Letters to the Editor

He is reported as saying "the turn-out in local elections has been very poor ... We have to make it easier for people to express their opinions."

Simply making voting easier does not deal with the real and underlying problems. The perceived reputation of councillors has to be enhanced. Council decisions have to be seen as directly relevant to the people, especially in relation to their cost. Councils also have to be seen to be properly representative.

Often councillors are perceived as arrogant and out of touch, a view encouraged by the arrogance of the Government's decision to impose all-postal voting against the wishes of all political parties.

Ensuring that much more of the money councils spend is raised locally will surely make voters much more interested.

Many people also do not vote because they say, "what is the point- the xxxx party always gets in here." This can be altered by a system of proportional representation which will ensure the council's political complexion reflects much more accurately the people's views.

Alan Sykes, Gatesway, Harden, Bingley.

SIR - At last we have an article about the Bradford Odeon that offers some possibility of help (T&A, January 21). All supporters of keeping this building as a Bradford landmark should fall in line behind Mr Norman Littlewood and do as he asks - send your letters, petitions and support to him by the thousand at Pear Tree Works, Bradford BD12 8HT.

I read all letters in support of keeping this wonderful old building and despair about what can be done. But now we have a chance to work together and show Bradford Council that the people of Bradford have a right to be listened to. Get writing to Mr Littlewood now!

Janet Gallagher, Newhall Mount, Odsal.

SIR - The Council is saying that householders need to double up on their recycling. Surely it is the Council which needs to amend its recycling "rules".

Those of us who have a recycling bin for paper must not use it for cardboard, telephone directories or envelopes -- these are, I'm told, to be put in the normal waste bin.

I understand that there are facilities for cardboard at waste sites, but those people who use public transport cannot always get there - Dowley Gap is a long way from a bus route.

So, Bradford Council, put your own house in order before blaming the general public for their lack of waste recycling.

Margaret Krupa, Woodlands Grove, Bingley.

Disgraceful attack

SIR - The latest unprovoked attack on a 62-year-old man in Shipley by six Asian thugs was despicable (T&A, January 20).

They bring shame on themselves and are a disgrace to their law-abiding community. A special police task force should be set up to target these thugs. These cowards are racist and anti-social and should be locked up.

What are the elders in the Asian community doing to catch these thugs? Someone knows who they are.

M Booth, Broadstone Way, Holme Wood.

SIR - I would advise Mr Russell, who asked what route a Bradford cross-rail link is meant to take (Letters, January 20) that it would run from the Interchange, under Bridge Street, and on to the site of the old Exchange Station.

It would continue past the law courts and Vicar Lane, over Hall Ings on a viaduct and would continue over Petergate and Forster Square. The viaduct would pass to the side of the Midland Hotel and reach ground level to the east of the current Forster Square station.

A through line would allow direct journeys, via Bradford, from the north to the south such as Skipton-to-Halifax or Huddersfield. It would allow GNER to run all its Skipton-to-London trains via Bradford, without needing to reverse out of Forster Square.

Certainly If the Caldervale lines were electrified, the class 333 trains could be used on all the through journeys from north to south, but Mr Russell is mistaken in saying that the success of cross-rail is dependent on it.

The line can always be upgraded when circumstances permit. The Morecambe and Carlisle trains could also be rerouted via Bradford.

Alec Suchi (Secretary, Bradford Rail User Group), Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - The public meeting held at Shipley Town Hall on January 20, regarding the 50 per cent cut in resources at Shipley Fire Station, served only to demonstrate the intransigence of the Fire Service management.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Kevin Arbuthnot repeatedly said that the Government had told them to make these changes. John Prescott had not told the Fire Service to cut resources at Shipley by half, that decision is Mr Arbuthnot's. The Government has said that the priority should be people and not property.

The population of the area covered by Shipley Fire Station, especially Baildon, is rising. For those people, their council tax will rise at the same time as the service is cut.

The Bradford councillors on the Fire Authority, Councillors Niland, Rangzeb, Binney, Dawson and Briggs, should support the 7,000 Shipley residents who have objected to this proposal by voting against it, regardless of their party affiliations.

If not then I am sure that we will see a rise in the number of Independent candidates at the local elections.

Steve Cawood (Fire Brigades Union, branch chair), Highfield Road, Idle.

SIR - I feel I must write to agree with Mr Breen's letter "Time to act over Dangerous Drivers'" (Letters, January 19).

My husband and I have travelled from Pudsey to Bradford numerous times via the Thornbury roundabout and nine times out of ten have been cut up at the Gypsey Street part by cars going from the outside lane, straight across three lanes with no indication and straight down Leeds Road.

I would suggest cameras be put round there and the film sent to TV's Drivers from Hell.

C Richards, Ashbourne Gardens, Bradford.