Letters to the Editor

SIR - The drop in pedestrian casualties (T&A September 30) is welcome and Bradford Council deserves credit for this achievement. However, there is still some way to go.

If all drivers drove at Institute of Advanced Motorist standard we could expect road casualties and collisions to drop by more than 70 per cent, bringing massive economic benefits as well as reducing suffering.

It would be good to see Bradford companies and the Council training all their drivers to this standard.

As for keeping Bradford 'car friendly', it is difficult to see how this could be done with present congestion levels. Places like York are car friendly by virtue of 'Park and Ride', good bus priority and excellent bus services.

A four per cent reduction in car use on city roads would halve congestion, with all the benefits that brings. The York example is clearly a better 'car friendly' approach for essential car users, while being even more pedestrian friendly and producing less pollution.

As Bradford does not have York's problem of narrow medieval streets, Bradford could be a beacon of excellent city transport if it was prepared to learn lessons from elsewhere.

Ray Wilkes, Yorkshire & Humberside Transport Roundtable, Tower Road, Shipley

A fine monument

SIR - As a member of Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, I was particularly pleased to read Mike Priestley's article (T&A, September 17) with regard to "empty offices that cry out to be converted".

I hope Maud Marshall and co also read same and took note!

Mike's article is significant as he is quietly saying why destroy the Odeon when there are plenty of alternative buildings all around the city that could be converted for the uses Bradford Centre Regeneration seem focused on.

But alas BCR have an agenda all of their own, which sadly we are all too familiar with.

Following mass demolition of Wardley's failed Sixties city centre redevelopment, virtually all that will be left standing from his era will be the building that bears his name.

Surely William Illingworth, the architect for the new Victoria/ Gaumont/Odeon, should be similarly honoured by our city, not only for this fine building but also for the various offices that he held in our city, including Alderman and Lord Mayor.

He was also involved with the construction of the Scar House Reservoir.

The best way we, the people of Bradford, can do this is by saving the Odeon which could be converted to a multi-purpose event hall with the restaurant and ballroom reopened.

John Wilkinson, Meadowbank Avenue, Allerton.

Let's copy Leeds

SIR - Why is it that Bradford Council stands in the way of private developers who wish to invest in the city (T&A, September 28)? It certainly doesn't happen in its bigger and more successful neighbour Leeds. There is already a lot of social housing close to the city centre and anyway isn't that the job of housing associations to provide?

Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

One big mess...

SIR - Mrs Moor is quite correct in claiming that most dog-owners are responsible people (T&A, September 29) and that they ensure that any dog dirt is cleared up.

Mrs Moor rightly feels hurt and annoyed by any suggestion that all dog-owners are irresponsible. But surely it is obvious that when any complaints are made, they are directed at irresponsible dog-owners, not the majority who follow the example of Mrs Moor and her friends.

Often the complaints are plainly justified; the evidence is on the pavement. I'm convinced this comes about by lazy owners letting their dogs out unsupervised at night or in the early morning. They give dog-owners a bad name, and let down all the genuine dog-lovers.

In our village, I wouldn't advise anyone to walk the pavements in the dark. I have, and I will avoid doing so in the future. Even during the day if walking with small children, the constant cry is: 'Watch out for the mess'.

In Bourneville, Birmingham, it would seem the authorities have capitulated. I noticed an official sign 'Dog Poo Lane'. Hopefully, Bradfordians aren't going to be so defeatist!

Robert Hughes, Manor Gardens, Cullingworth.

No battle cry

SIR - Two of your readers have recently criticised the singing of Jerusalem at public celebrations and one said it was not appropriate because of "warring" connotations.

As in many hymns, words such as "marching on to war" are metaphoric and Jerusalem has the beautiful and grammatically-correct use of the words "will" and "shall" which are used wrongly in everyday speech, eg I will (not shall) not sleep etc nor shall (not will) my sword etc.

The readers in question should analyse the words carefully. They are definitely not inciting people to rise up in arms.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

Bench bullies

SIR - What a great recruitment advert for encouraging ordinary people to become magistrates and play such a vital role in our society.

Wouldn't you just have loved to be one of those three magistrates on the Bench at Exeter who sentenced a 73-year-old lady pensioner to a week in prison for refusing to pay the last 50-odd quid of her council tax?

Wouldn't you have had a warm glow of satisfaction, knowing that very few other people could have done this, but you had risen above it and done it for nothing.

However, would it just cross your mind that you were, in fact, merely a puppet on the string of a judiciary who stand back and let you make it look as if this is a decision of the public and nothing to do with them and you will do this for JP after your name?

Granville Dobson, Chief Magistrate of Bradford, I accept your previous offer to discuss the penalty system with me. I will meet you anywhere, although the Clerk to the Court will probably advise you against it.

Gary Lorriman, Bramblewick, North Walk, Harden.

Family research

SIR - I am at present researching my family history and I have recently discovered that my great great grandfather was the proprietor/innkeeper of the Perseverance Hotel at 161 Lumb Lane, Bradford, in the 1861 census (also in the 1871 census).

His name was Jeremiah H Ledgard and his daughter, Sarah, married my great grandfather, Tom Foster, about 1878.

Earlier this month I visited Bradford and went to Lumb Lane where I was surprised and pleased to see No 161 still standing and being used as a chemist's shop and a doctor's surgery.

I lived near there from 1942 until 1952 but knew nothing of this history.

I was wondering if any reader knows the history of this building - when it ceased to be a hotel/inn, which brewery owned it, who owns it now, etc, or if any photos exist of it from the past or any advertisements/trade directory information?

I am in the fairly early stages of my family research and would appreciate any information.

R P Foster, 11 Albert Avenue, Balderton, Newark, Notts NG24 3HE.

Useless hotline

SIR - I think Gary Lorriman and several others previously in your letters page have missed the point about longer opening hours for Shipley and Bingley police stations.

He rightly states that the people of Shipley rejected Labour but the majority did not vote for Mr Davies (only 39 per cent did), and we certainly did not want an ineffectual MP, of whatever political persuasion, whose solution to the problem is to stick a telephone in there so we can contact a call centre. That is the point.

This hotline would be as much use and as successful as John Major's cone hotline of the 1990s. More 'finger on the pulse' politics from our local Tory party.

P Duffy, Norwood Avenue, Shipley.