Letters to the Editor

SIR - As keen recyclers, we were delighted when Bradford Council started the 'Let's get it sorted' scheme and provided extra bins for waste paper and, more recently, cans and glass.

The regular collections of paper waste work well but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the glass/can bin.

Since we were provided with this in November, 2003, only one collection has taken place on the stated day. Last month, a refuse lorry did come round the following day but most people, including us, had taken their bin back in by then.

I rang the Council and was told that all bins missed on Friday were collected on Saturday - this is simply untrue as following last month's belated collection, we left our bin out all weekend and it is still outside our front gate and is still full of cans and bottles.

While we applaud the Council's recycling efforts, thus reducing the amount of waste dumped in land-fill sites, the current system is clearly not functioning.

If people give up recycling due to the poor service, there will be a cost to the environment and Council finances as they will fail to meet the tough government targets.

Mrs AJ Hansen, Sherwood Grove, Shipley

l Richard Wixey, Bradford Council's director of environmental protection, said: "Increasing the amount of recycling is vital in order to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. We do not want to lose the goodwill of residents and accept we need to improve the reliability of the service. Through the Telegraph & Argus I have already apologised to residents where we have missed recycling collections. We are working hard to sort the problems out and are confident that most future collections will take place on the right day. We look forward to delivering a high-quality service to all residents throughout the district."

Cross-rail facts

SIR - Councillor Stanley King may be interested to learn that North Yorkshire County Council is committed to restoring a rail link between Skipton and Colne, while Otley Town Council is campaigning for the town to be reinstated on the rail network.

Furthermore, both councils have commissioned studies examining the viability of their schemes, in marked contrast to Bradford Council or Metro who have been reluctant to commission a feasibility study and a cost-benefit analysis examining the viability of Bradford cross-rail.

Instead Coun King recommends a private individual should persuade the Department of Transport to adopt cross-rail, before the Council or Metro would take action. (T&A, May 4).

It is lamentable if both Coun King and Bradford Council are unaware that it is incumbent of public authorities to liaise with government bodies for promoting local schemes, and not delegate to voluntary bodies or individuals.

Coun King is wrong to state a rail viaduct for cross-rail would straddle the centre of the city, but would instead be situated at its edge.

The viaduct could also be made into an attractive feature, such as the iron bridge at Sheffield which carries light rail.

Alec Suchi, Secretary Bradford Rail Users' Group, Allerton Road, Bradford.

Park is overgrown

SIR - Passing Manningham Park I couldn't believe my eyes - Lister sitting among the dandelions.

I have never seen it in all my life as it is now. The flowers have always been marvelous, especially the crocuses and other flowers in season.

You couldn't see the tulips for the grass and dandelions - I felt really sick. What has happened to the park?

Any visitors will be disgusted. Is Bradford so busy trying to build up the city (at what cost?) that they have forgotten the flowers?

Mrs F Pickles, Sleningford Road,

Bingley

l David Talbot, Bradford Council's head of parks and landscapes service, said: "In line with good horticultural practice, we allow spring bulbs to die back naturally to ensure they flower the following year. This means the area is left until late June for cutting. The area may look a little unsightly at the moment, but it means we can guarantee a dazzling display next spring. The rest of the park is being maintained to our usual high standards."

Time for a change

SIR - "Make your vote count", said at least one edition of the T&A on polling day. How, pray? Under our primitive voting system only those voting for the winning candidate need have turned out! All others counted for nothing.

The organisation Make Votes Count wants to do just that by getting proportional representation introduced in England for all elections and elsewhere in the UK for elections not already held under PR.

Why does Blair ask for the Tories to be kept from "the back door"? Why do we have a "back door" for such costly and important elections? Would Tony want it shutting for Labour?

The back door exists because we have an unfair electoral system which encourages negative campaigning and scare tactics - even lies - in relatively few (marginal) seats, enabling parties to get a landslide of seats and power on a minority of the vote, hence its popularity with many socialists and (extreme) right-wingers.

The Catholic minority in Northern Ireland persuaded a recent Tory Government to give them a fair hearing via PR in their local elections. Pressure came from politicians and gunmen. I would hope political pressure will suffice here - and soon. Readers - support the call for change!

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

Oath's meaning

SIR - Mr Timberley (T&A, May 4) fails to understand that when MPs swear their allegiance to the Queen they swear allegiance to us the people, because the Queen, like all our Kings and Queens, is bound by her Coronation oath "to govern us according to our laws and customs."

Neither does he understand that while our constitution is not a single document, it nevertheless exists in written form, from Magna Carta to the 1688 Declaration of Rights, the 1689 Bill of Rights, the aforementioned Coronation oath and 800 years of common law and precedent that would fill a library.

In two quite different ways we have the best constitution in the world - first, as above, the accumulated wisdom of 800 years, and second, the single most important principle of all (notably absent from those of more restrictive states including the European Union) that "no Parliament may bind its successors".

Thus while we are free to make any laws we wish, we cannot prevent future generations inheriting the same freedom, not least the freedom to correct our mistakes.

Idris Francis, Church Lane, West Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire

Connaught plans

SIR - I feel I must respond to letters by Mark Kilburn and David Rhodes (T&A, May 7) regarding the Connaught Rooms.

In answer to Mark Kilburn, the stained glass windows were taken out by persons unknown just before the rooms became listed. I have heard that they have since been auctioned at a huge profit.

To David Rhodes I say I did not take a huge amount of time and effort to get the rooms listed simply to see them fall apart due to lack of care.

Before and since the rooms were listed I have tried to organise negotiations with Mr Kunz the owner, to no avail.

We would like to talk to him to either to negotiate to buy the premises or come up with plans which will not devastate the interior of the building.

The present plans in front of the council planning committee can in no way retain any of the original features.

Finally, we have our own plans which we believe can retain the interior while giving the building a new and profitable life. If Mr Kunz would talk to us we might be able to satisfy all parties.

John Stead, Rooley Avenue, Odsal

Licence to confuse

SIR - I find it very difficult to understand when reading the T&A Court File how people can be firstly fined for not having a driving licence, then, as a further punishment, have their driving licence endorsed!

How come a licence can be endorsed when it doesn't exist in the first place? Can anyone enlighten me?

D M Ryland, Thorndene Way, Bradford.