Letters to the Editor

General vandalism is bad enough, but the mind-set of young people who desecrate and destroy churches, mosques, temples, war memorials, gravestones and the like defies belief.

Once again, however, we must not exclusively blame the perpetrators, who obviously have no perception of the hurt and distress they are causing to others.

As well as the vandals themselves, there are a few parents, and indeed grandparents, who should be deeply ashamed at the deeds of their offspring, who are inevitably conditioned by their experiences within the family.

I would like to think that if these young criminals are caught, part of their punishment would be that they (and ideally, their parents) are forced to confront the people of the Cottingley community as a whole and explain their actions.

Then, they may see what harm their mindless destruction can do not only to the church and its members, but to the village itself.

Gordon Dean, Long Lane, Harden, Bingley.

SIR - If I was an asylum seeker fleeing from persecution, possible torture, even death, I don't think I would be too fussy about which country I sought refuge in.

The so-called asylum seekers we now see coming into our country all appear to be fit young men. Such men could prove useful in the African countries where the people are suffering from poverty, drought and starvation.

They could distribute vital food supplies, give basic first-aid, and dig wells. Two or three years spent on such work would be a valuable plus on their CVs when they then asked to be allowed to settle in this country.

But for some time I have thought there was an ulterior purpose to be here - maybe the basis of an underground army. A fantasy? Well some recent terrorist activities make one wonder.

Peter A Rushworth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth.

SIR - In response to the letter from Councillor David Ford (T&A, February 11) replying to my letter. Let me state the following:

1. I have been involved in local politics for the past 25 years.

2. Yes, I have been a councillor.

3. I still ask the question, what do 90 councillors do today if they are not responsible for education, city centre regeneration and housing?

Coun Ford tells us that he sees his role as one of having to reassure people. Well I find that very admirable, but what is done for Bradford and the council taxpayers of Bradford? Coun Ford doesn't say.

J R Fieldhouse, Geraldton Avenue, King's Park, Bradford 2.

SIR - If you knew a family who'd been regularly conned, you'd begin to think they were simple. Yet Bradfordians as a group have suffered this exploitation for years.

You can all think of situations that have cost your family money. In the recent past we have had Saltaire Heritage £200,000, City of Culture £1 million, incompetence with Social Services payments of £4 million etc.

The latest suggestion is that we all pay an extra £20 per household for 200 more West Yorkshire police officers. Sounds good doesn't it? I bet many favour that, but the extra won't happen. An enormous percentage of council tax to the police is funnelled into paying off ex-police officers, very many retiring early on full pensions for a variety of convenient aches and pains.

In North Yorkshire they pay more out this way than to working bobbies. If we pay the extra £20 all you'll get is more of them hopping aboard the gravy train years before retirement.

Policemen and firemen should be examined by independent doctors, as keen as those investigating disability benefit applicants.

Les Brotherton, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - Re the housing revamp scheme in Bradford. No doubt many other readers, like myself, were not amazed that yet again, a regeneration scheme has caused "bad feeling".

Surely, to those of us who have bought our own homes and take pride in their neighbourhood, it seems fantastic to have your house regenerated to the tune of £4,000 and it hardly costs you three figures - if you want to pay it. If you don't pay, don't worry, it will still be done!

Can I suggest that as the chairman of regeneration says, "first impressions are lasting impressions," the money is distributed to all those who, like me, live on a road leading to and from the city centre.

If the Council will spend £4,000 on my house to "spruce it up" I will willingly pay at least £500 to have it done - guaranteed, not a voluntary contribution!

Come on you Council grandees. I've paid my dues and demands in full for more than 40 years, so surely I'm due a part refund for continuing to try and live and work a normal life in what is becoming a far-from-normal city.

J P Townsend, Heaton Park Drive, Bradford.

SIR - Regarding Barbara Rudd's letter in the T&A (February 18) about Undercliffe and pedestrians. I can inform your readers that action is being taken by Bradford North Area Committee on this.

Over the years I have attended Undercliffe Neighbourhood Forums where Mrs Rudd and other residents have raised the issue of pedestrian safety at Undercliffe lights on many occasions. Unfortunately Mrs Rudd was not able to attend the Neighbourhood Forum at St Augustine's Church when the new proposals were announced.

The Bradford North Area Committee is taking a report to the committee at City Hall today about the Otley Road/Harrogate Road corridor improvements. This includes installing lights at the Otley Road/Northcote Road junction by St Andrew's Church and the shops, and Mrs Rudd (with many others) will be pleased to hear about the introduction of pedestrian phasing at the Otley Road/Killinghall Road traffic lights.

On this subject when the finance became available, the Bradford North Area Committee did not turn a deaf ear!

Finally I would argue that the new traffic lights at the Otley Road/Undercliffe Road junction are needed, with Undercliffe Primary School moving this month to its new school on the Oxford Road site on the other side of Otley Road.

Councillor Howard Middleton (Lib Dem), chairman, Bradford North Area Committee, Harrogate Terrace, Bradford 3.

SIR - I hate to disillusion Martin Boocock (February 12) but according to a Highways Department spokesman the Council is not legally required to grit any roads or pavements and only do so as a service.

Neither will Mr Boocock be able to sue the Council if he should be injured as the result of a fall on icy pavements as according to the same spokesman, the Council is not legally responsible for that either.

I rang the Highways Department to ask if the street where I live could be added to the list of those which are gritted as there is a primary school at the end of it, and consequently a great many cars and pedestrians use the street which is quite narrow with parked cars on both sides.

I was told that gritting on a regular basis is not possible but I was given a number to ring each time the street is icy and grit would be put down if possible.

Perhaps someone with knowledge of the law would care to give an opinion of the Council's attitude.

E L Roberts, Heath Terrace, Bradford 3.

SIR - As the police are empowered to stop and question anyone acting suspiciously, why is it that scores of baseball-capped youths, apparently unemployed, are daily seen driving around in costly or expensively tarted-up cars? What, pray, could be more suspicious?

Come on, you police officers. Let's see some action.

J R Renshaw, Currer Street, Bradford 1.

SIR - Re your report on the "road rage" terror of crossing patrols (February 15). I find it astounding that people are so aggressive in their efforts to beat the patrol when the good people who provide a great service for our children step into the road to carry out their duty.

The people manning these patrols should be given access (with support) to the justice system to prosecute just such offenders for some of the offences the report mentions with further backup if intimidation then ensues. If the system will not protect this vital resource and the people who man it from idiotic behaviour I fear it will vanish for ever and costly litigation will be the result when more serious incidents occur.

Martin John Petty, Haworth Road, Bradford 9