Letters to the Editor

Sir - Although I applaud Bradford Council's efforts to achieve as much household recycling as possible, I am greatly disappointed that it disregards the fact that many householders simply leave their wheelie bins permanently on the streets.

Down my own street there are already in excess of 40 ordinary refuse and paper recycling bins littering the pavement all year round.

I and a number of neighbours have tried to get someone to take some action to make sure that bins are only left out on bin days, but it seems that every department we contact says it is either not their responsibility, or they have no power to enforce householders to keep bins on their property.

Now it would seem that from November there are to be wheelie bins for glass also. Even more bins blocking the pavements, forcing pedestrians on to the roads.

It is high time someone took the bull by the horns and created some legislation that penalises the people who flout requests to keep their bins on their own property except on bin days.

Keith Mackin, Avondale Road, Shipley.

The best solution

SIR - I see from the public and legal notices (T&A, July 30) that the Council is proposing road humps for Hollingwood Lane.

While I am well aware of the need to control speed on this very busy road, I dread the thought of driving my small car, as I frequently do, along here. (I now try to avoid Rhodesway as the underside of my car scrapes some of the humps and caused damage to my exhaust on one occasion).

I understand road humps to be the cheapest method but I would have thought speed cameras would be ideal here as all vehicles would have to slow down, even those driven by people who are not owners of the vehicles but who happily drive at great speeds over the humps and disregard the effects.

If anyone feels equally strongly they have until August 20 to register their objection to Mr Gerry Danby at City Hall.

Mrs Leila Bradley, Greenacres, Shelf.

Closure madness

Sir - We were amazed to read of the proposed closure of the Bank Street Post Office. This is the only post office in Bradford city centre and to ask customers to change to Sunbridge Road or Darley Street is officiousness gone mad.

On top of this we now have a postal service with only one delivery a day, untrained people employed to deliver important mail, and bundles of letters thrown away. It leaves one to consider what kind of officials are in charge of Royal Mail.

Is Bradford the only city suffering from this lowering of post office standards or is the same happening everywhere?

May we suggest St George's Hall is booked for an 'Any Questions' session and the panel be made up of the national spokesman for Royal Mail, Bradford's Head Postmaster, a Royal Mail union representative, a top communications expert and last, but definitely not least, Mike Priestley to dish out a good portion of common sense.

Vincent and Barbara Skelly, Brassey Terrace, East Bowling.

No-hope Labour

SIR - The threatened closure of the Bank Street Post Office in Bradford city centre is just one more piece of evidence of the way New Labour, following the lead of its Tory predecessors, is systematically intent on killing off the Post Office, along with the rest of what was the public sector, so their friends who run the banks, private delivery services, etc can get in on the action.

I am about to become an old age pensioner, and am having to jump through hoops in order to get my pension paid into an account at my local post office.

Like most existing pensioners I would rather get my pension via a pension book but the government would rather this business was given to the big banks to add to their already obscene profits.

I used to be active in persuading people to vote Labour to protect public services. I can now see no hope of ever bringing the Labour Party back to its commitments to promote the interests of ordinary working people.

I believe we now have to look to new forms of political activity, including working for Respect, the new alternative party of the left, which has just won its first council seat in Tower Hamlets.

Paul Russell, Kirkgate, Shipley.

'Experts' rule

SIR - A letter I submitted regarding the Odeon cinema site appeared on July 9. The contents related to a feasibility study and internal inspection of the building prior to any decision as to the future of this solid structure.

Imagine my surprise to read that within five days a statement was made informing the Bradford public that an "iconic" landmark building was to replace the Odeon cinema.

This was the outcome of a survey by engineering experts who stated it would cost too much to renovate and would only have a lifespan of 30 years.

Perhaps the experts did not realise the building is now over 70 years old and still possible to convert in its current state.

We are also not informed any estimated cost of renovation or the cost for the survey. So are we to assume that no exploration was made in depth and that engineering consultancy Ove Arup & Partners has already decided that the Odeon site did not figure in their plans?

Again a piece of Bradford's history is condemned by the experts. I wonder what they are planning to do with City Hall?

John Buffham, Ashfield Road, Thornton.

Human Rights

SIR - Re "Positive Advice" (T&A Letters, August 9). Derek Wright cleverly dispenses his advice as to how politicians should act to make the majority happy ("That's democracy"!).

What do the majority want? Just ask Derek - he seems to know (and won't let the truth get in the way of a dose of Europhobic hysteria).

Derek says the police and judiciary are "frightened to death" of the "European" Human Rights Law. Maybe he is not all-knowing after all! The European Convention on Human Rights was drawn up by British and Allied lawyers at the end of the Second World War to prevent creeping persecution of minorities.

Up to 1945, the Nazis humiliated, dispossessed and murdered millions of Jews and others.

Derek may feel that there are those who do not deserve such protection, hence his absurd claims.

I know of no-one who is in mortal fear of Human Rights, though I have heard of one or two others who, like Derek, have an irrational fear of strangers and think that they are somehow more favoured than he might be in a similar situation.

I don't like this phrase, but let's get real!

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

Copy the French

Sir - I am a former Bradfordian now living in France, but I read the T&A every day on your web page.

I am glad to see action is now being taken against uninsured drivers as this is long overdue.

One way of easy identification is the method used in France where all vehicles must carry on their windscreen a confirmation of insurance issued by the insurers.

The same also applies to the MOT. If this was done in the UK it would make them easier to identify.

Jeffrey Mann, Le Bourg, Rte De Ceauce, Torchamp.