are now enjoyed by so many people. The club is highly thought of in the Mutual Sunday School League and is something the church should be proud of.

Was it not the case that the person who bequeathed the land to the church did so on the proviso that as long as cricket was played there it could be used for no other purpose?

Maybe the church was added at a later date!

If this team had to rely on some church members playing, it would have folded many, many years ago.

Sue Wentworth, Poplar Grove, Great Horton.

SIR - Great Horton Methodist Cricket Club has been a member of our league from the early 1900s when a member of the church bought a ground to enable its young members to learn and play the 'noble' game.

The ground will never be a senior cricket ground, but you would struggle to find a better one maintained by the efforts of its own members. The club provides a little oasis in troubled Bradford where members play cricket at grass roots level.

Our league has often turned to this club when requiring a ground for its "finals", knowing that hospitality will be assured and every effort will have been made to ensure a successful day.

Great Horton is a family club, highly respected in cricketing circles.

I am sad to learn that its future is now threatened. As usual, we learn that the land occupied by the club is required for building development.

I appeal to those in authority not to allow this to happen. Once taken the decision cannot be rescinded.

We have seen the decline of cricket in our schools. A club like Great Horton Methodists cannot be allowed to become extinct for the sake of building a handful of houses.

D E Butterfield, Hon Sec, Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League.

Sir - Following the recent invitation of Bradford Council for views on future planning, it made me think of what I would like to see in the way of improvements in our much-maligned city.

The worst aspect of Bradford to me is the inability to plan for the long term.

All around us are "unfinished symphonies" - the M606 leading nowhere, when it should have met up with Wakefield Road, and eventually forming part of the Aire Valley trunk road is just one example.

Forster Square railway station is another example of the difficulties for the traveller. It's not easy to get to and needs a regular shuttle service to the main Interchange.

We seem to have a great talent for constructing expensive buildings, many with public borrowing, and in the course of one or two decades pulling them down for various reasons. The now vacant Provincial House is an example and it is a scandal to demolish it.

Little Germany, despite all the raves, is only one example of a clutter of Victorian stone-built commercial buildings, whereas Listers Mill is an architectural gem, falling into delapidation, begging to be developed into accommodation, and retail/business units. We need councillors from cross-party lines who are prepared to do the best for everyone, and not think short term.

John Crookes, Hollingwood Lane, Bradford

SIR - This city has a bad record of animal cruelty, and we were appalled to read of the death by starvation of a defenceless puppy (T&A, July 6).

The fine of £100 is inadequate and the ban for two years too little.

Any person who can treat an animal in this cruel manner should be heavily fined and banned for life. There should be no second chance! Make the punishment fit the offence.

T & E Macnamara, Egerton Grove, Allerton.

SIR - I hope the person has a guilty conscience after stealing my two busy lizzy hanging baskets, also tubs of hosta, box privet, conifer, miniature rose and petunias from the front of my house on Thursday, July 12, some of which were bought for my birthday last month. My garden gave a great deal of pleasure to people passing, but not anymore.

Mrs C Smith, Idle Road, Bradford 2

SIR - The Council employs a man to pick up litter that children from Hanson and Swain House schools dump on King's Road on their way to and from school.

Why are children not taught to their put litter in a bin or dispose of it in other ways?

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.