SIR - Could someone in charge of the buses please explain to me the pricing policy that makes an 11-year-old primary school pupil eligible to pay full fare on their buses?

As it was half-term week I decided to take my two daughters and their three friends to the cinema. Because the children will all be going to upper school in September I thought it was a good opportunity for them to get used to public transport.

Imagine my surprise when I was told that if they were not in possession of a half-fare pass they would have to pay the adult fare of £1.10 each. Three of the five children rarely use buses therefore the investment of £2 each for the half-fare pass for the odd occasion they might use a bus seems excessive.

With the amount of congestion on our roads I am a great advocate of public transport but now feel this is a position I can no longer afford to take.

In closing might I request that pensioners who complain of children not giving up seats on full buses bear in mind the price their parents have paid for them to occupy that seat.

Cathy Kaer-Jones, Swain House Road, Bradford

l A Metro spokesman said: "Young Person's PhotoCards were introduced last year at the request of the bus operators, to help ensure that young people are able to travel for half fare.

"A number of 11 to 15-year-olds look much older than their years and for this reason bus operators asked Metro to introduce Young Person's PhotoCards, which remove any confusion and ensure they aren't charged full fare when boarding buses.

"Metro can issue cards to more than one child in a family for a single fee but this is only possible at bus stations with Metro travel centres, which are Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds.

"The card is valid until the September 15 following the young person's 16th birthday."

SIR - How ironic to see 'What do you see?' beamed on to the former Odeon building! I see a part of Bradford that is currently under serious threat.

During my long career working for three local authorities I have seen many 'high flyers' zoom in on towns and cities, full of bright 'iconic' ideas, change many things and then move on to the next challenge!

When Maud Marshall has moved on, Bradford will be left to deal with many changes - some of those will be good for the city, but does nobody listen to Bradfordians regarding the future of the Odeon building?

Norman Littlewood and his committee must feel they are banging their heads against a brick wall. During his last campaign Norman asked people to lobby their councillors. I did, sending out 30 letters asking for support. Four councillors bothered to reply.

Every time I pass the old building I feel sick at the thought of what looks certain to come and ask the many people who support Norman to do what he is once again asking - lobby the councillors. Please don't wait until it is too late.

Janet Gallagher, Newhall Mount, Odsal.

SIR - Leeds is very accessible by rail on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines and from Forster Square for shoppers. I have limited my own shopping to Bradford and the surrounding metropolitan district as a point of principle for a long time now, believing that enough money is spent in Leeds.

Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - In response to your front page article (T&A, February 14) concerning patients travelling to appointments by hospital transport, we all feel sorry for the anxiety and distress caused to some patients having to travel alone.

But we all know the financial problems faced by Bradford's hospitals and must realise it costs quite a considerable sum to also bring carers to these appointments.

I feel that the people who abuse the system and use the ambulance service solely to save the cost of a taxi must shoulder some of the blame for the reduction in the service being offered.

Mrs A C Hunt, Sellerdale Avenue, Wyke.

SIR - I simply cannot stand by and let Mr N Brown get away with his condemnation of New Labour.

Love him or hate him, Tony Blair bared his soul, at great risk to his tenure as Prime Minister, on no less than four occasions, and came out unscathed. It sticks in Mr Brown's craw because he didn't get the result he wanted!

He accuses the Government of being liars and deceitful but does he have any proof?

He talks about stealth taxes, but I don't feel a difference in my pocket. I do see a huge difference in this country for the good, in every town and city.

As for Mr Brown's comment about being told what to eat and drink, it's entirely up to us, but doesn't it make sense that we can go to a restaurant and enjoy a smoke-free meal? These are informed choices not dictat.

As for equating Britain to Nazi Germany in 1936 I think he is scaremongering, and giving more fodder to the BNP.

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor.

SIR - Why am I not surprised that Labour are so desperate for Christopher Leslie to cling on to his marginal Shipley seat that Alastair Campbell, who was wearing the trousers for 'home alone' Tony Blair while Cherie was Down Under earning, came up with the idea of sending our beloved Prime Minister to make the oh-so-briefest of visits to Shipley in the hope of drumming up a bit of much-needed publicity for him?

Perhaps lightweight lobby lacky Mr Leslie could have shown his lord and master that the 'car park' he and 'two Jags' Prescott have lumbered us with between Cottingley Bar and Saltaire roundabout is just one reason why Shipley folk won't be voting Labour.

If Blair is in the mood for making pledges to the public perhaps he can add a seventh by promising to sort out the fiasco that is Leslie's parking lot!

Dave James, Norman Avenue, Eccleshill.

SIR - Since the closure of Netherlands Avenue, the volume of traffic on Abb Scott Lane/Common Road has increased dramatically.

Why has Netherlands Avenue been closed? It is a much wider road than those mentioned above. It has allocated parking spaces on the road side and the houses are set well back away from the road.

Abb Scott Lane has long suffered from high-speed traffic, and now is subjected to continuous traffic flow. The safety implications of this are obvious, not to mention the environmental disturbance.

Also to be borne in mind is the junior school at the end of Common Road and the safety implications of extra traffic.

Abb Scott Lane is to have additional housing and a new medical centre causing even greater traffic flow. The medical centre is sited near the junction of Abb Scott Lane and Huddersfield Road and will lead to greater congestion on this already-hazardous junction.

So why close Netherlands Avenue? Perhaps someone from the traffic department could explain?

R Cheshire, Abb Scott Lane, Low Moor.