SIR - We are the residents of Queens Court, adjoining the bungalow and land between Victoria Avenue and Fernhill Road.

We note that Anchor Homes' proposal for a three-storey development of 24 two-bedroomed flats under a pitched roof would be close to our boundary wall. Although this would result in protected trees remaining, the proximity of such a development would mean that we would lose light, sunlight and considerable privacy.

There are four two-bedroom semi-detached houses in Queens Court and the property on the other side of the proposed development is a bungalow! The windows of these flats, with balconies, would overlook all of these properties.

How anyone can, as Judith Crowther from Anchor Trust has done, describe the building of such a block of flats as "sympathetic to the character of the area", has us completely baffled.

We who live in Queens Court are all retired pensioners and as such are aware of "much-needed resources for older people", but this proposed development would, in our opinion, be completely out of character and inappropriate not just for us but for the surrounding area.

Sheila D Jeffery, on behalf of the residents of Queens Court, Shipley.

SIR - In April I attended the one-stop breast clinic at St Luke's. Within two hours I had a diagnosis and all the help and support from staff and special nurses in the following weeks. In June I had a mastectomy in A2. The nurses, sisters, theatre staff and doctors were tremendous.

The ward itself was a beautiful place, all donated and decorated by a charity called Bosom Friends: only six beds and so much love and comfort there.

Please, anyone who finds a lump, man or woman, get to your doctor straight away. All the help and support is there. Thanks to all concerned with A2, I have now been given the all-clear.

B E Haylock, Beacon Road, Horton Bank Top, Bradford 6.

SIR - During the election we saw and heard the top Ministers of New Labour extolling the values of their manifesto to the public, each one explaining: "I will do this or that,"..."We will improve this country during the next five years".

Then after they are re-elected, we see all the Cabinet re-shuffled. What does that tell the electorate?

Simply that all those promises given by those Ministers holding their office when making those statements have gone out of the window.

Why? Because they cannot be held to carry out their promises for they have been moved from those positions which they were pontificating about.

Democracy is losing out in favour of dictatorship in many ways in this country and it is a further insult to the young men and women who gave their lives during two world wars in order to defend the democratic rights of people in Britain.

J Clapham, Spring Hill, Wilsden.

SIR - With regard to Jim Appleby's Past Times feature on Victorian general elections in Bradford, I have taken a special interest in the life of one of the gentlemen mentioned, Matthew William Thompson. His life story will take a prominent part in a book I am writing about former Bradford breweries.

He became the owner of William Whitaker's Old Brewery through marriage to his cousin, and served three times as mayor of Bradford (1862-53, 1871-72, and 1872-73). In he last term he opened the Town Hall. He was created a baronet in April 1890.

During the election campaign of 1867, he was in Germany, visiting various spa towns on account of his son's ill health. On the eve of the poll, he sent a gushing telegram saying: "I cannot and will not believe that the name Thompson, known in Bradford for 60 years, and connected with nearly every improvement in the town, will be forgotten; and that Matthew William Thompson was deserted the moment his back was turned, and illness came upon him or his family. Thompson thinks he knows the electors better, and is confident on Tuesday night he will be at the head of the poll".

M E Toft, Bradford Camra & Brewery History Society), Westfield Terrace, Undercliffe.

SIR - I had to laugh at the sad excuse of grown men hurting themselves emptying the wheelie bins, as you reported recently. I seem to remember on my recent trip to Bradford the bins being lifted automatically into the truck, or was I seeing things?

They would not like working here. The garbage is picked up twice a week, grass clippings from the lawn once, and the recycling bin once per week. Our garbage is picked up on four of the five working days.

And we don't have a machine to pick it up. The men pick up the pails and empty them. And our streets are clean where we live, because we go out there and sweep up the dirt.

Most cities are dirty. A lot of people work there. But the suburbs have no excuse. Just sweep up where you live.

Diane Duguid, E.4th Street, New York.

SIR - Will anyone tell us how much a referendum for the election of a mayor will cost? Does anyone know - has it ever been costed?

In any event, if we are to have one, then the person should have no political power and should be just a figurehead; in which case, let councillors decide on someone.

Bradford isn't London and does not need a powerful mayor. I'm not so sure London needs one either; it's just extra bureaucracy that costs dear.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.