Letters to the Editor

It would be comforting to think that this city, despite its lapse into the present slough of despond and cultural wilderness, may yet rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

However, any proposal to touch St George's Hall must surely suffer rejection on account of its status as a listed building.

Likewise the Odeon, though supremely at home as a cinema (1930 vintage) and definitely worthy of revival in some other capacity, is hardly suitable, despite the clamour we are constantly hearing from its supporters.

Therefore the only worthwhile option must be a newly-built venue, matching Sir Ernest's description of Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.

It is a shame that more foresight was not shown when a replacement for the site once occupied by Provincial House was being debated.

Predictably, yet more of the staple architectural diet of the last 40 years is to be forced down our throats, whereas a brand new state-of-the-art concert hall should have been the priority.

Derek Mozley, Moorhead Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - Regarding the Odeon and fanciful Spice! project, why not do something people want for a change? A cross-cultural music centre would be fabulous if run properly.

The Spice project seems odd in a city crammed full of the stuff. Try visiting the award-winning Haq's Supermarket in Listerhills or the nearby Al Halal. They have extensive stocks of any form of spice you could ever wish for and helpful staff to advise you if you don't know what something is.

Spice sounds good to the people on the committee because it is a bit ethnic. The trouble is the rest of the city has beaten them to it.

Use your imagination and do something for everybody in the city.

Mark Ashdown, Ling Park Avenue, Wilsden.

SIR - May I add my protest regarding the new postal system.

I don't object to one daily post which is all I receive at present anyway. But I fail to see why this should be at midday. Why can't we have one early-morning delivery? Most milkmen seem to manage this.

May I ask the Bradford postmaster if the entire country will be getting a single midday post as he intimates or is the delivery time fixed by the individual post master?

I do have my reason for wanting an early-morning post as the post master should know. I've complained often enough.

Elaine Neale, Gordon Terrace, Sherborne Road, Idle.

SIR - One of the joys of the old music hall was the way in which the audience participated usually orally but occasionally physically by throwing things at the stage.

In the present day our delightful pantomimes continue this tradition while the ability to "work an audience" with catch phrases like "Nice to see yer - To see yer nice" associated with Bruce Forsyth (described as "Uriah Heap on speed!") is a joy to behold.

Do any of your readers shout at the soaps? I try to keep quiet but the spectacle of Roy Cropper being present when the very bad Tracy Barlow was about to bring forth "Baby Cropper" was too much especially when he started talking about the Great War.

I was terrified he was going to quote Field Marshall Haig who, I believe, called for "one last big push".

So I said it for him!

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - McDonald's have a lot to answer for over rubbish that is blown about at Low Well, Shipley.

Their cartons are strewn about all up the Main Road. Surely they could employ someone to pick them up, or have a bin put up.

Come on McDonald's, I'm sure you could afford it.

Mrs C Grange, Glenfield, Windhill.

SIR - I notice Mubarik Iqbal is at it again (Letters, February 16). I wonder if she has her eyes open to the fact that Iraqis are being killed by their own people - I think the total reached 100 last week.

And what beggars belief is they even stoop so low as to plant bombs in a children's playground killing some of them. I don't call that war. I call it murder.

None of us like wars, wherever they may be, or the excuses that are made for it. But take a look today, Mubarik, around the world and you will see unrest and fighting that is not the making of either the UK or the US.

Most of this stems from different races, religions and the urge to own a piece of land that does not belong to them. The whole world is unsafe and the whole problem is greed.

If everyone stayed in their own country to work and just traded with each other, the world would be a better place to live in.

Think about it. It could work. We might turn out to be friends...

B J Rudd, Roger Court, Undercliffe.

SIR - The recent booklet entitled "Up a Nick i' Bowlin'" could soon prompt some smart alec to write one called "Down the pan in Bradford" meaning of course the unthinkable demise of Bradford City AFC.

Surely a city this size must be a standing joke for some smaller yet successful clubs.

The truth of the matter, though ardent fans will disagree, is the actual location of the ground no matter how much our predecessors have tried to improve it.

Overcoming administration is certainly the priority immediately, but should that be resolved what we are left with is a team of tryers who endeavour to do their best with limited success.

If by some miracle they could achieve the impossible they would still be performing in the wrong area of the city.

I conclude sadly that the present administration with all the will in the world haven't the necessary clout financially to give us the football of the highest standard we see weekly on the TV that other clubs deliver.

Kenneth E Higgins, Bempton Court, Great Horton.

SIR - Re your Valentine competition. Years ago, having a romantic nature, I would have congratulated Mr Grayham Roper on his winning entry. It was superb. He wrote to Sarah Lee:

"Roses are red, violets are blue,

You're so sweet they named cake after you."

In my cynical old age I suspect that Grayham may be trifling with Miss Lee's emotions.

Geoffrey Smith, Nab Wood Crescent, Shipley.