Letters to the Editor

SIR - Regarding your front page article about the cuts in budgets for inner-city schools (T&A, April 8), on the face of it this seems a disgrace.

But we must not forget all the schools in Bradford require adequate funds in order to teach our children properly. Many have been struggling to do this for the past few years because of inadequate funding and have done an extremely good job of it.

The inner-city schools, meanwhile, have had more than adequate money simply because of where they are situated. Some have had surpluses at the end of each year. Now a fairer system has been brought in, we can see this in the amount they have had taken from their budgets.

Even though there is not sufficient funding allocated for any of our Bradford schools, I do not think that the inner-city ones have the right to make out they are the only ones that suffer.

All our children, especially primary school ones, suffer because there is not enough money and it is time something was done about it.

Let us hope a new government, whoever it may be, will address this.

Stewart Knowles, Wrose Road, Bradford.

Clean up your act

SIR - It is absolutely incredible that the little girl who lost parts of all her limbs through meningitis has now contracted MRSA.

Perhaps those who travel to and from hospital jobs in their work clothes will now look in the mirror and say to themselves 'you could have caused someone to contract this terrible disease.'

All hospital workers have lockers to enable them to carry uniforms and change into them when in their place of employment.

I remember one head of department who worked in St Luke's Hospital was very strict about this and no-one got a second warning for breaking the rule. Her language was, at times, quite ripe, but she achieved the aim of cleanliness.

Phil Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke.

Garden thefts

SIR - I have been approached by a member of our organisation Idle Village Tenants and Residents Association to say that thefts have once again started.

Thieves broke into the gardens of three senior citizens last weekend within the Idle area, stealing from one garden a plastic garden seat, and from the other two a rose tree and a plastic pot containing plants.

These items may seem insignificant but they mean a great deal to people trying to create a garden they can enjoy.

Our organisation abhors this kind of act and appeals to residents to be vigilant and watch out for any suspicious goings-on.

J A Wills, secretary, Idle Village Tenants and Residents Association, Bradford Road, Idle.

Trevor's gesture

SIR - Trevor Foster's sad death summons tributes from all quarters of society, from the highest echelons of the Rugby League, which sport he so signally graced, to the man-in-the street/spectator.

I humbly request to be included among the latter and to be allowed to quote an example of his unstinting kindness and generosity.

In January, 1952, a few of us were in the process of arranging a friendly rugby union fixture against Upper Wharfedale at Grassington. All we were lacking (apart from talent!) was a set of matching jerseys (15 in all).

I was pushed forward and meekly knocked on his door to ask if he could possibly help us out. It was not as if we were budding rugby league stars of the future and thus deserving of some assistance.

Without more ado, he saw to it that our request was granted, personally organising delivery of the said jerseys.

We lost the match but gained a friend. Would there were more of his kind today!

Derek Mozley, Moorhead Terrace, Shipley.

Throw them out!

SIR - Who is this man Corbett who represents us in Strasbourg? (T&A, April 4). Does anybody locally know him?

In the European elections, I think we voted for a party not for an individual. Will Mr Corbett tell us exactly what he has done for Bradford and how much he has been paid for his services plus expenses?

Will he heck because I am sure he has helped nod through everything put before the EU parliament willy nilly. Get rid of the whole lot of them.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

Rats for company

SIR - My family are faithful to shopping in our city.

On Easter Monday my daughter went to the Forster Square shopping area and while looking round a rat ran over her foot in broad daylight.

Telling a friend in the village, they said they had parked their car in the car park in Westgate and watched rats running over the grass areas.

The thought of the lake in the town centre becoming a swimming pool for the rats and that the disease Veles will be rampant in Bradford is horrible.

If it had been me instead of my daughter everyone would have heard my scream.

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.

Think of disabled

SIR - I have read in your paper that some planners in London wish to reorganise Shipley town centre and move the buses from the centre to Otley Road.

As a disabled person I very seldom shop in Bradford because buses are away from the shops except for Westgate.

For the same reason I have difficulty using Asda/Aldi in Shipley. However, this does not apply for central shopping in Shipley at present.

I would therefore request these planners to give some thought to such people as me before coming up with their hare-brained schemes.

J Colley, Titus Street, Shipley.

Emissions targets

SIR - It is disappointing to see that the UK is failing to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions fast enough to meet the reduction target by 2010.

Indeed the amount produced has actually risen over the last two years and at the same time the global measurements show the largest annual rise since measurements began.

Responsible political parties should be making more of this problem, and we need to hold them to account over the next few weeks.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.

Badge solution

SIR - You can't get much more anti-social than wrongfully using the disabled space needed by Mr Rushworth (T&A, April 6) and I agree with him except when he says other blue badge holders are not displaying their photograph.

The rules say the badge should be date side up or else you can be fined for probably disguising an out-of-date badge.

The problem is this now hides the photograph, which is why so many friends and relatives use the badge, bringing the scheme into disrepute.

The sooner the date, serial number and photograph are on both sides, and the authorities link up with the supermarkets to rid us of the misuse, the better.

J Riley, Springfield Road, Baildon.

Puzzling remarks

SIR - I was rather puzzled by the police response and comment concerning the two burglaries at the Barkerend Road newsagents owned by Mr Abbasi (T&A, March 30).

As he already had an alarm system, window and door shutters plus several heavy security doors, I would have thought he had provided adequate security arrangements already.

Have the police been to the premises to suggest what else he could do to safeguard his shop?

Mrs E M Baxter, Hoyle Court Road, Baildon.

Charge travellers

SIR - Regarding the travellers camped out on a pay-and-display car park (T&A, April 5), why not charge them the parking fee and send in the bailiffs if they won't pay?

S D Stead, Grove Road, Shipley.