Letters to the Editor

This is one of the new flights for this year. In addition to this we also have new flights to Bulgaria, Crete, Dalaman in Turkey and also Verona and Innsbruck with the Lakes and Mountains product.

The airport has done well to achieve these new routes in the current climate. We continue to negotiate with airlines and Tour Operators for new destinations and as a result we will also see the introduction of Rhodes for summer 2003 and an additional flight to Varna, Bulgaria.

For more information on these and other new flights, please visit our website on www.lbia.co.uk. We are also happy to answer any queries by e-mail via our site.

Kate O'Hara, Head of Marketing and Business Development, Leeds-Bradford International Airport.

SIR - I agree with others that Ed Anderson's defence of Leeds-Bradford airport was unconvincing. The claim, for example, that LBA is "one of the fastest growing airports in the UK" is not supported by information published by the CAA. They demonstrate that while between 1995 and 2001 UK air passengers grew by 52 million passengers, LBA grew by just 0.5 million.

They also show that 14 other UK airports have grown more than LBA since 1995, including rivals Manchester (4.5 million) and Liverpool (1.8 million). In this context and remembering that the airport itself was forecasting growth of 1 million passengers between 1995 and 2000, it has unquestionably under-performed.

Mr Anderson also failed to answer why airlines bypass LBA when considering new services.

Demand is not an issue given the size of the local population and he tells us that the airport is "highly competitive in its charges."

So what is the missing 'x' factor? Whatever the answer, it is clear that at current passenger levels, LBA is satisfying less than half the local demand for air travel.

If Mr Anderson believes this is a "good performance", perhaps it is time for someone with a more ambitious outlook to try and do better.

Jonathan Clayton, Raynville Road, Bramley, Leeds LS13.

SIR - I write in response to Sally Clifford's report, " A welcome weapon in the fight against school rage" (T&A, July 11).

It was a report about teachers being subjected to violence. I wish to present another view. What about school teachers using violence against pupils?

As a former pupil of three Catholic schools, I have seen and experienced a lot of excessive violence and some of those who took part in such brutal attacks are still teaching.

John Staunton, Bowling Hall Road, Bradford 4.

SIR - After reading a letter in my morning paper questioning the excessive police presence when escorting a road runner carrying a baton, I was being driven through Bingley when I had a feeling of deja vu.

After passing the first police car, then another and another, several police outriders appeared then more, yet more. I began to wonder, where was the runner?

A bus appeared in the convoy - were the occupants runners? Silly thought, they were riding weren't they? Another police car followed by more outriders and then I glimpsed one solitary figure jogging along, arm aloft, surrounded by more of that rare commodity - policemen.

Was it really necessary for so many law enforcement officers to be used to protect one road runner? I think not.

Muriel Crook, Ryecroft, Harden, Bingley.

SIR - I would like to say how much I agree with Mrs Doreen Webster (T&A, July 11). I do clean up after my animals but on many occasions have experienced the same thing.

On the occasion my husband walks the dogs, he never seems to get any complaints. I wonder if it is anything to do with the fact that he is six feet tall and weighs 16 stone?

May be these foul-mouthed, interfering people are only brave enough to pick on five-foot women who weigh 8 stone.

Mrs T J Coates, Briardale Road, Stoney Ridge, Bradford 9.

SIR - A relation of ours, Edward John Hemp, a blockmaker, moved from Great Yarmouth to Bradford about 100 years ago. He and his wife had a daughter, Miriam, and four sons, Edward, Albert, William and Arthur. William was killed in the First World War but we believe that all the other three lived in Bradford throughout most of the 20th century.

We would be very glad to hear from their descendants or from anyone who knew the family as we might be able to tell them some interesting things about their background.

Merryn and John Hemp, 10 Farnell Road, Wootton, Bedfordshire MK43 9DV

SIR - To some the sentences handed down for taking part in last year's riots may have seemed harsh. To others they were seen as an indictment of appalling behaviour and the chance to, hopefully, make a fresh start once the cases were over.

"Fair Trials for All" is an admirable statement. What a shame it has been hijacked by people who have more regard for the lawless than the vast majority of Bradfordians who, once again, will be expected to pay over the odds for others' actions.

But there could be a solution for those of us who regret London lawyer Imran Khan's involvement, although I suspect the perpetrators and their supporters won't be too keen: all those convicted should also pay in cash for their nights of fun at everyone's expense.

Then I'm sure many more who were not involved in the riots would once again frequent the many Asian businesses which have been suffering over the last year.

John Tempest, PO Box 163, Bradford 3.

SIR - If you can't do the time don't do the crime" comes to mind. The rioters ruined Bradford's image and people from round the country do not want to come here anymore.

All the do-gooders should think about the wider community not just the rioters. I was confronted by one of them just after the riot, as I have a Bulls sticker in my car. He said he was the leader of the riots and was proud of it, that he was after me, and his friends chanted "scum" at me.

These sentences should be served or they will laugh at the justice system and know they can do what they want without punishment.

V J Mortimer, Aynsley Grove, Allerton.

SIR - At least 8.6 million people living in the UK have a partial or total hearing loss which can cause severe communication difficulties in every aspect of a person's life including family, friends and work.

We are looking for warm and caring people who can speak clearly, are keen to learn about the problems caused by deafness and who want to communicate with people who are deaf and use speech.

Lipreading teaching can provide a very fulfilling part-time or full-time career for the person with the right qualities. For information about training courses please write to me.

Anita Clokie, Manchester Metropolitan University, Elizabeth Gaskell, Campus, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0JA.

SIR - Could the reason why the Post Office is losing so much money be because so many firms and other people use "e-mail" to communicate instead of writing letters? It is so much quicker.

Just a thought.

Mrs Mary Beveridge, Willowfield Crescent, Bradford 2.