Letters to the Editor

SIR - Congratulations to Mike Priestley for saying all the wrong things in his article "The challenge facing decent Bradfordians" (North of Watford, April 21).

The first nine paragraphs invite the reader to "slate" Bradford. The next five paragraphs are devoted to Mike's somewhat simplistic and unhelpful interpretation of multi-culturalism and how that manifests in Bradford.

The final few paragraphs invite the rest of us (absolutely unclear what is meant by that) to strengthen our resolve and not let them "drag us down".

Mike's reference to a "spot of bother" in no way reflects the experience of Julie Cook's near loss of sight and completely fails to acknowledge the real source of tension - the failure of city institutions, including the T&A, to recognise the changing face of Bradford.

As Sir Herman Ouseley is understood to believe, Bradford is burying its head in the sand about what multi-culturalism really means in practice. The urgent need is to modernise by facing what is staring the city in its face - and that is not an "old" Bradford.

Please let's not keep applying old and rather simple solutions to what are very complex problems facing Bradford's future.

Kathryn Finch, Leylands Lane, Heaton.

l MIKE PRIESTLEY writes: By 'them' I meant troublemakers of all backgrounds. The "spot of bother" was intended as irony.

Culture of disorder

SIR - The police in Bradford appear to be taking the brunt of the criticism for the Lidget Green disturbances because of their failure to respond quickly enough.

Surely, the main criticism should be levelled at what has now become a culture of disorder first and foremost. Only after the rampaging mob's "blood lust" has been satisfied can police become involved.

In the aftermath, that much maligned and over-used word, racism, was the cause.

How on earth can we Bradfordians ever expect to re-generate the city centre and expect high-profile companies to invest in Bradford when the only thing certain is a disturbance every three-to-five years!

J Hargreaves, Dene Hill, Baildon.

Never again...

SIR - What is going on in Britain? I have just come back home after spending 14 days in the North of England. Bradford has to be the dirtiest city in Britain. Mountains of trash in the Girlington area where the residents seem to have no social conscience.

I will never set foot in Bradford again. I was lost in the Manningham Lane area and stopped and asked for directions. I was treated with contempt by the Asian man I asked.

Hughie Gibson, Lock Street, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Noisy intrusion

SIR - I wonder how many people are aware of Bradford Council's continuing apparent desecration of the Northcliffe Park and playing fields?

Not content with commandeering the area adjacent to the putting green and in front of Shipley Bowling Club, which they have turned into a tip, they have now passed retrospective planning permission for an unsightly recycling site on four allotments in the middle of this hitherto peaceful and beautiful oasis.

Not only this but they are going to allow several lorries a day to bring material to it from all over Bradford. Also, there is going to be noisy machinery on site disturbing allotment holders and people working alongside with learning disabilities!

Bradford Council does not own this area of land. It was given to the public in the 1920s by Sir Norman Rae (pictured) and it was for them to enjoy as a recreation area FOREVER.

I am sure it is even more necessary now for our general health and well-being to preserve every morsel of peace and tranquillity which such a place affords.

M Young, Norwood Terrace, Shipley.

It's payback time

SIR - When we first entered the EC, we expected to pay our dues for a few years. The founder members had done this and were, by then, benefiting greatly.

A quarter of a century later we seem to be still paying dues, but not getting the benefits.

Our standard of living is no higher, and I believe is in fact lower, than if we'd remained outside "the Market".

For a quarter of a century we have subsidised and raised the living standards of Eire, Spain, Portugal and Greece. And it seems the plan is that the next quarter will be spent raising those of Turkey and a number of East European nations queuing up to join what they see as a giant-sized DSS office subsided mainly by the British, Germans and French.

Well, I think it's about time that we, the great subsidisers, started getting something back. And with a quarter of a century's accrued interest.

No more ripped-off Britannia. Tell our elected politicians: "Get us something out of Europe - or get us out of Europe."

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

Problem solved

SIR - Many voters within the Bradford Metropolitan District find it expedient to find fault with things that they say the Council should attend to.

Instead, if they have any grievances about jobs that need urgent attention, they should attend one of the many "surgeries" that the elected councillors hold from time to time.

I attended one three weeks ago here in Wilsden when Councillor Margaret Eaton was in attendance, and I am pleased to report that the matter is now in the process of being remedied.

So it's hats off to Coun Eaton.

N H Barwick, Kingston Close, Wilsden.

Council inequality

SIR - Bradford Council appears to have its own agenda in supporting the Manningham area at all costs, to the detriment of other areas.

Manningham has a facility which is poorly supported by the locals and not wanted by the majority, into which councillors are hoping to pour further funds - ie Manningham Baths.

For what purpose? So they can spend extra funds in bussing children from schools outside the area? Having already been refused lottery funding on two separate occasions, they are preparing a third bid for a sum in excess of £3 million.

If the people of Manningham want to swim, they have the facility of Shipley pool within a mile of the existing site. The same buses can be made available to transport their children to our pool.

The people of Thornton want to swim but are being denied the facility. Where is the Council backing for a lottery bid for our area? Our requirement is for funding of a fraction of the cost required for Manningham, which is in a similar state of disrepair.

Why is our Council encouraging swimming in selected areas and denying it in other equally, if not more deprived, areas of the city?

Catherine M Close, Spring Head Terrace, Thornton.

Pressing need

SIR - Who at Bradford Council actually makes the decisions regarding spending on public services? Whoever it is has a strange idea of need.

Surely the most pressing need with regard to swimming pools is to give the much-needed funding to the area which currently has a closed, empty building, rather than the ones which are still open and in full use.

Or is it just my sense of logic that is warped?

James Robinson, Hugill Street, Thornton.