Business is viable SIR – Bradford Council planners recommend that plans for the Cock and Bottle, Barkerend Road, should be approved. They say that keeping the pub open as a traditional pub is not a viable option in the area. Do any of the ‘planners’ have any experience of managing licensed premises?

Around a hundred yards away from the Cock and Bottle is another public house, the Corn Dolly, which is a perfectly viable award-winning business. The Fighting Cock, Preston Street, and Haigy’s, Lumb Lane, both have loyal custom in areas that could not be described as the most salubrious.

I think the Bradford Council planners are repeating the same sort of mistakes which allowed the destruction of the Swan Arcade, Kirkgate Market and the Mechanic’s Institute.

M Toft, Windsor Avenue, Silsden