Letters to the Editor

SIR - The announcement of yet another above-inflation fare increase by First Bus is scandalous.

How long should the people of Bradford who rely on public transport be held to ransom by a private-sector monopoly, whose main concern is not to keep the fares as cheap as possible, but to maintain profits and dividends for its shareholders and bonuses for its already-rich directors?

Surely it's time we looked seriously at alternatives around local public ownership, for example Hackney Community Transport in London which runs bus services in contract with London Transport, on a not-for-profit basis, where all resources are invested directly in improved services.

As things stand all we can look forward to is a declining use of public transport and the syphoning-off of assets by First Bus to maximise profit while car congestion and environmental pollution increase.

Steve Schofield, Park Crescent, Bradford.

Listen to us...

SIR - Marc Cole of Bradford Centre Regeneration tries to convince us (T&A, June 11) that the brief given to developers and architects gave no guidelines as to the retention or demolition of the Odeon building.

He went on to say that it was not true the refurbishment option was never given to developers. I fear he is being rather economical with the truth here.

Apart from one brief mention of "some people" being "keen to see part or all of the building retained in its present guise" (with the implication that this does not include BCR), the rest of the competition proposals make no mention of this.

Instead it mentions "the creation of a landmark building" (isn't there one already in place?), "the redevelopment of this site", "the design of the new development must ensure a quality landmark", and so on.

All through the document one is given the impression that BCR are looking for a replacement building, as outlined in the comment that their "primary objective is to procure a world-class development."

One has to wonder why they are being given such a free rein by their stakeholders, Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward.

It is time they were made to act in accordance with the wishes of the people of Bradford.

I am sure this would result in the retention of the Odeon building and the removal of any suggestion of a lake around City Hall.

Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon.

No confidence

SIR - The letter from Marc Cole (T&A, June 11) needs a prompt reply.

As chairman of the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group I am not aware of any letters from our 'group'.

Maud Marshall has always recommended to us 'Radio Silence' - I prefer openness and that the public are made aware.

Obviously cinema use is not on, only the many other financially-viable alternatives.

We have studied the open brief carefully. This constantly refers to 'the site', thus inferring would-be developers are taking a site only. Quoting Maud 'retaining the building is NOT an option'.

We demand quality architecture, this is already in situ, extremely well built by Bradford workmen.

Regarding final decisions open to the public, we have no confidence in this pledge, as already proven. We have spoken to more than 5,000 people with little effort and they all want to retain the building and do not want that 'lake'.

The health and safety report on asbestos does not worry us. It was used extensively up to the 1970s and will be removed expertly.

On regeneration, we expect it to go on for a long time!

Norman E Littlewood, Huddersfield Road, Wyke.

West to blame

SIR - Bob Geldof's campaign to end poverty in Africa will prove unsuccessful unless the underlying causes of it are addressed. Debt cancellation has some value but must be pursued in conjunction with other methods, such as introducing intermediate technology better suited to developing countries.

This would permit those countries to utilise a level of technology which could be maintained within their own infrastructure and allow them to become independent in food production.

In contrast, specialised technology available in the West would only perpetuate dependence as a complex infrastructure is required to produce and maintain it.

Conventional trade with developing countries is proving ruinous to them as much-needed goods are sold abroad for debt repayment.

Although international trade has some value where produce is exchanged between countries requiring them, a more ecologically sustainable approach is to produce and consume goods locally, thus reducing road miles and pollution, and ensuring fresher perishable produce.

It is an unpalatable fact that our luxurious and excessive lifestyles in the West are a contributory factor to world poverty, a circumstance which Bob Geldof may conveniently overlook when venting his self-righteous indignation.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Bradford.

Not so generous

SIR - After years of campaigning for people in this country to grasp some understanding of the issues in Africa, I am growing increasingly tired of listening to the ill-informed views of the likes of Malcolm Wood and A Shipman (T&A, June 8).

In Britain the average person has £45 per day to live on. In most countries in Africa the corresponding figure is less than 70p. (In Burundi for example it is 15p per day).

Currently, the amount of aid which Britain gives in total is equivalent to each person in Britain giving about 20p per day. So we are each left with £44.80 per day. The government is pledging that by 2015 we will increase this contribution to 40p from each of us per day. The governments of the west have consistently failed to meet this derisory amount.

In Britain we spend more on our daily newspaper than we give in aid to people starving, so it's wrong to say we are pouring money into Africa.

Jim Newsham, Fagley Road, Bradford.

Apologies needed

SIR - Some cynics may believe that Councillor Reverend Paul Flowers' reasons for apologising unreservedly over sending risque e-mails to his sensitive fellow councillors is to protect his positions on the Council and within the Methodist church.

It surely can't be because of political correctness because Coun Rev Flowers was quite adamant in December that it did not exist at City Hall.

Mind you, he also stated that John Tempest, the director of The Bradford Soup Run, was Scrooge-like (at that time John and his colleagues were giving out hundreds of presents to the homeless); and would probably find church uncongenial (John regularly attends St James's Church, Thornton).

As he's in an apologising mood, would he like to apologise for those inaccurate statements, too?

If not, people may believe his apologies are limited only to those who might have an influence on his political aspirations and his continuance as a church minister.

Andrew Owczarek, Loxley Close, Bradford.

I don't believe it!

SIR - Reading Mike Priestley's North of Watford item 'New bank raid by grasping Gordon' (T&A, June 11) I checked my diary to see if it was April 1!

Can Mike clarify his claims that Gordon Brown hopes to get his hands on "dormant bank accounts"? If this is so, I and many thousands like me will have bank accounts which have not been touched for some years and I just cannot believe that anyone can get at my money in this way!

This Government is encouraging us to save money for our old age etc, thus the thousands of bank "Saver" accounts.

I did not vote for this Labour Government and didn't see anything like this in their manifesto but if this is true we need to get rid of them asap.

Tony Caunt, Birchlands Grove, Wilsden.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: Mike Priestley has more to say on this subject in his North of Watford column in tomorrow's T&A.

Can you help?

SIR - I wonder if any of your readers might be able to help me.

I am looking for information on possibly a brewery or bottle-maker under the name of H Firth of Manningham.

It could be that this was decades ago. Any information would be gratefully appreciated.

Andy Couldwell, 39 High Park Crescent, Heaton, Bradford.