Letters to the Editor

SIR - It was great to read some good news (T&A, December 29) that the government is actually doing something for the youth of Bradford - something that is long overdue.

It is, however, a confusing message coming out of the government when viewed against the background of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister turning down the West Bowling Golf Club development.

This project has a reported potential of 5,000 jobs for the district which could well offer employment for the results of the proposed employment initiative.

The development was approved as part of the revised UDP and following the public inquiry it was recommended that the planning application be approved, but Mr Prescott decided against the development along with one of the local MPs who threatened Bradford Council if they used public funds to appeal against the decision.

The result is the development has to start again from scratch using up valuable time which could be providing jobs for this declining area.

My plea to the Government is to start being honest with the people of Bradford who have supported for many years the local Labour members of parliament.

John R Blundell, Matterdale Road, Dewsbury.

Falling standards

SIR - The last two paragraphs of Jim Greenhalf's excellent article (T&A, December 29) should be framed and hung in City Hall.

"Before local government was reorganised in 1974, councillors were accountable. They were not paid, but they were of a high calibre.

"These days, Bradford's 90 councillors all receive salaries costing up to £1.4 million but the structure of local government is such that few of them are perceived to have any authority for the budget or for anything else."

I was told that before 1974 the two most efficient city councils in the country were Bradford and Coventry who operated similar systems of executive groups of five councillors under three main committees.

Those small groups appeared to get through more work in an afternoon than the present unwieldy sub-committees get through in a week.

It is generally agreed that the standard of councillors has gone down as their payment has gone up, although there are exceptions.

Is it not time we brought in efficiency experts to show us how to slim down the overpaid and over-manned committees?

R J P Warren, Acre Lane, Wibsey.

How to save cash

SIR - Speed humps have recently been installed on Moorside Road, between Pullen Avenue and Harrogate Road, Eccleshill. Why?

Should a highways engineer take the trouble to drive on this bit of highway (or rat run), that person would soon realise that lots of council taxpayers' money has gone down the drain.

This stretch of the road surface is so bumpy as to render the humps an unnecessary expense.

In addition to that, modern boy racers of all ages and both sexes regard them as a challenge.

Bearing in mind the government only has money that you and I give to it, can we not have it spent more wisely?

E G Simpson, Westwood Avenue, Bradford.

Spiritual nonsense

SIR - I really do understand how Christianity has shaped our lives and country, and what a great comfort it is to millions of people.

However, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in his Christmas address, preached forgiveness for murderers and violent criminals, I thought it must be a "wind-up" and that it was really Rowan Atkinson in disguise.

He cannot be serious! This is spiritual nonsense. It is not in our human nature to do this.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden.

Such kind staff

SIR - While out shopping in Bradford after Christmas, I accidentally dropped my bank switch card in the Stationery Box store in the Kirkgate Centre.

Luckily a member of staff spotted it, picked it up and handed it back to me after I'd left.

Wanting to show my appreciation I offered some money towards the staff collection box but she wouldn't hear of it and was absolutely adamant about this.

Ensuring the card was safely returned to its owner was clearly payment enough for staff at the store. How nice it was to come across such kindness and thoughtfulness.

May I express my sincere thanks to all the staff at Stationery Box in Bradford, a shop I use often and always find the service first class.

Alan O'Day Scott, Chancery Court, Gaythorne Road, West Bowling.

Lucky phone call!

SIR - I noted with interest your article (T&A, December 12) about postcode reviews by More Than insurance.

As a policy holder with this company for a number of years, I have found them very competitive as a low-mileage, mature driver, claim-free and driving a very basic car.

Well, I think that someone in our city must have really upset the More Than underwriters!

I have just received my renewal notice with the premium going up from £327 to £561 - a rise of around 71 per cent! Is Bradford really that bad as an insurance risk?

After one phone call I received cover from a firm specialising in mature drivers and for exactly the same cover offered by More Than, the quote was £258 - a saving of around £300.

J P Townsend, Heaton Park Drive, Bradford.

Build more jails

SIR - In response to Mr Lorriman (T&A, January 2), capital punishment will not return and further debate on the topic is sterile and boring.

Let us look for something which we could possibly achieve.

A massive programme of prison construction would provide jobs, boost the economy, and provide bins into which to deposit some of the human rubbish which infests the streets. The cost would be offset by crime reduction.

However, there is not much chance while senior judges declare that robbery with minimal violence should not result in prison.

Not many years ago any robbery led to prison, but now we shall have judicial decisions on how much violence is acceptable.

L Hobsbaum, Willow Crescent, Bradford

Sharp practice

SIR - 'First' we had "a Merry Christmas", with no buses for two days.

Then we enjoyed "a Happy New Year" with yet another fares increase, as from Sunday, January 1, when - guess what - there were again no buses!

Just think of all that lost profit! Although, of course, that will be amply covered by the continued imposition of ordinary weekday fares at the holiday period for what is advertised as a "normal Saturday service", ie off-peak all day.

Even if this is perhaps not illegal, it is sharp practice of which Scrooge himself would be proud.

Humbug, anybody?

Kenneth A Webster, Abb Scott Lane, Bradford.

Thanks, everyone

SIR - May I express our grateful thanks to the very thoughtful people who, when my husband fell in Bradford Road, Clayton, just before Christmas, called for an ambulance and cared for him until it came. Also the extremely kind lady who came to tell me and take me to him. We are most grateful to you all.

Mrs J Richardson, Delph Hill, Clayton.