Letters to the Editor

Sir - I read with great interest the proposal to build high-rise apartments near historic Little Germany (T&A May 6). Although not against new development in general, I feel this would be another disaster for Bradford's heritage.

Bradford is not Leeds or Manchester. Contrary to Will Alsop's master plan, Bradford has to carve out its own identity and refrain from being part of his linear city stretching from Liverpool to Hull.

My vision would be to make Bradford the capital of the Pennines and to achieve this aim modern architecture has to be designed thoughtfully. Bradford should reflect its geographical location, history, architecture and culture.

If high rise is once again flavour of the month, tall buildings should be located together. After all it is the combination of such buildings that makes New York famous.

If urban living is to be encouraged the authorities should be creating green space for recreational purposes in our city centres.

The Urban Regeneration Company and Will Alsop have made this their main aim and should start the ball rolling by purchasing this land to create the first truly urban park in the north of England.

Worryingly it seems some high-ranking councillors have already come out in favour of the scheme yet are totally unaware of the consequences. Let's hope they can be persuaded to act otherwise.

Peter Turner, Harlow Moor Drive, Harrogate.

Skyscraper facts

SIR - Under the heading of "Civic vandalism" (T&A, May 14) Karl Dallas accuses the Council of "greeting with joy" the idea of a 17-storey skyscraper in Leeds Road and allowing Eastbrook Hall and the Odeon to "moulder away".

Come on, Karl - don't just write to the T&A: read it as well!

As reported weeks ago, we have enthusiastically approved plans for the renovation of Eastbrook Hall, and the owners can begin work as soon as they wish.

The plans for the "skyscraper" have not yet been seen or discussed by the relevant Council committee (Regulatory) so there is no question of "joy" or otherwise.

As for the Odeon, it has been regularly pointed out that the Council does not own it, and it is the responsibility of the real owners (Yorkshire Forward) to devise forward-looking plans for its preservation and future.

We hope they will. We want to keep what is left of our heritage, and to bring our city centre back to life.

Coun Stanley King, chairman, Regulatory Committee, Heaton Road, Heaton.

Use the waterfront

Sir - Reading your report on the Whitley Street canalside development in Bingley (T&A, May 14), I see both the T&A and the Campaign to Protect Rural England are victims of Bradford's planning department, who did not understand our letter.

They told the planning committee that the CPRE considered the scheme "unnecessary".

On the contrary, we strongly support residential development on brownfield sites like Whitley Street, helping to protect open countryside and revitalise our towns.

The Council is supposed to agree with us, especially on revitalising. Their new Unitary Development Plan says the waterfront is appropriate "for a mixed scheme incorporating residential, cafes, restaurants, workshops and community facilities" and should open up the canal side to public access.

We objected because, except for homes, Whitley Street offered none of these benefits for the wider community in Bingley.

"It would be important," the Council continues, "that single use for housing should not predominate". Add this new site to Britannia Mills and 'single use for housing' is starting to predominate.

It follows we strongly back Coun Slater's call for a master plan for the rest of Bingley's badly-undervalued waterfront.

Rosemary Hollins, Secretary, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Bradford District, Micklethwaite Lane, Bingley

Birthday blues

SIR - I have just finished listening to the talking T&A. A lady was complaining how late the morning post is.

On Wednesday, May 5, my daughter went to Thornton Post Office and posted a parcel, first class, for my sister's birthday which was on May 7. My daughter wrote a card for her auntie while she was in the post office and posted that first class. My sister lives in Hull and received my daughter's card the next day, May 6.

When I rang my sister on May 7 to wish her 'Happy Birthday' I was surprised she hadn't got my parcel and when I rang the next day it still hadn't been delivered.

It finally arrived on Monday, May 10, three days after her birthday.

I would like to know how many days ahead I should post birthday gifts in future. Birthday cards are never the same three days later.

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.

Voting doubts

Sir - When voting at a polling booth, there are officials present who ensure that only the person eligible to vote enters the booth to do so.

How does Shipley MP Chris Leslie intend to replicate this 'secret ballot' in individual homes and how will he satisfy himself that all postal votes cast in the forthcoming elections have not been completed under duress?

Mike Jones, Rylands Avenue, Gilstead, Bingley.

Clerics out of date

SIR - Mubarik Iqbal's continued muddled thinking and misrepresentations provide great mirth for the T&A's readership, but unfortunately belittle her faith.

How can she possibly accuse me of condoning the barbaric practice of 'forced marriages' when I clearly criticised high-ranking Muslims for turning a blind eye?

I will reiterate that there are too many local clerics who refuse to condemn it, and cannot debate in English.

They hide behind the language delusion and are steeped in a medieval time of religion when tribes were encouraged to intimidate the dissenters.

Unless the young-generation Muslims seize the initiative away from the dinosaur elders we will still be debating this point 50 years from now, and Mubarik Iqbal will be as confused as ever!

M Zafar, Fairbank Road, Bradford.

Parking puzzler

Sir - John Wardle (T&A Letters, May 12) is mistaken if he thinks there is a misunderstanding over the huge increases in hospital car park charges for patients and visitors.

His funding will contain certain amounts of money for non-medical aspects of the hospitals, and no-one is asking him to divert any money to the car parks to the detriment of medical care.

Does he think we have a choice in visiting his hospitals? It is not like going to the cinema or the supermarket.

I would ask if his staff are aware of the 'special arrangements'? I didn't meet any in the eight weeks that I was visiting!

M T Leahy, Rowantree Avenue, Baildon.

Resources, please

Sir - I am pleased to see that the speeding traffic through Denholme village is at last being taken seriously (T&A, May 11).

But why are the police relying on residents to do their job for them? And why are we only just starting to talk about it?

Erecting some more speed signs would be a start - the village's single pitiful sign is ignored by heavy lorries and speeding cars alike.

I'll be happy to do my bit for my community but let's see some police resources put in first.

Lynne Smith, Main Road, Denholme.

An impossible job

SIR - With regards to the teacher from Immanuel College who has been suspended for hitting a 14-year-old boy, I believe the people who banned corporal punishment in class should be put in front of a class of teenagers and told to control them and teach at the same time.

I do not think it can be done in this present age.

When I was at school in the 1940s I myself played up many a teacher but I knew how far to go before I got a clip round the ear.

It takes a very good teacher to discipline pupils today.

Jack Gomersall, Wycliffe Gardens, Shipley.