SIR - Between the Shipley/Airedale A650 and the Bingley bypass, the route is tortuous and congested.

With due respect to Bradford's world-renowned consultant architect, I suggest a truly Alsopesque, road-free solution.

Let all Shipley/Airedale traffic be diverted to the proposed canal basin. Here, cars, goods, containers, etc, will be transferred to barges. These vessels, after negotiating no fewer than 11 locks, will turn west at Shipley along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Near to the Park Road bridge, Bingley, all will disembark alongside the adjacent bypass. Bradford and Bingley will thus become busy ports. Scores of dockers' jobs will be created.

The Bradford canal will be put to full use, instead of it being a hugely costly, little-used, idle fancy. Saltaire roundabout will be at comparative peace.

Of course, travelling time will be greater than by road. But that will not trouble Alsop, whose vision for Bradford is not of traffic smoothly flowing, but of water, water...

Douglas Hartley, Irving Terrace, Clayton