Letters to the Editor

SIR - Manningham has once again been thrust into the national news by Trevor Phillips, Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, who claims it is becoming a segregated ghetto.

When I look out of my office window, in Manningham, I see no ghetto. A community which could be better, certainly, but one being rapidly improved.

I see local people going about their daily lives in peace, harmony and friendship, despite the economic disadvantage which many families have to cope with.

This is a cosmopolitan community where people of different race or faith share a neighbourhood with good schools, shops, sports facilities and an award-winning park. This is not segregation - and certainly no ghetto.

Residents are successfully working with local businesses, Bradford Council and other agencies to turn Manningham into a prosperous, pleasant and integrated community.

We are making good progress in changing people's perceptions of Manningham, where an ambitious, achievable Masterplan is ready for action.

If Trevor Phillips has concerns about Manningham, we challenge him and Government representatives to talk to us - not talk at us through the media.

Then we'd have a chance to discuss how they can help us deliver our dreams.

David Cubitt, chairman, Manningham Means Business.

Bikers not all bad

SIR - I write in response to your article about off-road biking (T&A, September 26). While I appreciate that bikes ridden irresponsibly can be a nuisance and fully support the Motorcycle Nuisance Group initiative, please don't tar all bikers with the same brush.

Like a lot of today's social ills it is the actions of the few who ruin things for the rest.

One of the main problems is that mini-moto and Chinese imports can be bought cheaply and in many cases are sold for self-assembly without instructions.

We also need places for these lads to go where they are not a nuisance. Dewsbury has a facility called BUMPY where youngsters can go to ride a bike, often for the first time, and learn about mechanics.

If Dewsbury can do it, surely Bradford can. If money is tight perhaps lottery money could be applied for.

If it would help I will gladly meet with the newly-formed group to discuss my ideas further and offer help and advice.

Bradford has a proud record of producing motorcycle champions, so let's harness all that is good about biking and steer these youngsters in the right direction.

Colin Appleyard, Chairman, Colin Appleyard Motorcycles

Ruining the city

SIR - It is beyond belief that the jobsworths ruining as opposed to running the city can put developments (High Point) in jeopardy by a meaningless insistence on "affordable housing" (T&A, September 28).

The major problem with Bradford is that with the multitude of sink estates and slums there is far too much affordable housing.

David Simpson, Hirst Avenue, Heckmondwike.

A leader needed

SIR - Never has the official British opposition party been under such intense scrutiny as the Conservative party is today.

Surely after eight years of Tony Blair's rule the British public deserves a coherent and solid opposition, with a leader who has the hunger to win and the experience to take on Gordon Brown.

As a candidate who fought an inner city target seat at the last General Election, it's not what we do that counts; it is what the party leader does that counts ultimately.

The British public in the urban and inner city areas is crying out for a strong opposition to take on an autocratic Labour Party.

The Conservative Party needs to understand that is no fun in being in opposition especially after being in government for the most part of the last century.

We need to elect a leader that the country can unite behind and a leader whom the general electorate would like to see as a potential Prime Minister.

Ken Clarke is the leader most popular among the electorate. We must sacrifice our ideologies on this occasion and put country first.

Haroon Rashid, Toller Lane, Bradford

What 'respect'?

SIR - I have just sent an e-mail to my MP, Mr Philip Davies, asking if he could contact the Prime Minister for an up-to-date assessment of how he sees his latest buzzword 'respect' being seen at street level.

Exeter Magistrates Court sent a 73-year-old lady pensioner to prison for a week for refusing to pay the last 50-odd pounds of her council tax bill.

Meanwhile, at Rochdale Magistrates Court, 'wife swap celebrity' Lizzy Bardsley, who is on state benefits of £37,000 per year, has been convicted of benefit fraud but will not be sent to jail.

I hope Tony Blair will not need to consult Mr Goldsmith, or is it Mr Goldfinger, for advice on this matter.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden

Turn other cheek

SIR - Lionel Fitzsimons (T&A, September 24) should know better than to cast the first stone. If M Shaffi (T&A, September 5) is 'possibly young and idealistic', surely Mr Fitzsimons should act his venerable age and turn the other cheek.

According to Mr Fitzsimons' rather dated (dare I say medieval) world-view, Muslims apparently have a monopoly on terrorism.

I am sure readers would appreciate Lionel's perspective on world peace if they read a copy of his book 'With Flaming Zeal'.

It would appear he has missed the last two Gulf wars and the euphemistically-branded 'War on Terror'. But then again, maybe Mr Fitzsimons considers Bush, Blair, Milosevic, Karadzic, Putin et al to be Muslims.

Koran-bashing is not a new sport but one that has been around since the Crusades.

Finally, without wishing to indulge in misquoting Biblical text, maybe he should look for the book in his own eye before he looks for the notes in Yusuf Ali's (based on Luke 6:42, NIV).

N Nazir, St Margaret's Terrace, Bradford.

Strangled at birth?

SIR - Once upon a time, there was an unloved, ugly building which had lain empty for many years, overlooking a city centre which had very little quality left, even the opening of a mid-range, multi-national coffee shop attracted a two-page spread in the local evening paper.

There was very little life in the city. Famagusta, a town which had been unoccupied since 1974, wasn't far behind in excitement.

One benefit of its unpopularity made this city one of the most affordable in the land. One day a developer came along willing to spend £10 million transforming the ugly building into high class apartments and offices.

'Great joy' many people thought, until the regulatory and appeals committee imposed conditions for lower-priced accommodation, leaving the plan 'hanging by a thread (T&A, September 28).

Rebirth of a City? Not if the regulatory and appeals committee has its way.

Mark Carroll, Brown Hill Drive, Birkenshaw

Stop the illegals

SIR - Re your front page headlines (T&A, September 26) "Hunt for missing African footballers" - why bother?

If they are caught we all know that they will stay here for the rest of their lives being kept on taxpayers' money via state benefits.

I can just see all the bleeding hearts crawling out of the woodwork and the legal aid lawyers gleefully rubbing their hands at the thought of another lump of free money.

Eight footballers plus eight lawyers, it could cost a fortune.

It doesn't matter that the NHS and schools and pensioners are short of money, there is plenty of money for these 'illegals'.

Never mind, G Brown will just invent another tax scam to waste it on such individuals.

Now is the time to put a block on anyone coming to this country and staying illegally.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.