Letters to the Editor

The reason for this letter is to inform readers of a new threat to our existence.

Recently we were requested to attend a meeting, held by the church, who own the ground, and told that it was their intention to sell the ground for building private dwellings.

We as a committee and players of all denominations, colour and creed, aged from seven years to 60, provide excellent facilities funded by ourselves at very little cost to the church by fundraising of various kinds and general goodwill and patronage, both private and commercial.

We have been reliably informed that the general congregation are unaware of the proposals aforementioned and that through your excellent readers column, we would try to inform past and present members of Great Horton Methodist Church of these proposals and ask their support for our intention to fight long and hard to maintain our right to play cricket at Hollingwood Mount.

If we fail, cricket lovers past, present and future will be the losers. Can we afford to lose any more cricket in this area, ie Lidget Green? I think not.

Gerald Smith, Eltham Grove, Wibsey.

SIR - The eight days between June 9 and 16 have been designated British Heart Week with the theme of Emergency Life Support.

Bradford Heartstart was formed in 1996 from an initiative of Dr Bill McRoberts of Bradford West Rotary Club who had suffered a heart attack but thanks to the CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) skills of one of his young patients, survived and started Bradford Heartstart in an attempt to spread the word.

The initiative was taken up with the help of the five Rotary Clubs in Bradford.

The main thrust of Bradford Heartstart is the teaching of the skills of resuscitation and it was felt that the area which would be beneficial would be the pupils in the Bradford schools. So far over 2,000 young people have passed through this scheme, thereby enabling them to take something back into the community.

For example, three young ladies from Belle Vue Girls went to the aid of a gentleman who had collapsed at a bus stop. They put their skills to the test and were congratulated by the paramedics who confirmed that without their intervention the result would have been less positive.

Anyone wishing to become a trainer and so pass on their skills to others ie youth groups, scouts, guides etc, please would they write to me.

Martin Wraith, Bradford Heartstart, Leeds Road Hospital, Maudsley Street, Bradford BD3 9LH.

SIR - I read in a national newspaper that hundreds of thousands of previously illegal workers from non-EU countries could soon enter the UK without breaking the law.

New Brussels rules give them the right to work in Britain (what work?) once they have established legal residency in another EU country.

Also, Brussels is working on a plan which would grant them full benefit once they arrive, should they choose not to work. It would encourage the French Government to grant temporary residency knowing many would exploit the opportunity to move here because benefits in Britain are better. We just stand for everything!

Mrs D Woodruff, Rowlestone Rise, Greengates, Bradford

SIR - Sixty years of road-building madness in Britain, with bypasses and all kinds of fancy-named roads built, yet there is no end to traffic jams. Why?

Because more and more roads induce more traffic, not less.

It will also destroy the countryside, the wildlife, and create more pollution that is damaging the planet and causing death-related illnesses.

Years of nasty traffic pollution has increased the number of heart disease and asthmatic victims etc.

Scientists have warned that if we do not halve pollution levels, the planet could be under water.

The solution is that we must have fewer cars, better public transport (including tramways in all major cities and towns) and fewer lorries and big vans.

We must make full use of the railways for most of the heavy goods and full use of the rivers and canals to carry light goods.

We must make more use of public transport; share vehicles, use bicycles, and walk on short trips.

With regard to more road-building in Britain, there is no more room for expansion, because after all Britain is a very small place.

M D Cassidy, St Paul's Road, Shipley.