SIR - Included in the list of planning applications in the T&A, August 21, at number 18, is: "Provincial House, Market Street, Bradford, Replacement of eight-storey vacant office building with two-storey building accommodating food and drink units. St James Securities. 00/02519/FUL."

What an exciting vision this conjures up, replacing with food and drink units, the only building erected in Central Bradford since 1945 that has any semblance of aesthetic appeal.

These units will, in very short measure, become seedy, litter-strewn areas, completely destroying the effectiveness of what is a quite impressive Centenary Square.

When this project was previously raised, reference was made to the demolition of Provincial House, "opening up the vista behind". What vista?

Far better (though presumably not feasible) to demolish the Police HQ building; that would eliminate a characterless building and open up an interesting vista from Centenary Square.

Let us not end up with another catastrophe to match the Petergate/Well Street shops, Arndale Mall, Yorkshire Building Society building, or the Ice Rink building among others.

S N Callaway, Moore Avenue, Bradford 6

SIR - Lots of money has been spent on Shipley Town Centre to make it pleasant for shoppers and visitors. But what do you find when you visit?

Rubbish thrown all over and pigeon droppings covering the seats that have been placed for people to relax and so old folk can rest (do those who insist on feeding the birds think that they will fly away like all good birds should and drop their muck in a field somewhere?)

Then there's the bunch of drunken down-and-outs who intimidate others with their drinking and swearing. Is this what the planners had in mind? I don't think so.

Let's hope the police will pay more attention to the area and keep it as nice as it was meant to be kept.

A Barnett, Carnegie Drive, Shipley.

SIR - I would like to invite your readers to become involved in a new campaign organisation that is seeking to create more democracy in Bradford.

"Home Rule" has been set up to fulfil the vision of every community across the Bradford Metropolitan District being able to elect its own parish or town council, whether that community is a village, a suburb, a township, a social housing estate or an inner-city neighbourhood.

We believe that by setting up a federation of such bodies across the district, all communities will be given a much bigger say in the day-to-day matters that affect them.

We are seeking interested people to become involved in the work of Home Rule, including as members of the Steering Group to lead the campaign, as volunteers to work with communities in drawing up proposals for new parishes, and to help collect petitions to back such proposals.

Additionally, we are looking for people to sign up as members of Home Rule, which is free, and register their support for the aims of the campaign.

If anybody is interested in becoming a part of this new movement, or would first like to know more, they should contact me using one of the methods at the bottom of this letter.

John Crewdson, chairman of Home Rule, Sandymoor, Sandy Lane, Bradford. Tel (after 6pm) 01274 681479. E-mail: john@crewdson.net.

SIR - I would welcome an immediate cull on the killer magpies before the songbirds and other smaller birds are extinct.

J Wilson, Carrbottom Road, Bradford 5.

Police no answer

SIR - Reading the T&A of August 19, once again dogs are injuring children and killing cats.

When my own cat was savaged to death last year, I was informed by the Dog Warden Service that "dogs do chase cats".

Funny, that, as my cat was fast asleep in the garden quite unaware of the dogs so had no chance of getting away.

It is time that we had a better warden service and stopped relying on the police, as they are not equipped to deal with dangerous dogs. That is why we have people who are trained - when you can get them to come out.

I hope the policy is changed before any more dogs are allowed to harm children and people's pets, as the mental scars don't heal.

Maureen Smith, Leafsway, Woodside, Bradford.

SIR - I couldn't express the wonders I find in the Access Bus.

When you book a trip they are so kind and helpful. The bus drivers are all so cheerful and fun-loving, and we aren't easy to "heave" on the bus. They never seem to mind what they have to do for us.

To all who have anything to do with the Access Bus, I say thank you for making it possible for us "old dears" to get out.

Hilda Daley, Maylands Nursing Home, Park Drive, Heaton.