Letters to the editor

Sir - The 'polluter pays' principle has much to recommend it and I do hope it soon applies to the drivers of the large 4x4s, or sports utility vehicles, that are now an ever-growing sight on our roads.

On a 12-mile journey to Ilkley recently I counted 89 and only one of them looked as though it had seen the inside of a farmyard.

Not only do they use three times the energy to manufacture as an average family car, but with their greater use of fuel per mile they produce an excessive amount of carbon dioxide and so contribute unnecessarily to climate change.

The French are addressing this selfishness and disregard for the planet by increasing the road fund tax for such vehicles to more than £2,000 while paying drivers to purchase small-capacity cars, and this approach has much to recommend it.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford

Fascism of the left

Sir - If nothing else, the sacking of "first-class employee" Councillor Authur Redfearn from his job as a bus driver for no apparent reason other than that he is a member of a legitimate registered political party, the BNP, should show the politically-correct fascism of the left is every bit as dangerous as any racially-motivated fascism from the right.

If this decision is upheld, the logical next step may be for the politically-correct fascists of the hard left to claim BNP members' children are somehow 'at risk' and to seek their removal from the family into the care of the nanny state they are building in their own image. Very Orwellian, very dangerous.

Or maybe the next step will be the arbitrary sacking of UKIP members, or Conservative Party members, or Labour Party members perceived to be too far to the right.

The UK Independence Party lists freedom from political correctness as one of the five core freedoms the people are entitled to and, in my opinion, this is a very good example of the kind of political correctness we, as a nation, need to be freed from.

John R Walker, Woodhall Park Mount, Stanningley

A BNP witch-hunt

SIR - Your headline (T&A, July 1), 'Driver sacked over BNP role,' made me see red and reminded me of the McCarthy years in the States when there was the communist witch-hunt.

Union chairman Gurjit Singh's ludicrous comments did not help.

I just wonder how many of his working class members support the BNP's views on certain subjects without actually voting for the BNP?

This BNP witch-hunt must stop and I am not one of their supporters.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

Warnings are vital

SIR - There have been articles in your paper recently about making buildings accessible for disabled people. I notice that "accessibility" means access for wheelchair users etc.

There are many buildings in Bradford where access is gained by pressing a button and waiting to hear either a buzzer or an intercom advising you when to open the door.

Has it occurred to those in authority that many of the residents of Bradford, including myself are either deaf or hard of hearing and could not hear either.

I would also ask whoever is responsible for the safety arrangements of the Broadway development whether any thought has been given to this section of the community with regard to alarm systems.

I recently visited the Asda store in Halifax and was amazed to see a flashing light fire alarm in the ladies toilet. I understand one is also fitted in the gents toilet.

This is the first time I have come across this and feel congratulations are in order. It is in such places that people will be alone and unaware of any danger. I feel it is time such innovations were placed in all public buildings before someone is injured because of being unaware of any danger.

Mrs P Howe, Summerland Grove, Bradford.

Can you help?

Sir - I have recently been appointed as Royal National Institute for the Blind Community Fundraising Manager and am looking for volunteers to join my existing team in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Every day more than 100 people start to lose their sight. The RNIB helps to rebuild lives devastated by sight loss by providing more than 60 services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

As an organisation we receive no Government or statutory funding and rely on donations from the public. Much of our funding comes from our famous 'Sooty' boxes, which many readers may have seen in shops, restaurants and pubs.

In order to collect, count and bank the £60,000 that is generated through "Sooty" boxes in Yorkshire and Humberside I am looking for volunteers to help out as box collectors in their local villages, towns and cities

Anyone who feels they can offer help a few hours per month to undertake this work should contact me to discuss the flexible volunteering opportunities within RNIB.

I can be contacted on 01423 819 753, or via e-mail at scott.wall@ rnib.org.uk

Scott Wall, Community Fundraising Manager RNIB (Yorkshire & Humberside), PO Box 65, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 7ES

Support rail link

Sir - Recently the aspiration to provide a rail link to Leeds/Bradford Airport has been given publicity through the T&A.

However, an extension from Horsforth or Guiseley to the airport is possible without extensive and costly earthworks and compulsory purchase orders would have to be obtained so a route can be drawn.

Furthermore, a rail link from Horsforth would not benefit the people of Bradford, who would still be required to travel to Leeds to access the airport service.

A more cost-effective option would involve providing a bus service from a reopened Apperley Bridge station to the airport. It should further be noted that Finningley Airport is already served by rail, and is better situated to serve the region due to not being as susceptible to low cloud as Leeds /Bradford.

It is surprising Councillor Cooke should favour a rail link to the airport (T&A July 2), involving tremendous costs for questionable benefits, when neither he nor Bradford Council had supported Bradford cross-rail, which would cost a fraction of the airport link and for more obvious benefits.

It is to be hoped the Airedale Masterplan will support calls for a cross-rail link, which will enable the very improvements that it aspires towards.

Alec Suchi, Secretary, Bradford Rail Users' Group, Allerton Road, Bradford

Who benefits?

Sir - I read a letter from Alec Suchi in which he claims that "obvious benefits" will be lost if the Council does not protect a rail corridor through the Broadway/Petergate development (T&A, July 1).

I am baffled as to what these obvious benefits are.

Surely, if rail lines go through the city centre, so will the passengers etc. How will this bring any advantage to Bradford?

Derrick Hargreaves, Middlebrook Crescent, Fairweather Green, Bradford.

Don't bottle it up!

SIR - I moaned in May when my sister's birthday card took six days, first class.

However Post Office customer service adviserVishal Kedia apologised and sent me a book of first class stamps.

It proves it is worth speaking up.

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.