Letters to the Editor

SIR - The fake lake city fathers' dream will come true via the canalside development (T&A, November 30).

The sum of £350 million is a lot of money for a Kremlin lookalike. There is no need for another cluster of expensive/exclusive apartments for the few, instead of affordable housing for the many.

But this happens because financial speculation is not only the driving but also the guiding force behind the town centre development.

It would be very revealing to know exactly the real cost of our recent demolition/rebuilding sagas, which left little permanent value in the city centre - Bradford's Bermuda Triangle.

There are growing concerns among people who aren't blinded with the strobe lights of the 'pie in the sky' policy which makes the future always look brighter than the present.

Regarding your readers' letters, their cynical/critical protests aren't against but for the necessary changes for bettering Bradford. Some of them are the only true voices of the "silent majority". If there is such a thing, they are our collective conscience.

As Thomas Hardy put it: "If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst."

K Novak, Kingsley Avenue, Bradford

Cut the sarcasm

SIR - It was unfortunate that your recent front page article "On Your Bikes" (T&A, December 12) was sarcastic in tone.

Currently only one per cent of Bradford's journeys are made by bike, whereas the Swiss (where it's hillier), the Swedes (where the weather is worse), and the Germans (where car ownership is higher), all manage to do more than ten per cent of their trips by bicycle.

As a result of not cycling (or indeed walking) enough, we have the most obese children, create the most greenhouse gases from exhaust pipes and generate the worst traffic congestion in Europe.

Over the past decade Sustrans has developed 10,000 miles of National Cycle Network across the UK.

Locally, we have helped Crossflatts Primary School achieve 12 per cent of pupils regularly cycling to school (the highest percentage in West Yorkshire).

Our award-winning Spen Valley Greenway has seen the number of people regularly cycling in Cleckheaton rise from 50 to 200 a day, and the Great Northern Trail has proved an instant success in Cullingworth.

But we need much more funding in order to deliver results across the district. Cycling as a form of transport doesn't need sarcasm - but investment.

Dave Stevens, Sustrans Yorkshire, The Rotunda, New Station Street, Leeds

l EDITOR'S NOTE: There are very many people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to cycle to work or school so we also need better, more efficient and, above all, cheaper public transport to complement the commendable work of Sustrans which we would also support.

Just get trimming!

SIR - The best news for ages in the T&A of December 17 - the reduction at the top end of the local bureaucracy. Some would ask why it has taken so long. Let us hope it extends to all the inflated bureaucracies.

T Hill, Harbour Crescent, Bradford

Death a deterrent

SIR - In reply to the readers who disagree with my stand on capital punishment (T&A, December 8 and 12) they obviously back the killers not the victims or their families.

As for the death penalty not being brought back, if there was a referendum tomorrow it would be passed, and the Government knows this.

As it stands now, the law on people who murder others is ridiculous. This is proven by the increase in murders, especially of children.

Putting somebody in prison for eight years is not a deterrent, taking their lives is and people who consider killing others, would think twice if they know they would face the death penalty for this crime.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Bradford

Not listening...

SIR - It was illuminating to read Councillor Simon Cooke's reply to my question in On the Spot (T&A, December 8) but wasn't it a typical politician's response? Answers - what answers?

It is all very well referring to a Council meeting back in April, but many questions have subsequently been raised, and it is these we all wish to see addressed. One has to ask why they continue to be ignored.

This can only leave one to assume that the Council made up its mind long ago that it wishes to see the Odeon Cinema building demolished/replaced.

Indeed, the motion at the above meeting in favour of listening to the majority of Bradford residents, and looking to retain the building, was heavily watered down by a replacement motion, subsequently passed.

This latter motion was moved by none other than Coun Cooke. So much for the Council actually accepting the views of the people who live in the city.

The present Council leaders are doing neither themselves, nor the city they have supposedly been elected to serve, any favours whatsoever with their actions (or more properly lack of actions) in this matter.

We deserve better.

Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon

Just plain wrong

SIR - Reading the news about some young girl who can't wear her cross to school, is like saying that Scots can't wear kilts, London businessmen can't wear bowlers, and the rest of the world has to conform to just one way.

In the United States, everybody is an immigrant, and we don't get told to wear certain clothes or jewellery.

Saying her cross was like costume jewellery is like saying that the earth is square - excuse me, just certain people on earth are square.

When in Rome...These officials should get a life.

Diane Duguid, E.4th St, Deer Park, New York

We're so grateful

SIR - First of all, I would like to thank the van driver who informed my husband that his car had a punctured tyre on December 10.

But an even bigger "thank you" to the very kind couple who helped us in the Oastler car park.

My husband has a permanently broken arm due to a tumour. The young man changed the wheel after his wife lifted the spare wheel from the boot.

My husband did nothing except offer £10 for their help. This was refused.

We are so very grateful. There's still some good Samaritans about.

Mrs R Stead, Low Ash Avenue, Wrose

I don't believe it

SIR - I read with disbelief, and it's hard to do that these days, the story of a woman who took an overdose to commit suicide but was saved by the 'late arrival 'of an ambulance, although she suffered brain damage.

Obviously not enough, as she then successfully sued the ambulance service for £2.8 million.

As Sir Terry would say: "You couldn't make this up."

What a Godsend human rights legislation has been for the legal profession.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden