Are seat belts a priority for the police?

SIR, - I notice that Bradford police have announced a 'crackdown' on motorists not wearing seat belts in the same week that the new Chief Constable of West Yorkshire complained about having too few police officers.

Given their lack of resources, the police should prioritise on the serious crimes that leave people afraid to go out of their homes at night and afraid to open their doors to strangers.

I am sure the people of Bradford and Shipley would have been much more reassured to hear the police announce a crackdown on burglars and people who prey on the elderly and vulnerable to swindle money from them and thugs who commit violent crimes.

Are the police in Bradford so out of touch that they think the most serious crime problem is motorists not belting up?

The police will have no greater champion than me in their efforts to combat crime, and I understand the frustration of having to fill in too many forms and arresting the same people over and over again, only for the courts to let them down with ineffective punishments.

But the answer is not to take their frustration out on motorists because they are a soft touch.

PHILIP DAVIES

Prospective Conservative

Parliamentary candidate,

Shipley. (Burley-in-Wharfedale

and Menston).

Not gentlemanly

SIR, - How ridiculous is Roy Fotherby to claim sex discrimination for the women's only session. Surely there is still the rest of the day for all to swim.

However, rather than stop the 'all ladies' session, he could not claim sex discrimination if they started an 'all males' session, say on Wednesday lunchtime. I am sure no women would object in such a petty way.

What a public waste of money and time to take it to court. I also think most men would be too gentlemanly to think like he does.

D Driver

7 Garth Grove,

Menston.

Proven right

SIR, - Your front page report on the subject of the parish precept was something that I had anticipated ever since the concept of such a thing was first mooted.

You printed a number of letters from me on the subject earlier this year, one of which included a sentence along the lines of 'let's wait and see'. Well, we have, hav en't we? Now everyone knows,. I wonder if Councillor Heathcliffe Bowen will now withdraw his remarks as published in the Gazette of April 18. in which he accuses me of a total lack of understanding.

I understood, sir, and am proven right. Unfortunately, the PBI will have to pay as always.

Victor M Bean

112 Skipton Road,

Ilkley.

PS: PBI, for those who are not old enough to know, stands for ' Poor bloody infantry'.

Not consulted

SIR, - Regarding your main story, 'Anger as residents face extra rates for their parish council', Coun Mike Gibbons should not complain about not being consulted about Bradford Council decision to scrap grant funding of parish councils.

Did he consult the people of Ilkley when setting a precept of £3.50? As he put it 'to help local comunities carry out projects that Bradford was unable to fund'. How many projects have been funded by Ilkley Parish Council since the precept has been running?

To expect Bradford to pay for the running cost of the parish council and allow it to raise a precept four times its running costs is foolish to say the least.

As leader of the Council, Coun Gibbons must accept full responsibility for this badly thought out idea. Greed was the motive for this precept, with no plans as to what projects they had in mind if they ever had any.

I did warn them, that their precept idea could back fire, as you sow so

shall you reap. Are we still willing to pay for a parish council that has no authority and has no influence?

Peter Cheney

10 Crossbeck Road,

Ilkley.

Big challenge

SIR, - In the next few days, many of your readers will receive confirmation that they have got a place in next year's London Marathon.

As everyone knows, this is the challenge of a lifetime to many people. Can I appeal to those people who will run in next year's marathon to consider supporting people who are facing their own challenge of a lifetime - that of dealing with cancer.

Locally, Marie Curie offers care to people living with cancer through our specialist nurse at Springs Medical Centre in Ilkley, and a team of nurses who give practical support to patients who are able to stay at home, usually through the night.

We also care for local people at our hospice in Bradford.

We need to raise more than £1 million every year through fundraising events and donations. I would love to hear from anyone who gets a place in next year's London Marathon who would like to support others facing the greatest challenge of their lives.

I can be contacted on (01274) 337034 or by e0-mail at brian.curran@mariecurie.org

BRIAN CURRAN

Community Fundraising Manager,

Bradford, Calderdale and Craven,

Marie Curie Centre,

Maudsley Street,

Bradford,

BD3 9LH.

Invaluable role

SIR, - It is with much pleasure from your Guide to Wharfedale to discover yet another invaluable role of Mr Stanley Flesher, as parish councillor in Addingham, and share his irritations expressed at the incomprehensible marketing structures imposed on livestock farmers.

As one of the many thousands of environmentally conscious members of the public, the concerns re sustainable agriculture are very real indeed, and whilst our ire with large 'Barley Barons' thankfully does not apply to the healthy rotational practices of mixed farms in this region, monocropping of modern cereal growing, with its lack of organic inputs to the soil, and heavy reliance on inorganic fertilisers and herbicides, is seen as a serious setback for any possible biodiversity.

A further source of anxiety for soil lovers is the exacerbation of soil erosion through arable farming and when Stanley himself proposes the resettlement of emigrant workers on land above the current margin of cultivation in the Dales, soil scientists can now predict with accuracy, the consequences for soil erosion losses and have produced a universal soil loss equation which enumerates the contributory factors. For example, intensity of rainfall, steepness and length, shape of slope and very significantly, the stability of soil under forest cover.

Thus the very applaudable employment of emigrant farmers in the marginal land of the Yorkshire Dales, will require, I guess much preparatory protective tree planting, which in the long run would provide shelter for their animals and who knows recolonisation of native red squirrels if Scots Pine were included in the mix.

Graham Woodsworth

38 Long Meadows,

Bramhope.

Despicable game

SIR, - Regarding the firefighters' strike, our Government is playing a despicable game with us, the public.

They are hoping that this strike will cause chaos to our life that we will start going against the firemen. If some people do die while the firemen are picketing, they will be able to lay the blame at their feet.

They did not tell us the truth about the foot and mouth outbreak, telling us there was nothing to worry about. They did the same when they said they would improve the NHS, while they planned to throw more of our money to firms to take the mess away.

The firefighters and their union have carried themselves with dignity from day one. Let's show them the dignity of standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

To any person who says they should find a new job if they are not satisfied, do they realise that it takes four years to train as a firefighter?

LESLIE GATES

150 Broadway,

Horsforth.