SIR - In the past month, I have had to take my two children on separate occasions to the emergency clinic in Manningham on a Sunday evening. They were both prescribed medicine which they needed to take immediately.

The problem was that there are no chemists open on a Sunday evening anywhere in Bradford.

Luckily I have access to a car to take me to the nearest one which is Boots at Leeds Railway station.

Why can't there be an all-night chemist in Bradford? If they cannot open a chemists, why not have prescriptions (only emergency) available to be picked up at BRI? If they are worried about security, why not set one up in a police station?

It's about time that Bradford NHS actually looked after us. The only reason we had to see the emergency doctor in the first place was that my daughter could not get an appointment at her local doctor's for five days! She managed to last 3 days then we had to ring the emergency doctor.

But here we start on to another topic. I'll leave that one for somebody else to complain about!

Mrs Dawn Morley, Vivien Road, Lower Grange, Bradford.

SIR - I note with interest your coverage of the planning application for a large house to be built in a resident's garden in Menston.

I also note the praise which has been heaped on the Shipley Area Planning Panel who subsequently turned down this application. I agree that credit should be given where it is due.

However, the planning application by the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, which was approved at the same time, is going to affect many thousands of people inside and outside of our district.

This retrospective planning application to create a large composting facility on allotments adjacent to Shipley Resource Centre's project for people with learning disabilities is a diabolical flouting of the Council's own rules.

Northcliffe Park and Playing Fields were given to the general public by Sir Norman H Rae in the 1920s. It was intended that the people - not the Council - should be able to enjoy this beautiful oasis for recreation forever.

I urge everyone who loves and would wish to preserve this area to object vociferously to the Council. They are the very people who should be protecting Northcliffe from desecration.

M Young, Norwood Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - With reference to the correspondence from Kathryn Finch (Letters T&A, April 26). I am sure she has the best of intentions, but I really could not understand the thrust of her remarks.

Mike Priestley is a journalist who earns financial reward from his labours, but his excellent article in "North of Watford" was a "crie de coeur".

His criticism of the actions of troublemakers is justifiable and refreshingly free of hypocrisy and cant. In the days before political correctness subsumed us all, Bradfordians were proud of their abrasive forthrightness but always flavoured it with a generosity of spirit.

It is very difficult to take any heart whatsoever from current events, let alone even dream of solutions. In that very evening's newspaper there were lurid tales of an armed battle between Asians and Afro-Caribbeans in Lumb Lane, details of a disturbance of very serious intensity, where but for the grace of God there could have been fatalities, and a letter from a Canadian visitor who vowed never to set foot in the city again, complaining of filth and hostility.

I must ask the questions "Is this godless city of barbarians the same one that spawned my parents and grandparents generations?" and "was Jerusalem builded here in England's green and pleasant land"?

A K Biggin, Bostocks Boyce Welch, University Precinct, Listerhills, Bradford.

SIR - Re the report "Bradford is the best place to visit" (T&A, April 25).

When two out of four main attractions to a once-prosperous city are greasy curries and an old graveyard, it doesn't leave much to an outsider's imagination just how dreary a visit to "modern" Bradford would be.

Also, according to the report, the Lonely Planet Guide states that Bradford has now been "revitalised" since losing its way after the Second World War.

However, given Bradford's dilapidated buildings, boarded-up shops, filthy streets, gunfights, disturbances, racial tension and a burned-out stolen car on almost every street corner, it would most certainly appear that our once-inviting city is still at war!

Which planet are Lonely Planet living on?

Alan Bromley, Broadstone Way, Bradford 9.

SIR - There were two strongly conflicting articles in the T&A recently: Mike Priestley's "The challenge facing decent Bradfordians" (April 21) and "Bradford is the best place to visit" (April 25).

What clap-trap the latter was. Mike Priestley told the truth.

Bradford sadly is a degenerate, run-down slum.

I was born here 65 years ago, but now never admit to coming from Bradford.

Next time take the "Lonely Planet" guides to the real Bradford.

B Lancaster, Thornton Road, Bradford.

SIR - In reply to Mr Clough's letter (T&A, April 24). I founded CARE over two years ago (despite intense opposition from the Federations) to unite all the estates in Wyke in order to achieve regeneration for them.

During that time I have brought more than 100 tenants and residents together from seven estates into one united body with one aim.

I have done all this in my own time and out of my own pocket. If this is "own glorification", then so be it.

CARE has linked in partnership with AFOR (Odsal) and with Royds.

I agree with Mr Clough on one point. Apart from CARE and AFOR people who are not members of the Federations, it does seem that only Federation people are participating in the information/training programmes.

This is wrong, but as these sessions are being run by the Council, it is up to them to alter it.

Personally I am very much in favour of "more backsides on seats", which is why CARE meetings have an average of 45 people attending, all having a voice and a vote.

Incidentally, my own home has been regenerated and I am working hard to ensure others have the same standard of living I enjoy. At the end of the day I will receive no benefit and, more than likely, will continue to spend my own money.

The weakest link? Surely not!

Mike Stocks (chairman, CARE), The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.