SIR - How nice to read the positive article by Ian Briggs about Gareth Gates (T&A, October 21). Gareth is very talented, works very hard and remains loyal to his family. Although shop sales of his latest album have been low, the figures do not include the many ordered on-line, which are not counted in the statistics upon which the charts are based.

Let's hope Gareth still has a fine future here in Britain. We are continually reading of his success abroad and, only this week, the newspapers in South Africa are comparing hysterical scenes surrounding his visit there with Beatlemania.

He, like David Beckham, is admired and respected abroad. So why, over here in England, do we not rejoice in our success stories but wait readily to bring people down at the first opportunity?

I hope that Bradford remains proud of this local superstar.

Chris McHugo, Worcester Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands.

SIR - So smoking is now forbidden in bus stations. As a smoker, I fully agree that non-smokers are entitled to a smoke-free environment, but in the bus stations diesel buses are entering and leaving, emitting particulates and exhaust gases which are all-pervading. Will this regulation do anything for air quality?

A simple and less draconian solution would be to install a duct in the ceiling with an extractor fan. I travel frequently on the buses to Keighley, Bradford and Leeds and have not seen any smoking. When are smokers going to rally around and protest?

B Whittaker, Scott Lane West, Riddlesden.

SIR - I read your very good supplement concerning the rubbish on Bradford streets (T&A, October 21). It is a blight on the landscape of the city.

In New York and many other US states the price of every bottle or can has a refund element. When you return the container to special dispensers at the supermarket your "deposit" is refunded and the cans are flattened inside the machine for recycling.

If, in Bradford, you got back 3p for every can, you would be surprised how many children would even pick up discarded cans to get extra spending money. It has worked here; over two years it once added up to our spending money for a trip to Canada. Good luck, Bradford.

Diane Duguid, East 4th Street, Deer Park, New York.

SIR - After seeing Lord Mayor Allan Hillary (T&A, October 21) going on about litter etc, it's about time Bradford Council put its own house in order instead of blaming the public all the time.

He should see the recycling skips near Bingley law courts. The paper skip and plastic skip are full for weeks on end. Paper and plastic is piled up because the public can't get any more into the skips.

I've been to complain to the Council shop in Main Street four times. The girl rings up then it's just the same after a few weeks. So, Councillor Hillary, sort your own mess out first instead of blaming the public.

Derek Kendall, Windy Grove, Wilsden.

SIR - I read with complete amazement MP Marsha Singh's concern at overcrowding in Armley jail (T&A, October 17). But there again, he is a member of the party whose record on fighting crime is, to put it simply, pathetic.

Since coming to power, Labour has presided over a 15 per cent rise in crime and the rate at which crimes are cleared up has dropped to fewer than one in four. Oh yes, there are more police officers than ever, but who let the numbers plummet under the tag "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime"? Yes, this Labour Government.

People have far more time for Tony Martin and anybody who puts the victim over and above the criminal than the inmates of Armley. There is far too much attention and resources given to the offender, almost as if to insult the victim, who is usually the one who pays for all this attention from do-gooders.

I shall always put the decent, law-abiding victims before the criminal, whatever Marsha Singh chooses as his priority.

Roger Taylor, Glen Terrace, Halifax.

SIR - I have lived in the Undercliffe area since my birth 38 years ago, the first 19 years on Killinghall Road near to the traffic lights junction, and believe the Council must act to improve this blackspot where there have been numerous accidents over the years.

I am a professional driver and hold Class One licences in the heavy goods and public service vehicle categories and know road safety is very important. As Mrs K Wilkinson said (Letters, October 22), it is now time to improve this junction and try to make the latest fatal accident the last for all the residents' sake, young and old.

Please make it happen and save lives NOW!

Chris Frost, Leafield Avenue, Bradford 2.