Letters to the Editor

We were on our way to attend the AGM of the Sue Ryder home at Manorlands held in the White Lion Hotel at the top of the hill. Round the back of the hotel down a side street there is a car park (which looks like a bomb site) opposite the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

For years it has been possible to park here in the evenings. We had left the car a few minutes to set off to the White Lion at 7.20pm when two men pounced on the car, stuck a notice on it, and then clamped it.

It cost my husband £25 to have the clamp released by a firm calling themselves Car Stoppers at Keighley.

My husband has not long been out of hospital with a heart problem and, although we remonstrated with them, one man said he "was just doing his job" and the other man, who claimed to be the owner of the car park, was adamant that it was our fault and refused to refund the money.

There were four other people also clamped.

This is not the way to encourage tourists! Would they have done this to Tony Blair when he was on his whistlestop tour of Haworth and environs in order to encourage people to come to the area?

Lynn C Asquith, Priestley Hall, Bingley.

SIR - It is several years since I have been to York, but decided it was the best place to visit with my brother who was staying with me for a long weekend.

I foolishly assumed the renovations of Leeds station were finished.

I was horrified when we arrived from Bradford Forster Square to find not only had the platforms disappeared, but that we had to walk a marathon to find our train.

It beggars belief how anyone going on holiday with luggage would ever manage to drag it so far to find their train, or even the platform it should leave from, especially if they were pensioners or families with small children.

Mrs Patricia Fleming, The Oval, Bradford 8.

SIR - The letter by Keith Young of Queensbury (April 6) implies that Conservatives on Bradford's hung Council have a coalition with the Lib-Dems. I can assure him there is no such thing. We are in minority control but the Lib-Dems are free to vote with Labour if they wish - and they have done on numerous occasions!

As far as the "ostrich" approach to economics, is he forgetting that for the last ten years under Labour, council tax has gone up every year by an average of nine per cent while at the same time service budgets such as social services have been cut year on year?

We have not been in minority control for a year yet, but we have managed to reduce the council's budget without affecting front line services, kept council tax rise to 5.8 per cent (government recommendation was five per cent) and at the same time put millions back into front-line services.

We cannot put right ten years of service under-funding and mismanagement of the Council in less than a year. But we have made great inroads, and each year the situation will improve.

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con, Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - It is not Bradford that is dirty. It is certain people living in this city.

How dare residents complain about rubbish on the streets? Passing the bottom of Duckworth Terrace on my way to the Bradford Royal Infirmary this morning, I was appalled to see a large, filthy armchair on the pavement edge. It certainly didn't blow there on the wind.

While I was writing this letter, my husband read out the letter from Deborah Bell (April 11) about keeping Bradford rubbish-free. Not a chance, as I have never read of anyone being prosecuted for dumping rubbish in the streets.

Margaret Atkinson, Sellerdale Rise, Bradford 12.

SIR - Regarding the letter from Mr Jennings (March 28) about the future of Lister's Mill.

By and large I agree with his proposals, except for one very important point, and that is that his suggestions should only be considered as absolutely the last resort.

Before that time actually comes, I believe that those concerned should strive long and hard to negotiate funding to achieve the preservation of the complete structure.

Where we differ, I fear, is that he is loath to spend any public money, whereas I, on the other hand, feel that the mill with its superb architectural features and its unique historical associations is well worth preserving and, indeed, could be a very worthwhile investment for an amount which after all is only the equivalent of the cost of six or seven luxury homes.

He and I have made our points, however, which no doubt have been read and digested by some closer to the situation than ourselves, and from my own point of view I am now inclined to let the matter rest.

Gordon Dean, Long Lane, Harden.

SIR - Bradford Council's questionnaire on the future shape of its Executive is hardly a ringing endorsement for democracy.

Why should anyone want the city to be run by a Mayor with presidential powers?

I certainly don't want a leader in the style of former PM Mrs Thatcher, nor even Tony Blair, both put in power by a minority of the electorate and certainly in Maggie's case, kept there by a minority.

A Mayor or Leader could have a politically unbalanced "cabinet from just one party" (models 1 and 2). Why? It is unlikely that one party would have 100 per cent of the vote!

The best model for a representative council (which we all want) would be based on fair votes or proportional representation.

This is a question that should have been asked with the case for PR put to voters as well as usual, spurious, arguments against.

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - On behalf of everyone at The Stroke Association, I would like to thank all the readers who nominated people for our "Life After Stroke Awards".

Nominations for the awards have now closed and this year, like last year, the charity received a wonderful response.

Judging is taking place at the moment and the winners will be presented with their awards - a bronze sculpted butterfly - at the ceremony on July 17 in London.

The star-studded ceremony will be compered by Dickie Davies, and celebrities including Fiona Phillips, Ronnie Corbett and Nick Owen are due to attend the ceremony.

Thank you again for helping us to honour the courage and strength of those people affected by stroke.

Nicola Ryan, The Stroke Association, London.