Letters to the Editor

I emigrated to New Zealand five years ago for a better lifestyle but have always maintained my allegiance to Bradford and keep a keen interest in what is happening throughout the region.

On reading the letters about arrowroot biscuits, I really think you have all lost the plot. I would have thought that you all would be concentrating on the real issues confronting Bradford and the country as a whole.

The main issues to me would be the major foot and mouth disease outbreak. I also understand that you are paying 78 pence a litre for petrol compared to 30 pence here.

With the North Sea oil rigs just a stone's throw away, the British Government are ripping you off big time. Most other products and commodities are similarly being sold at extortionist prices and all you can do is worry about arrowroot biscuits. The mind boggles.

Get a life and improve your lot and I'll send over a packet of arrowroots.

Juliet Proud, PO Box 20038, Bishopdale, Christchurch, New Zealand.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: Writers to our Letters page cover a wide range of serious issues. Letters like those about the availability of arrowroot biscuits (which was a serious matter to the reader whose inquiry launched the correspondence) help to bring a bit of welcome light relief.

SIR - In answer to Councillor Thomson's letter on the subject of maintaining housing. Perhaps the huge sums of money spent on consultants and the promotion of stock transfer could have been better used here.

The councillor has decided on the best way forward for the people of Buttershaw. But what if we the actual tenants vote no to privatisation? In Bradford 82 per cent want their homes to stay with the Council.

Is he then saying that the Labour Government is not committed to investing into council housing? Or has he just thrown his lot in with the Conservatives who are saying the only way forward is privatisation?

Council housing is a valuable public asset, a cornerstone of the welfare state that should not be neglected. We should not be bribed into giving it away.

Coming up to the elections, I am sure voters will be taking note of what each party will have to say on this subject.

E Allen, Reevy Road West, Buttershaw.

SIR - In reply to Mr Clough's letter (T&A, April 3).

Royds is a company created by tenants and owned by tenants. Councillors, advisers and paid staff are accountable to these tenants who, in turn, are accountable to the tenants and residents on Buttershaw, Delph Hill and Woodside.

Decisions are made by vote at various meetings, all of which are chaired by tenants and are open to the public. This certainly isn't the "privatisation" that Mr Clough was expounding in his first letter.

My reply to his first letter was mainly to assure him that the name of Holme Wood would not change, though I did not say that Holme Wood has been split into several "villages" (of which Carwood is one) only after regeneration and the name Holme Wood is slowly disappearing without any notable opposition from the residents.

As to Mr Clough's ridiculous claim that part of Buttershaw is still in the 19th century because of Royds. Is he saying that these homes were firmly established in the 20th/21st century and only became part of the 19th century after regeneration?

Even the most ardent opponent of Royds must find this statement hard to swallow.

Mike Stocks, CARE, The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.

SIR - The loss of our village swimming bath is tragic enough (we hope not for too long), but we who live in the vicinity of the Thornton Bowling Green and what were the tennis courts were shocked to hear the fire engines sounding and see flashing lights passing our homes.

What a tragedy: the only amenity for folk to participate in, recreational activity for young and elderly.

I've brought my children up in the area from toddlers, and this west end of the village was lovely.

Not for the last several years has it been nice up here, though. Like everywhere else, it is Hell at times.

I'm Thornton born and bred from a good family name.

Dorothy Le Clercq, Thornton Road, Thornton.

SIR - Do any of your readers know a lady whose name in 1958 was Kathy Horne? We worked in Blackpool together as chamber maids.

I would love to see her again. All I remember is that she lived in the Bradford area. She would be about 60 years old now.

Mrs Gillian Cavanagh, 17 Queen's Terrace, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6BT.

SIR - As a member of one of the voluntary groups helping to maintain Undercliffe Cemetery, I would like to support the trustees in their efforts to create financial benefits for the site.

After attending a meeting at the Cemetery Lodge on April 3, I and colleagues visited the filming site. Nothing was disturbed, the cemetery being a dramatic backdrop under the floodlights for this film. Nothing tasteless, in my view.

Councillor Robert Sowman and others, concerned about bad taste (T&A, April 5), should have a look at the photographic collection showing vandalism, theft of stone memorials, graffiti wrought upon this cemetery in the past. Then they will see the worst of bad taste.

Soon all the plots will be sold and income from this source end. Bradford Council has withdrawn financial support for this heritage-listed site and whatever the trustees do to create income and protect the cemetery, they seem to be in a no-win situation.

Perhaps Coun Sowman could volunteer some of his time and influence in creating more financial support.

R J Lacey, Wrose Road, Bradford.

SIR - How much longer are companies going to use under-18s to do a job and only pay them £1.25 per hour? It's time that someone did something for these young ones.

My son was offered such a job, 40 hours for £50, travelling from Bradford to Baildon each day. He wouldn't have had much left after deducting £15 in travelling costs.

H S Flynn, Powell Avenue, Bradford 5

SIR - Both Carol and I cannot thank the T&A enough for uniting her with my daughter after 39 years through your paper.

It was a very tearful reunion on the phone although 12,000 miles apart. I don't think they will ever lose touch again.

Mrs Anness and Carol Holdsworth, Burnham Avenue, Bradford 4.