Letters to the Editor

SIR - I write having just read the report concerning the Allerton schoolboy and the 'naming and shaming' policy towards school failure, which is described as Government guidelines (T&A, January 27).

I see this as organised violence towards a defenceless child who was reduced to trembling fear and terror.

A ray of hope for something better came from the Association of Educational Psychologists which condemns the fear approach, saying naming and rewarding are far better.

I hope that this means reward for effort as well as success, because failing children, however that may show, need patient, respectful encouragement, not blame and punishment. The carrot is always better than the stick.

If you wish to see this with some authority, read 'Schools without Failure' by Dr Wm Glasser. It is a paperback, simply written and bedtime reading for simple folk, not a textbook.

School has got to be fun and learning a joy, because somehow it has to compete with such pleasures as overeating, TV, violence and sex.

This is all the more important for schools if there is not much encouragement from home.

Dr Arthur Rushton, Keighley Road, Denholme.

Avenue's closure

SIR - Approximately two years ago I submitted a proposal to the Council through Councillor Green for Netherlands Avenue to be re-opened as a thoroughfare.

The reasons have been regularly published in your paper recently, and I am surprised that there has been little response from anyone at City Hall except to say that the closure is for a six-month trial period.

Could someone in authority please advise as to:

1. Who will be taking the decision?

2. When will the six months expire?

3. Will the public have any say in the matter?

4. Is my original plan (which opens up the road at the Guide Post, and provides for traffic lights at the Huddersfield Road and Halifax Road junctions) still a possibility?

Trevor Tetley, Cleckheaton Road, Low Moor, Bradford

l Richard Gelder, Bradford Council's principal engineer, said: "The experimental closure of Netherlands Avenue is being monitored up until Monday, June 6. The outcomes, along with comments and objections received, will be reported to the area committee which will then decide on whether or not the closure will be made permanent.

"Anyone wanting to give their views should write to Gerry Danby, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, City Hall, Bradford. BD1 1HY.

"For a number of years Netherlands Avenue was shut to vehicles except for access as part of a package to reduce the high number of serious accidents at the junctions of Halifax Road, Huddersfield Road and Cleckheaton Road with Netherlands Avenue.

"However, it could not be made effective without constant policing and people kept driving through. This experimental closure was introduced to prevent that problem.

"The committee will look at all options for traffic measures when making their decision, including the possible provision of traffic signals."

Recycling failure

SIR - It is doubtful whether Bradford Council will achieve its future recycling targets unless it devotes more resources towards this objective.

Its deplorable failure to achieve its targets for this year will result in a fine, which will be borne by council tax and rate payers.

Last week I had left a container of glass and cans to be collected as per the date stated, but the collection was never made.

I later rang the Council to enquire further regarding the non-collection, and was advised that difficulties had been encountered with the collection vehicles.

Unless Bradford Council proves much more reliable in collecting goods for recycling, the public will lack incentive to separate their waste for collection.

It would further prove useful to provide a specific number for recycling enquiries in the telephone directory and on the bins, rather than a general refuse number.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Bradford

Allotments help

SIR - Bradford Environmental Education Service (BEES), part of the City of Bradford YMCA, is a local organisation working to improve the environment quality in Bradford area and to increase awareness about the need and the valuable effects of responsible environmental behaviour.

BEES is looking for experience and knowledge about Bowling Park and Bowling allotments gardens from people of the community.

The aim of this search is to learn about the uses, the evolution of these green spaces and also to relate it to our work in the Bowling Park Community Orchard.

We are looking forward to hearing your experiences that you would like to share, and we are available if you need more information about our work and our request. Please let us know if you wish to be kept informed of events at the orchard.

William Hamlet, Bradford Environmental Education Service, YMCA Building, Trinity Road, Bradford.

The man is mad

SIR - "Fury as Ripper is let out"... "He has no right to be let out"... "He should never be allowed to see the light of day again."

Really? Do you really believe that?

So then. let's put his eyes out! By anaesthetic of course, we aren't savages.

I have heard that in some Arab countries they cut your hand off for stealing. Under anaesthetic of course. They aren't savages either.

The man (or monster) is mad. We don't really think that people who are insane should be hung, do we?

If Sutcliffe had killed my daughter, I would have wanted him drawn and quartered. If my son had been Peter Sutclifffe, I would be broken-hearted, but he would still have been my son.

I like to think they would have let him visit my grave - just once.

How many people have daughters killed by Sutcliffe or a monster like him? How many people have sons like him?

There but for the "Grace of God".

Jack Mawson, Grove House Crescent, Bradford.

Hunting own goal

SIR - Opening the Countryside Alliance's case against a hunting ban in the High Court, Sir Sydney Kentridge, QC said hunting was "a major source of recreation and enjoyment."

One might argue with the word "major", but astonishingly, Sir Sydney could not have presented the anti-hunting case more succinctly!

Pursuing a terrified animal to the point of exhaustion, and then having it ripped apart while the participants look on "a source of recreation and enjoyment?"

I fear that those who derive pleasure from such ghastly proceedings deserve almost as much sympathy as the unfortunate creatures they slaughter.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

Aussie example

SIR - At last a politician has had the courage to say what 80 per cent of the population have been silently thinking for the last eight years.

Michael Howard has put into the spotlight one of the public's biggest fears - mass immigration.

With a similar system to Australia, most of these people wouldn't get into our country, weeding out criminals, drug dealers and social security scroungers.

How much longer are New Labour going to let Britain be the dumping ground of the world?

Arthur Roberts, Cresswell Lane, Dewsbury.

Help at hand

SIR - I was interested to read your article about Tracy Marsden (T&A, January 6) and am delighted that the help and support she received from Action on Pre-Eclampsia gave her the confidence to have another child.

I thought your readers might be interested to know that Action on Pre-Eclampsia has a helpline which can be contacted on 020 8427 4217 and in-depth information is also available on our website at www.apec.org.uk

Jackie Lopez, PR and Fundraising, Action on Pre-Eclampsia, Pinner Road, Harrow.