Letters to the Editor

SIR - The current tabloid headlines about sex offenders in schools may reflect more hysteria than actual damage to children.

When I was at school, one teacher was well known for his penchant towards small boys, regularly evident in the swimming pool changing-rooms. All pupils knew about this (as probably did staff and management) and generally avoided his attentions.

I am not aware of anyone damaged by this but, at the same time, it also presented a valuable early learning experience that some types of undesirable people were about in the world and that we would be wise to recognise and avoid them.

I would be very surprised if any of my fellow pupils felt personally harmed by their early exposure to one of life's unfortunate realities.

I would never seek to defend any child abusers, and certainly not Ruth Kelly. It does seem wrong that proven sex offenders could be employed in schools and it is to be hoped that improved procedures will result from this debate.

But let's keep a lid on the hysteria and temper our debate with the real level of risk involved.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: Times have changed and I think it is generally understood today that such improper attention is no longer acceptable because there can be a very thin line between over-friendliness and abuse. What do other readers think? Should such behaviour be accepted as a learning experience or should there be a "zero tolerance" attitude towards professionals who exploit their position and act improperly?

Please speak out

SIR - It's sad to see the dream of Maud Marshall and her wrecking crew to eradicate the Odeon building gathering pace once more in these pages.

Regarding the site's future, you only really hear from people wanting to keep the Odeon, so why can't the people of Bradford who actually care about what happens be given what they want?

Again I ask, why do BCR ignore them? Even if the questionable claim that the inside is decayed beyond repair is correct, the option to retain the outer facade with sympathetic and tasteful restoration has never been considered.

Forget hotels and offices, why can't Bradford have something even Leeds is lacking - a magnificent concert hall? Externally the Odeon remains an architectural gem and no modern creation could ever hope to compare.

We are presently in the midst of a "public consultation" exercise regarding plans for our city centre and time is of the essence.

If you agree with me, now is your last chance to firmly let BCR know what you think of their dream.

Mark Nicholson, Clayfield Drive, Bradford.

Answers, please

SIR - Here are two fundamental questions about the Bradford city centre 'Master Plan' (and where have we heard that phrase before?).

First, the plan for the lake, the canal and all the other proposed developments will be the greatest change that the city centre has ever had. There have been other big building projects in the past but never anything on this scale. Surely such massive alterations to the appearance and character of Bradford should be subject to its citizens' approval?

The Council is a democratic body so why is there not a high-profile public referendum on this vital issue? The 'public consultations' have been low key and marginalised.

Secondly, if the Council can attract multi-billion funding investments in Bradford - from whatever sources - why is it being spent on an architectural fantasy with no immediate practical benefits?

Why not spend it on better education, health, crime control, the environment and all the other problems that the city is notorious for?

Will a canal give us better-educated students? Will a lake reduce crime?

M Long, Greenside Lane, Bradford.

Why no cycle link?

SIR - It is good news that the 18-mile North Kirklees cycle route is ready to open (T&A January 13) and it will link into the excellent Greenway on the old railway route south of Low Moor.

The only remaining problem is that it is not yet linked to the National Route 66, through the city centre, as the Council is still struggling to sort out the land problem in Low Moor.

It can't have been much of an effort as it began around 1998 and it seems that unfortunately it is not a priority.

Bradford cyclists deserve better than this and it really is time that the city was properly connected to the Sustrans national network of safe cycling routes.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.

It's all wrong!

SIR - I think something must be wrong somewhere when the powers-that-be decide it costs too much (£4,000) for a woman to receive breast cancer treatment yet, at the taxpayers' expense, someone has taken the decision that it's okay to shell out £28,000 for a man (a serving prisoner) who can't decide what gender he wants to be.

Mary Byrne, Clover Street, Little Horton, Bradford.

The name game...

SIR - Only two weeks into the New Year and politicians have given us a clear insight into what we can expect for 2006.

Charles Kennedy becomes the first victim of the torrid debates on the effects of alcohol.

David Cameron, new manager of Tory FC, signs Bob Geldof, who can play equally badly in any position, on a free transfer from New Labour FC.

Gorgeous George Galloway's purring cat role play will ensure the end of his political career but guarantee him the role of Dick Whittington's cat in pantomime.

Minister for Disasters John Prescott refuses to be upstaged by those seeking his crown by claiming he didn't understand how council tax worked for the past eight years.

As for Tony Blair's confidence in Ruth Kelly, I'm sure this will be the usual kiss of death.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden.

Better drunk...

SIR - Now that Charles Kennedy has been hounded out of office for being over- inclined to tipple, perhaps we could recall that he hasn't actually harmed anyone's health, bar his own.

He certainly isn't responsible for anyone's death yet Tony Blair is responsible for starting an illegal war which has led to the deaths of nearly 100 British servicemen and thousands of Iraqi civilians.

Where is the clamour for dismissal from his party? Have we, as a nation, lost all sense of proportion? Better a drunk than a dictator!

John Bastow, Beacon Road, Horton Bank Top, Bradford.

Smoky pub air

SIR - Reading the press coverage and local debate about smoke-free legislation, I have noticed there are some misconceptions about the effectiveness of ventilation equipment in removing smoky air in pubs.

Many people think ventilation machines remove smoky air and replace it with fresh air. This is not the case.

Ventilation machines act as a filter. While they do remove the visible elements of smoke, the cancer-causing particulates in tobacco smoke which are too small to be seen by the human eye are also too small to be trapped by the filter.

This means the most dangerous components of tobacco smoke are not removed just re-circulated.

At best, these machines dilute the toxins.

Second-hand smoke kills more British workers than all other industrial accidents combined.

Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health, says that the proposed Health Bill will protect 99 per cent of British workers from exposure to second-hand smoke. I urge those in the one per cent of British workers who will remain exposed to write to their MP and complain. I know I wouldn't put up with it.

Kate Alley, Media Co-ordinator, Action on Smoking and Health, Clifton Street, London.

Superb response

SIR - I would like to thank the emergency ambulance staff and police who attended to my late father in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Their energy, empathy, politeness and professionalism were outstanding.

I would like to thank them on behalf of all our family for the speedy response on a very difficult night for them as well as ourselves.

David Warburton, Rooley Crescent, Odsal.