Our street cleaner doing a great job

SIR - It's now over 30 years since my husband and I moved into Thackley and never in all that time have I seen the roads and streets in the Idle and Thackley area look as clean and tidy as they have done the last few months.

This is due to the very hard-working young man who, on behalf of Bradford Council, patiently each day picks up the never-ending rubbish, ie crisp packets and sweet wrappings and drinks containers cast down by schoolchildren and thrown out of car windows.

I would like to thank this young man for taking such care about our village's appearance. What a pity so many of the rest of us don't appear to.

Mrs C Sullivan, Cherry Tree Gardens, Thackley.

Tenants' fears

SIR - Re the Reverend Smith's letter (March 29). Perhaps he would like to come down from his ivory tower and walk around Buttershaw.

He might like to talk to tenants and ask them how they feel about demolition and Royds' intent to become their landlord.

He may then learn of fears such as housing shortages, homelessness, and unemployment caused by the inevitable rent rises which will make low-incomed work not a viable option.

However, perhaps the newly-erected Church of St Royds could be put to use here as a workhouse and to complete the 19th century picture of private landlords and social reforming councillors and clergy.

Eileen Allen, Reevy Road West, Buttershaw.

Our decision

SIR - I feel I must reply to the letter by Eileen Allen on April 5.

My family and I, as residents in the Buttershaw corridor, were given a democratic vote on whether we wanted our houses demolished or modernised.

We, and the majority of our neighbours, voted for the demolition.

Over a third of the houses on this street have been empty for years because nobody wants to live here.

Would she accept a transfer on to Brafferton Arbor or Ridings Way? I don't think so.

She doesn't listen to Councillor Thompson, Royds or residents. She only has her own agenda which is not for the benefit of the residents.

Mrs Hilda Charles, Brafferton Arbor, Buttershaw.

Federation flaws

SIR - Now that the Council have decided to advertise for independent board members for the community housing trust (that is if council tenants vote in favour of the transfer of all council housing stock), why not let the tenants democratically elect their representatives to the board - people who will represent them and not have an interim board made up of undemocratically-chosen federation members?

These people are unrepresentative of the vast majority of council tenants, therefore do not speak on behalf of tenants.

I have no faith in a federation that treats council tenants with contempt - a federation that decided on behalf of tenants that there was no option other than that which the council put forward.

B Bryar, Central Avenue, Shipley.

Asylum truths

SIR - Regarding asylum seekers, Amnesty International recently released the following information:

l Most asylum seekers come from countries with appalling human rights records. Asylum seekers leaving these countries leave everything to flee the reality of violence and persecution.

l The vast majority of asylum seekers are law-abiding people.

Il n this country asylum seekers receive 70 per cent of basic income support, mainly in the form of vouchers which can only be spent in designated shops. They are not allowed to do any paid work and earn a living.

l Only about one per cent of the world's displaced people make it to the UK to claim asylum.

l In the year 2000 the UK had fewer asylum seekers in proportion to the size of the population than Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

l Last year 26,000 asylum seekers were rejected by the UK government without having their asylum considered.

Members of the public who are concerned about these issues are encouraged to raise them with their parliamentary representatives.

M Paley, Oakenshaw Court, Wyke.

Wonderful time

SIR - A few months ago I was fortunate to win the T&A competition for a weekend for a family of four, at the Runnymede Hotel.

Last weekend we took the break. The hotel was first class, the bedrooms were beautiful overlooking the River Thames.

We had a wonderful time for which we all sincerely thank you.

E Wignall, Briardale Road, Bradford 9.