Decisions that were disastrous

SIR - Your correspondent Mr A Shipman of Swinnow (T&A, November 14) has asked three questions relating to public transport, which I will try to answer.

1. If the initial Leeds Supertram scheme had been approved by the Government, we should certainly have wished to expand the network into other parts of Leeds and possibly beyond, as there is great potential there.

2. The abandonment of the previous Leeds tramways was brought about by a transport chairman who had been knocked down by a tram in his youth - so legend tells! As a result, many miles of segregated track and some futuristic plans were thrown on the scrapheap.

3. The death knell of Bradford's trolleybuses was sounded in 1961 by councillors who did not understand economics, prompted by a chief officer who was "a new broom".

The legacy of all these disastrous decisions is a formidable one, and we shall need much determination and Government backing if we are to bring West Yorkshire Transport firmly into the 21st century. We shall persevere.

Coun Stanley King (deputy chairman, West Yorkshire PTA), Heaton Road, Heaton.

Support the police

SIR - The tragedy of a young PC gunned down in cold blood has affected all Bradfordians. But the flowers and platitudes won't help - the only way to help is to support the police.

If you see something, report it. With mobile phones it's easy and don't be afraid to be a witness in a crime. People are so afraid of becoming involved.

The police are losing but if we all help, good will overcome evil.

Susan Bannon, Glyn Terrace, Bradford.

Firing squad

SIR - I am sick and tired of reading about incidents such as a 69-year-old retired lady being bludgeoned to death.

Adults who commit serious offences, such as murder and rape should be - where it is proved beyond all reasonable doubt - executed by firing squad.

Where this is not possible, a minimum prison sentence of 50 years should be mandated by law.

Paul Brown, Ashton House, Bradford.

Relentless march

SIR - How pleasing to read that at least one Yorkshire MP (Philip Davies MP for Shipley) is prepared to do something to halt the relentless growth of political correctness, which is causing so much social tension in Britain.

The absurdities of PC activities by local councils and the police are serving only to cause the public to lose confidence in them and this is especially serious for the police who can only operate effectively if they have the support of the community.

B Stone, Grange Park, Baildon, Shipley.

Education needed

SIR - Many people will have been shocked by the revelation of the levels of infant mortality and the incidence of severe mental and/or physical handicap among children born into Britain's Pakistani communities. Thirteen times the average is a truly appalling statistic.

Possibly for fear of accusations of racial and religious prejudice, the situation has gone largely unremarked until now, but the equally shocking revelation that the situation is almost wholly caused by the in-breeding of first cousins and must surely cut across such inhibitions.

One can only guess at the lifelong distress and trauma of the parents and the unfortunate children produced by such dangerous unions.

Many Muslims will heed the words of an imam more than the warnings of a health professional, so we must urge community leaders to initiate a programme of re-education beginning in the mosques and schools.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

Fill the freezer!

SIR - Like many other users of Bradford's public libraries, I am looking forward to a large increase in opening hours at the end of this month.

Eleven districts will benefit from the improved service. In Baildon, for instance, the library will open on six days a week instead of four, and the hours will increase from 26 to 43 per week. Similar increases will take place in other districts.

I understand that more books and other resources are on their way, so readers, browsers and surfers will be able to gain more value for their council tax.

Herbert Samuel once described a library as "thought in cold storage". Let's go along there and see what's in the freezer!

Geoff Roberts, Summerfield Grove, Baildon.