Letters to the Editor

SIR - In reply to Harry Cooke (T&A, July 20) regarding the Bradford Walk being the "last of its kind" (T&A, July 10) this was referring to the distance of 32 miles regarded as the traditional distance of the race which is the oldest amateur race walking event in the world.

The last event of this distance will be held on Spring Bank Holiday 2005, but in order to keep the walk alive future races will be held over the first 14 miles of the race, ie Bradford to Ilkley.

Unfortunately, long-distance road walking is no longer the attraction it was in the past, due mostly to the increase in traffic on the roads.

In an attempt to keep the Bradford Walk on the race-walking calendar, the organising committee feel that a reduction in distance will be the answer.

This new event, which will be supported by Bradford Metro Sport and Leisure Services, will incorporate a "novice" section open to Bradford and district competitors and clubs, and will be called the "Bradford 14 Mile Power Walk".

The events will start at John Street and finish at Ilkley Lido with medals to all local competitors completing the course. Entry fees will be a reasonable £2!

Geoff Dowling, President, Bradford & County Walking Association, High Park Crescent, Bradford.

Clean up our act

SIR - Following the recent work done in Leeds Road, which in my opinion is only of a cosmetic nature, how much longer are we going to see goods displayed on the pavement?

Leeds Road is not an isolated case. This practice of using the pavement to display goods is quite common in this city.

Bradford is trying to improve its image so can we now have some action to try and improve the situation.

W Williams, Idle Road, Bradford.

Open forum plea

SIR - Anybody with a brain the size of a pea could tell you that the BNP have a nasty racist element attached to them. So, what's all the fuss about the TV programme Secret Agent? Why are the T&A getting so excited about it?

It would be much better if we had an intelligent and honest debate about why so many ordinary people voted for them.

I prefer to abstain from voting altogether as a protest against gutless politicians who toe the politically correct line. But more and more voters are using the BNP 'warts and all' to espouse their anger towards our 'representatives'.

Instead of all parties forming a coalition to rant about what is still as insignificant fringe party, it would be far better if they joined forces to eradicate the so-called sensitive problems that beset our society.

I talk about illegal immigration in its many forms, positive discrimination in jobs towards certain sectors of the population and of course the regeneration grants that favour minorities.

Let's have an open forum for ordinary citizens. We've heard enough from professional people who live in leafy suburbs and philosophise about ideals designed to assist their career development plan.

Denise Walters, Glendare Road, Lidget Green.

Waste of money

SIR - As we all know, there are lies, damned lies and statistics, and Stuart Baker (T&A, July 12) has been misled by a report about the purported benefits of EU membership.

Other reports have concluded that the commercial benefits to the UK have been slight or non-existent.

The assertion that our trade with the EU is greater than that with the rest of the world is true only for goods. When invisible earnings are taken into account (from financial services, etc) the balance is the other way round.

And the idea that three million jobs would be lost if we withdrew is based on the ridiculous assumption that all trade with the EU would cease, and there would be no diversion of trade to markets elsewhere.

As for our net contribution, that too varies with the number-crunching but I am sure we could find a better use for it.

MEPs, who receive £159,000 in salaries and expenses, can claim a further £179 a day merely by signing a register - they are then free to leave and some of them do.

Is this really a fruitful way to spend our taxes?

Estelle Lumb, Moorhead Crescent, Shipley.

Record breakers

SIR - Congratulations to the local firm J H Clissold & Son Ltd who are proud to know the Olympiads will be wearing their custom-designed suits when arriving in Greece. Flying the flag for Bradford.

Congratulations also to the Flaherty family of eight brothers and three sisters. Considering this family had hardly run for a bus they took part in the London Marathon starting and all finishing together in 7hr 59min.

They know have their names in the Guinness Book of Records.

Their target of raising £11,000 was exceeded by over £30,000 for the MacMillan Cancer Relief in memory of their parents. Well done.

P McLoughlin, Ellercroft Avenue, Bradford.

Nobody to blame

SIR - The Butler Report has confirmed the fact that we now live in a blame-free society here in the UK. No matter what goes wrong, there is no one at fault.

So the intelligence was wrong regarding WMDs - well it's no one's fault! (Tell that to the thousands who have died).

So trains fall off poorly-maintained lines - well it's no one's fault!

So the MRSA 'bug' kills thousands of patients who attend hospital without it - well it's no one's fault.

So kids run amok at school, at home in the streets - well it's no one's fault.

Is anyone willing to accept the responsibility for their own actions? It seems not.

Brian Pickford, Summerbridge Crescent, Eccleshill.

Iconic buildings

Sir - I have to agree with everything Ian Stone of Liversedge had to say about the Odeon (New Vic) building.

I was born in Bradford 69 years ago and I would like to say that the city has a good number of iconic buildings.

I would also like to point out that every one of them has been there all of my life. During those 69 years a good number of buildings which would fall into that category have been demolished but I cannot think of one which has been erected in that time which could even be considered for inclusion in that list.

Ken Lorne, Hull Avenue, Lurnea, New South Wales, Australia

Odeon disgust

SIR - After reading the article re the Odeon (T&A, July 14) I was disgusted. All the hard work done by Mr Norman Littlewood, an experienced builder, is written off by Bradford Council.

The aforesaid council claims to have Bradford's heritage at heart and, to quote, "wants the best for its citizens". Rubbish!

Janet Fowler, Greenacre Way, Wyke.

Scrutiny the key

SIR - I am writing in reply to Ray Hook of Hazelheads, Baildon (T&A, July 14) and his comments re wasting council taxpayers' money.

Mr Hook needs to be aware that it is a legal requirement that the Council's Unitary Development Plan is scrutinised on behalf of the Government by an independent Inspector.

Mr Hook is perhaps not aware that the process is not yet complete as the Council will have to respond to the Inspector's proposals and the cycle starts again.

The key issue, therefore, is does each step in the process add value? If not, Mr Hook may well have a valid cause for concern.

Coun John Briggs (Baildon Ward), City Hall, Bradford.

Levis not Lewis

SIR - Re Mrs D Brooks letter (T&A, July 10) regarding Carroll Lewis holding auditions at the Gaumont. The name was Carroll Levis not Lewis, and the auditions were held at the Alhambra Theatre.

I was a chorister at Bradford Cathedral at the time, but was turned down as being too young. The year I would say was 1936.

Donald S Barker, Holly Bank Grove, Great Horton.