Letters to the Editor

The firefighters of this country are trained to protect life and property and when they turn out to incidents, the last thing they want is to have to keep looking over their shoulders to see if they are being attacked by a gang of mindless, spineless morons.

These simple-minded people need to remember that it may well be one day that they are trapped in an upstairs bedroom or entangled in the wreck of an overturned car.

The public demands that the courts deal with these animals with the most severe of punishments.

S H Moore (former Leading Firefighter, West Yorkshire), Thwaites Brow, Keighley.

Not safe to play

SIR - Re your report of June 6 regarding calming measures for traffic on The Oval, Bingley.

Helen Davies states that she moved to The Oval seven years ago because it was a cul-de-sac. I have lived on The Oval for more than 27 years and brought up three children and it has never been a cul-de-sac in that time (dictionary definition: road with one end blocked off).

As I drive to my home, I pass the houses in the photograph and often the young children are riding bikes down the centre of the road with not a parent in sight. Many times I have had to stop while they got off the road on to the pavement.

Also it is a common occurrence for children to be playing football on the same road by the bend.

I also fail to see how cars can be speeding on that stretch of road as there are usually cars parked on each side and you have to slowly weave your way through.

I would have thought that children as young as the ones in the photograph would be safer playing in their gardens rather than on the road.

Pamela Butterfield, The Oval, Bingley.

Give it a try

SIR - Lorraine Kirkwood (June 6) asked on what principled basis Liberal Democrat councillor David Ward accepted the post of portfolio holder for education. There are three answers to make.

First, a fair way for Liberal Democrats to share in responsibility for the new Council is by recommending Coun Ward to hold this portfolio. He has fought hard over more than a decade for better education management.

Parents and teachers know his views well. He offers a distinct Liberal Democrat perception to his new job, though the Ofsted report severely limits his options.

Second, Conservatives sufficiently respect his experience and his principles. But they wasted their breath offering two portfolios to Labour, who are never in the sharing mood. Labour's pathetic rubbishing of all political opposition is ended, we hope, for good.

Third, we have a new Council committed to sharing power. It is not a Conservative Council at all; much less a Liberal Democrat Council. But without some measure of mutual respect, it will collapse. Let's not trust it, as Lorraine Kirkwood put it. Let's give it a try.

Sam Micklem, Spring Lane, Eldwick.

Quality the key

SIR - How intriguing to see my colleagues positioning themselves in the new political environment (T&A Letters, June 9). We have the Lib-Dem leader declaring that she is working for the good of Bradford (doesn't everyone, however misguided?); a Labour Councillor declaring the city needs a strong Opposition (conveniently never mentioned when they were last in control): and the Tories are already being accused of imposing "cuts" in services!

I can only speak for what I have found in my ward. People want quality services. They want their grass cut and refuse collected regularly; litter removed quickly; good schools, good lighting and streets safe from criminals and drugs pushers. They want a "Fair Deal".

Slowly, the new Conservative administration will reallocate the Council's resources to meet these needs. There are no "cuts", only re-prioritising according to what people need.

If the last Labour Council over-reached itself, spreading our city's finances too thinly, therefore failing to deliver ANY quality services, then it is the responsibility of Conservatives to re-assess the Council's priorities and deliver quality services where they are needed most. End of debate.

Councillor Robert Reynolds (Wyke Ward), Westminster Crescent, Clayton.

Open your eyes

SIR - In the T&A of May 31 it was reported that the Council doesn't know why people are leaving Bradford.

In reply to Mr A V Simpson's letter, if they look around the area they might find an answer. I have.

I suggest now the Council does the same.

John Dawson, Frensham Drive, Great Horton, Bradford.

Pressing issue

SIR - I was sorry to see the controversy that raged over the PM's speech at the WI conference this week overshadowed some very important issues.

The members of the WI debated three motions at their conference - one of them urged the government "to greatly improve the treatment and therapies available to stroke sufferers".

This motion was passed unanimously by the 10,000 delegates. As a result, over the next year the WI will be putting its weight behind a campaign to improve care for the thousands and thousands of people who have a stroke each year. Their involvement will potentially save lives and help to reduce disability.

Congratulations to the WI for taking up this pressing issue.

Eoin Redahan, The Stroke Association, Whitecross Street, London EC1.

Sister search

SIR - I'm trying to locate my sister Jill Derrick (nee Field), last heard of in Germany with her husband Terry who was in the Army in the early 1980s.

If any readers know of Jill's whereabouts, I would be most grateful for any information.

Mrs L Kehoe, 76 Hirstwood Road, Shipley BD18 4BU.

Spiritual healing

SIR - The public, patients and staff connected with the Health Service are being asked what three important ideas will heal it. Well, mine are these:

1. Read the Bible

2. Pray for healing

3. Stop abortions and eugenics

We really cannot stake any claim to being a humanitarian society as long as the rapacious and barbaric activity of aborting helpless little babies continues.

George Armstrong, Langley Lane, Baildon.

A truly wonderful eating experience...

SIR - I was delighted to read in the T&A of June 7 that the Bombay Brasserie in Bradford had been awarded a top five dome rating and will now go into the 'Best in Britain' finals.

About eight years ago, I was suddenly living alone and one night, in the T&A, I read your Eating Out column giving local restaurants marks for food, service, value for money etc.

The item specified was a dish called Mixed Thali at the Bombay Brasserie. Up to then I must have been the fussiest person imaginable where food was concerned, being strictly a 'roast beef and Yorkshire pud' person. Anyway I went on my own and have been going back ever since.

I find the food, service, and people who run the business, absolutely top class. Everyone is made to feel special. It truly is a wonderful experience eating there.

Let me say that I travel extensively in the UK and have never yet found its equal.

I hope that you will see fit to publish this letter even though obviously it is a recommendation, but Bradford has little enough to shout about these days and everything I have said is absolutely genuine and unsolicited.

Alec Jackson, Leathley Lane, Menston.

Park restoration will be well worth the wait

SIR - Re the letter from Mrs Marsh and Miss Shaw on June 5. Lister Park is currently being refurbished through the National Lottery at a cost of £4.2 million.

Some trees and shrubs have been removed but new ones are being planted which are in keeping with the park's historic landscape. The botanical garden will be replanted in 2001 and some rocks and stones, similar to those originally used in 1903, will be re-introduced to help pupils following the national curriculum.

New seating has been installed around the lake and more will be introduced throughout the park as the restoration scheme proceeds. The play area has been planned to link with the new boating pavilion where toilets and refreshments are provided.

It is inevitable that parts of the park will be disrupted while this major work is going on but we would ask everyone to bear with us as the end results will be worth it.

Ian Day, Recreation Division, Bradford Council.