SIR – Regarding the letter from Councillor Kevin Warnes “demolition disaster” (T&A, February 27) in which he bemoans the “blatant disregard for planning laws in relation to the former Royal Mail Sorting Office at Shipley”.

I put it to Coun Warnes that the Council have brought this situation on themselves.

A leaflet issued by the Council clearly states: “It is not an offence in planning law to start work without permission! A person does so at their own risk”. It further states: “Where relevant permission and/or consent has not been granted, the Council may consider taking enforcement action”.

Some might say that this is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. I questioned this policy at Jacobs Well some time ago and was informed that the Council hadn’t the manpower to monitor everything that was built or pulled down and work was allowed to go ahead and retrospective permission applied for “within four years”.

It looks like this is what has happened at Shipley, so Coun Warnes really has no cause to complain. He may not like it, but these are the rules.

To save money, Bradford Council are turning a blind eye to possible breaches of planning laws. I cannot imagine what this blinkered thinking will cost the ratepayer in years to come.

I can only hope that Coun Warnes agrees that this is false economy. He is in a position to help put a stop to it.

David Oyston, Rylands Avenue, Bingley