SIR - As a 'modern man,' I must reply to Sue Ward's rather impassioned article, "Why can't fellas talk about us with more respect?" (No Frills, T&A, September 28).

Is Ms Ward aware that respect must be earned? With a growing trend of young women clearly lacking self-respect these days by being foul-mouthed, scantily dressed and provocatively flaunting themselves at any guy in trousers - so long as he's got good looks and bags of charm - is it really any wonder why men often refer to them in a derogatory way?

Everywhere I go I witness young women putting up with thuggish boyfriends who treat them like dirt or a human punchball. Is it therefore also fair to say that "Girl Power" is nothing more than a myth?

I must, however, congratulate Ms Ward in being quite astute about some of the imperfections that sadly blight the male gender, rather than harbour the frustratedly, far-fetched imagination of the other female kind who hopelessly believe "Mr Perfect," presumably a loving, kind, he-man, sex machine, wallet-on-legs type, is waiting to sweep them off their feet...

Now which sex are the REAL "dream-ons," Ms Ward?

Jim Varey, Gavin Close, Laisterdyke, Bradford.

SIR - Reference the letter from Muriel Thompson of Bingley (September 28) re the re-siting of Rawson Market to Canal Road.

The suggestion is outrageous. There are dozens of elderly and infirm people who are able to reach John Street Market with the help of the people who drive the Access Buses.

A market should be the heart of a town, not on the perimeter. It may be advantageous to people like Ms Thompson who probably drives a car.

We Bradfordians want our own Rawson Market as promised in 2001. When outsiders have finished with their suggestions there will not be a Bradford. Just think of elderly people for once.

Eileen Payne, Heys Crescent, Thornton.

SIR - Re the letter about Rawson Market (September 28).

It was suggested the market should be built on Canal Road, one reason being that there was ample room for parking.

Everyone hasn't a car and it is quite a walk from there to the Kirkgate and John St areas, Darley Street etc. I for one could not manage to walk and I don't think I would be on my own.

Rawson Market shouldn't have been pulled down in the first place but as it has, it should be replaced as near the old site as possible.

It would also help the small private businesses in that area. They have suffered already with the loss of the market without it moving so far out.

J Kerry, Griffe Drive, Wyke.

SIR - I'm writing to complain about the 680 service to Smiddles Lane. On Monday, September 25, I missed the 4.30pm bus at Petergate and then waited until 5.25pm for another one to appear. There should have been a bus at 4.45; 5.00 and 5.15.

When the bus finally arrived there were 29 people waiting at this bus stop and the bus picked up many more people until it reached Wilmer Road, when another bus overtook it.

On the evening of September 27 my son reached a bus stop at Cheapside at 5.40pm and waited until 6.25pm before setting off to walk (the 5.44 and 6.18 didn't appear). A bus overtook him at Queen's Road at 6.35pm.

What is the reason for this appalling service?

Molly Somerville, Heaton Park Drive, Bradford 9.

SIR - With reference to the letter "Drains disgrace" by Mrs Grange, I have telephoned the Council three times and also sent a letter regarding the drains in our area.

Almost every drain is blocked and has been for several months causing flooding on the roads every time it rains heavily. At one time the drains were cleaned regularly, but not any more.

Perhaps the Council need to be reminded that we pay a great deal of Council Tax and expect to be treated the same as the inner-city areas, otherwise we may decide to withhold payment until something is done.

Does the Council take any notice of telephone calls or letters?

Mrs Anthea Woodford, Sheriff Lane, Eldwick, Bingley.

SIR - The other night while I was on my way to a neighbourhood forum meeting, I saw the aftermath of an horrific accident around Sticker Lane. This has prompted me to look into the circumstances surrounding road accidents in Bradford and how we can help to prevent them.

I am horrified to discover that the total budget for road safety/minor repairs for the whole of Bradford North is only £50,000 to cover the areas of Bolton, Bowling, Bradford Moor, Eccleshill, Idle and Thackley and Undercliffe.

Apparently, the sum allocated annually has been around this figure for some time. This is a shameful indictment of the approach by the previous Council.

I understand the competition for funding, but when it affects the preservation of life, surely wider priorities apply? I will be urging the leader of the Council to examine appropriate ways of budgeting in future.

Zahid Iqbal, Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bradford North, Wilton Street, Bradford 5.

Sir - P E Bird (September 29) questions my figures. During the last five years, no-one else has done so, because I've take them from official sources.

Re proving speed reductions reduce accident deaths; stand in front of a car at successive 5mph increments from 5mph up to 40mph, Mr Bird. The Danes did it selectively, reduced child accident rates from Europe's worst to second best. Ours is worst.

Facts: DETR figures for 1997 - accidents causing death or injury cost an estimated £9.9bn; the CBI recently stated that congestion costs business about £13bn. Road Tax is more than is spent on roads but doesn't cover the damage cause by: (1) pollution and (2) exhaust gas effect on global warming.

Is drowning millions of Bangladeshis a small price to pay for driving our children to school?

Re 4.5 per cent on insurance premiums; helps to pay for damage to children's lungs.

Cycling proficiency training; make it a condition for driving licence. Stupid cyclists do not survive to become stupid drivers. Double deckers carry about 70 people but take up about one 65th of the space taken by 70 motorists. Which transport is the most ill-thought out? Never been hit by a "dangerous" junction, only by a motorist.

Questions are easy, facts take work.

Mike Healey, Dyehouse Road, Oakenshaw, Bradford