SIR - I would like to add my support to the comments made by Councillor Smith and Mr Woodhead of the Ramblers Association regarding the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease (T&A letters, March 15). It is tragic that we now have two cases of FMD in Bradford and our thoughts are with the families whose farms have been affected.

It is vitally important that this terrible disease is eliminated as soon as possible and the firm action taken by MAFF is the correct way to ensure that happens. However, we all have a part to play in eliminating the risk of spreading the disease.

On February 27, the Government gave local authorities discretionary powers to close footpaths and rights of way on a temporary basis, where necessary on disease control grounds.

The public is advised to keep off farmland in any infected area, as the virus can be carried by human beings on their boots and clothes.

All ramblers, climbers, anglers and other persons participating in sport should also follow this rule. Dogs must also be kept under control in these areas.

The Government welcomes the responsible action from local authorities and bodies such as RSPB, Countryside Alliance, National Trust and Ramblers Association in reducing movements in livestock areas.

This is a time for the whole community to come together to ensure that the outbreak is brought under control as quickly as possible.

Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Kirkgate, Bradford.

SIR - I telephoned the relevant Council department on January 24 to request collection of an upright freezer. I was told it could take up to four weeks.

On February 26 I phoned again to expedite collection and was told "Sorry, we will chase it up."

On March 7, I attempted to phone again, this time not being able to reach the department in spite of being in a queue and listening to Debussy round three times.

I thought "Enough is enough" and tried the main number at the Council and was put through to the complaints department.

I was then told that it takes up to eight weeks for collection (the original estimate was four weeks), the reason being it requires a special transit-type vehicle which the Council does not possess and which must be hired from an outside source.

At the time of writing, guess what? No - not a collection vehicle but the new Council Tax bill with its increase of £40.

Perhaps some financial wizard at the Council could use my £40 to hire the van needed to collect my freezer!

Mrs J M Cordingley, Escroft Close, Wyke.

l A Council Cleansing spokesman said: "Freezers and fridges are collected free of charge by the Council and there is a waiting period for collection. These items need to be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner and we use a specific vehicle for this. We apologise to Mrs Cordingley for any delay experienced. Her freezer was collected on Thursday, March 15."

SIR - I was disappointed to read that your TV critic David Behrens regarded the BBC's Bradford Week as "patronising and superficial." The idea of the week (coinciding with our special documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Asian communities in the city) was to remind Bradfordians of the BBC's continuing and growing commitment to the city.

BBC Radio Leeds has covered Bradford in depth for many years with its breakfast show co-presented each morning from City Hall, Bradford, and a district reporter based there, while BBC Look North reports the big stories from Bradford each and every week.

In addition, there is now a new BBC internet site just for Bradford (www.bbc.co.uk/bradford), we've extended the BBC Asian Network to cover Bradford, and we are establishing a new BBC production base in the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

Indeed, a colleague joked the other day that BBC stood for Bradford Broadcasting Corporation to which I hope David would agree there is an element of truth.

Colin Philpott, Head of Regional & Local Programmes North, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds.

SIR - We attended Yeadon Amateurs' production of Oliver recently and once again we were enthralled at the quality of talented "Stars" on stage.

Everyone who took part was excellent. Behind the scenes too. All members deserve recognition for all the hard work involved.

Well done everyone. So, Yeadon Amateurs, "Consider Yourself" one of the best and "Be Back Soon".

Mrs M Gilks, secretary, c/o St Peter & Paul Church, Yeadon.

SIR - I would like to thank the person who handed my purse into the Clayton bus driver on March 15. Thank you to all concerned.

B Plonka, Victoria Street, Clayton.

SIR - Further to the ongoing stock transfer arguments. Opponents constantly raise objections such as "privatisation", "high rents", "job losses", "loss of security of tenancy" etc which are all blatantly false and designed to instil fear into the hearts of tenants.

The latest objection that all the options have not been given (this objection by the Labour councillors) is even more unbelievable.

The members of CARE are firmly convinced that, over the past two years, we have examined every aspect of stock transfer. However, if the Labour Group are informing us that this is not so, can this group tell us what options are we have not been able to examine?

Can they tell us why we have not been made aware of these (alleged) options? And if they are aware of them while we apparently are not, can they tell us why they have not passed their knowledge on to us, the tenants?

After all it was the Labour Council that introduced the options available many months before CARE was founded two years ago.

Or is this latest objection yet another fictitious smokescreen designed to hide the fact that every Labour objection is purely political and has nothing to do with the welfare of the tenants?

Mike Stocks (chairman, CARE), The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.

SIR - Re your report on reinstating setts in Victoria Road, Saltaire.

Let us take a step forward, not a sett back. Clive Woods seems to be obsessed with Saltaire and what is best for the residents.

A couple of years ago, he wanted the statue of Sir Titus Salt (pictured) moved to Saltaire. Fortunately this didn't happen due to the high cost and road chaos which would have been caused.

If Bradford Council's Shipley community area panel has money to spend, let it start by repairing the pavements and cleaning up the streets.

Should Saltaire acquire World Heritage Site status, as Mr Brotherton says, parking is going to be a nightmare. At the moment, the residents' cars parked on both sides of the streets make it difficult for the pedestrians.

Nancy Hudson, Moorhead Lane, Shipley.

SIR - Conservative MP David Willetts moans about a comment in my Parliamentary Report newsletter where I mention that Tory policy is to scrap the automatic £200 winter allowance for the over-60s introduced by Labour (T&A, March 14).

The reason Mr Willetts is so tetchy about this issue is because he knows my report of Conservative policy is absolutely accurate. My proof? The Conservative Research Department Brief from September 1, 2000, is quoted as saying "We will abolish winter fuel allowances and free TV licences for the over-75s."

When Mr Willetts realised how unpopular this approach was, he wriggled into a bizarre new policy where he wants to make pensioners opt out of receiving these payments and roll them into the state pension, where of course they would become taxable.

His plan is bureaucratically costly, and amounts to the end of the automatic payment.

I stand by my charge that the Tories would scrap the automatic winter allowance for pensioners. It is a pity Mr Willetts won't stand by the existing popular automatic payment.

Christopher Leslie MP, House of Commons.