Letters to the Editor

Furthermore, Lord Puttnam believes that any hope for "multiculturalism" to survive in Britain rests on its success in Bradford.

Bradford had its own notion of "multiculturalism" that provided the foundation for public policies in the city since the early 1980s. However, the events since the beginning of the 1990s and the current analysis of them clearly suggest that "multiculturalism" that Bradford had visualised and attempted to achieve remains unaccomplished.

Isn't it, therefore, the most appropriate time to examine the old concept of "multiculturalism" that we had so fervently pursued? Isn't it the opportunity to ask why the struggles for racial justice and for developing harmonious relations between various groups have not met our expectations?

Is anyone prepared to share with ordinary Bradfordians the contemporary concept of "multiculturalism" that is being used to shape the official polices and activities under the new dream, 2020 Vision?

Ramindar Singh, Chatsworth Road, Pudsey, West Yorkshire.

SIR - The student who was left half dead after an attack in Leeds said that the court was racist due to one of the footballers receiving only 100 hours' community service. The court is a stone-built building and can't be racist or otherwise. However, magistrates and judges are part of British racist society and fully reflect it.

I strongly believe that children follow their parents' footsteps and the public follow their leader. Since leaders treat one particular community differently, the public, consciously or unconsciously, does the same regardless of what they are told to do.

If we British can't get or expect justice in Britain due to our colour, particular community or lack of status etc., how could Afghanis receive justice anywhere in the world since the world is controlled by two leaders, British and American?

Mrs Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford 7

SIR - On behalf of the residents of Fairbank and Annie Street, I feel obliged to offer a response to Mr Bird's letter of February 28.

He asks how many of the people present in the picture in the T&A actually drive their children to and from school. None. But that is not the issue here.

Fairbank and Annie Street are side roads off Crag Road, which houses the local school. Mr Bird says he has often driven up and down "this road". If he means Fairbank, I suggest he parks up one day to watch the volume of traffic and the high speeds for himself.

He should arrive before 8am and not leave until 7pm to ensure that he gets the full picture of what we are requesting to be installed.

The residents of this area are increasingly concerned about the high level of inconsiderate drivers whose main object is trying to drive from one end of the street to the other in the shortest time possible.

Traffic calming measures would ensure that inconsiderate drivers would be forced to slow their vehicles down when using these streets, or find an alternative route.

Mrs R. Murgatroyd, Fairbank, Windhill, Shipley

SIR - Currently in the T&A Letters page there is a lot of controversy over the government decision to hold an investigation into Tesco's and Odsal Stadium.

Within a two-mile radius of Odsal roundabout lies Tesco (which is to remain open), Morrisons, Kwik Save, Asda and the Co-op in Low Moor.

Surely common sense says that the area is saturated with supermarkets and cannot sustain any more without causing one or more of the others to either close down or reduce staffing levels.

A new Tesco will not create new shoppers, but will draw shoppers from the other stores. While Tesco are blithely stating the number of new jobs that will be created, they are equally blithely ignoring the number of jobs that will be lost.

What is also being ignored is that there is a stipulation regard the number and size of supermarkets within a specific area and it is obvious that a new supermarket, situated, incidentally, bang in the middle of this catchment area, will break the rules.

Of course a government investigation is essential if only to ensure existing jobs are not lost and to ensure planning regulations are not cast aside.

Mike Stocks, The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.

SIR - Re the headline of February 27, "Children's Dental Health a Scandal".

Could this be due to the closure, a few years ago, of so many school dental clinics, or the fact that children are not regularly monitored by a dentist in school, or that it is now left to parents to take their offspring to their own dentist (when many parents do not attend regularly themselves, or indeed, do not have a dentist).

I fear this is to encourage Yorkshire Water to fluoridate the water supply!

B J Stenson, Larch Hill Crescent, Bradford.

SIR - So the Council have once again upped the rates without a thought to people on fixed incomes.

I, like other pensioners, will get £3 a week increase from April. That has now gone.

As for Councillor Cooke saying this is going to promote community harmony, does this mean monies are to be spent on certain communities to the disadvantage of others, like where I live, Wrose, which requires a facelift?

It is about time Council and Government monies were equally shared among all parts of the city. This would then promote community harmony.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose.

SIR - I lost my mobile phone on Tuesday night, February 5, in the vicinity of the Chicago Rock Caf. Whoever has found it, may I tell them the phone is useless to them. It's only a cheap one, but to me it means a lot.

Not only were the numbers on it special (some were irreplaceable) but the phone itself was given to me by someone who I love very much.

If you'd be so kind as to drop it off at my address, I'd be very grateful. I can't offer a reward but you would make an oldish man very happy.

A S Flynn, 16 Powell Avenue, Little Horton, Bradford.

SIR - I would very much like to thank the person who found and returned my pension book. I wish I had been in to thank them personally.

L Davis, Bullroyd Drive, Bradford 8.