Letters to the Editor

There should be a law to say when and where fireworks can be used, and anyone with half a brain should know that there are people sleeping who need to go to work in the morning.

Little kids at home were woken startled and had to be calmed down. My friends even rang me asking which idiots were letting off fireworks at that time of night.

The organiser of this wedding could have used some sense and could have had the fireworks display earlier during the day instead of leaving it so late.

When will this community learn of the thing known as consideration for others.

Shahid Aziz, Valley Parade, Bradford 8

SIR - On Saturday, August 9, from 11am until after 6pm the peace and quiet was shattered by very loud spasmodic explosions which could be heard as far as Thornton and Manningham.

Why? Because some selfish law-breaking individuals attending an Asian wedding in Chellow Dene were letting off fireworks.

As there is now a law regarding these loud bangers being sold, why do we still have to put up with it?

Once again it clearly shows the divide between the cultures and a total disregard of the laws of the land and the rights of their unfortunate neighbours and their poor pets. It's time the police took the time to prosecute the culprits and the shopkeepers who sell them the fireworks.

Jenny Sampson, Rossmore Drive, Allerton.

SIR - As chairman of the Little Germany Business & Residential Watch (LGB&RW) I was delighted to read the T&A article about the excellent CCTV system operating throughout Bradford district and paying dividends in terms of contributing to arrests and making Bradford a safer place.

This is a well-deserved tribute to those who devised, established, funded and operate the system. All law-abiding Bradfordians should be proud of these achievements.

The LGB&RW was established two years ago in response to unacceptably-high crime rates in Little Germany. Our locally-recruited volunteer-watch co-ordinators, who are business people and residents, have worked alongside the police and our hard work as stakeholders in our own area is now reaping the benefits of reduced crime rates.

It is no coincidence that the once- endemic crime rate is falling as a direct result of the activities of the watch in parallel with the recently- expanded city-centre CCTV system into Little Germany.

In recent months reported crime rates have more than halved and the confidence of Little Germany's businesses, residents, developers and investors is growing. Long may it continue!

Dave West, Peckover Street, Little Germany, Bradford.

SIR - I don't normally feel the need to respond to letters but M P Thompson's response (August 12) gave me the urge. He who laughs last just doesn't get the point, and the point is there is no soul or after-life to laugh longest in.

The point Peter Wilson brings to bear is that science uncovers more evidence to disprove religion and the supernatural on a daily basis.

As another card-carrying atheist I am happy to chuckle, but like everyone my last laugh will be on my death bed, not after.

Peter Sharp, Grosvenor Road, Shipley.

SIR - It is about time it was explained exactly what is being proposed for using "home languages" in classrooms.

The case, as virtually all your correspondence has pointed out, for allowing children to use the parents' or grandparents' old "home" language in the classroom founders in that it will make the future lives of already under-privileged children even worse.

John Cole now seems to be discussing teaching Urdu and English in parallel. The class would presumably start in English while the Udu speakers disrupt and end in Urdu while the English speakers riot.

Even on this basis, which at best would cut the pace of learning by half, I think most people would see problems.

Let's see the whole proposal and get a sensible and informed discussion with teachers, governors, SERCO, the Ministry, Islamic leaders, pupils and of course parents.

Mike Woods, Collier Lane, Baildon.

SIR - I read with incredulity the letter from Graham Hoyle (August 8), advocating the 30-years-out-of-date ideology, long since abandoned by vibrant cities like Leeds, which would see Bradford turned into a tarmac wasteland which no-one in their right mind would wish to visit.

Giving the car priority in the city centre has already blighted much of Bradford as it is. Cities like Leeds on the other hand, with their "car-aggressive policies" as Mr Hoyle puts it, are thriving.

As for the statistics on rail commuting, we all know about statistics. Look at rail commuting between the Aire Valley towns and Leeds for example. This is not five per cent, is more like 70, showing what can be achieved with a quality rail alternative to the car.

Michael Ramsden, Bath Road, Cleckheaton.

SIR - Before referring to rail users as "Victorian Iron Horse Fanciers" may I suggest Graham Hoyle (Letters, August 8) spends some time on Shipley railway station during the morning peak watching trains loaded with passengers going to Leeds and Bradford.

During off-peak times there is a steady flow of freight trains going north and south operated by EWS, DRI and Freightliner.

He may not be aware that Baildon commuters are campaigning for a direct service to Leeds.

Thanks to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's Minister of Transport Ernest Marples, much of West Yorkshire rail network was closed by Dr Beeching in the 1960s, hence such a small figure of rail commuting outside London in areas such as West Yorkshire.

Railways are not in terminal decline as Graham Hoyle suggests in his letter. Look at the Leeds-Skipton route since modernisation. Passenger usage has increased substantially with longer and more trains necessary, so great is the demand. Estate agents are increasingly using railway station proximity in house sale literature.

Easy fast-flowing roads and acres of free parking spaces have been tried in the past but do not work. Where will Mr Hoyle find the land and finance for his strategy?

Clive Barton, Chairman, Bradford Rail Users Group, Hasley Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

SIR - Further to the letter from Glen Pearson (August 11) with regard to the shutting of Carr Lane at the junction of Leeds Road for eight weeks!

Once again that magic word "profit" stops contractors doing the fair thing and working 24 hours a day to keep main arterial routes open.

It's time that councils and Government insisted (if necessary by enforcing it in law) that roadworks be carried out with urgency, even if it means noise disturbance. Roads should be relaid properly and not allowed to get into the disgraceful state which Bradford roads currently find themselves.

I dread to think what detours cost the British public and business!

Colin Brear, Greenfield Lane, Idle.

SIR - Re the crisis in Bradford libraries and their under-use (T&A, August 6). Three words come to mind: location, stock and ambience.

To visit the Central Library one has an uphill struggle over busy roads or under unsafe subways. Stock is poor, most travel guides being at least ten years out of date.

Ambience is depressing with dull lighting and noisy people using the ground floor as a meeting place to pass the time. When I complained about this to one of the librarians, all I got was a sympathetic look and a shrug of the shoulders.

The city should have built a new library including an art gallery in Town Hall Square, instead of more "pub culture". I'm sure it would have been well used.

Mrs J E McEvoy, Black Hill, Queensbury.

SIR - I was very sorry to hear of the death of Don Alred. It was Don who asked me to become a Yorkshire Observer correspondent, as soon as it started, as he knew that I had written stories for the T&A previously.

There were five or six chosen people who had districts allocated to them by Don, and he encouraged us with all that we did. There were 12 pages at that time, and Don really appreciated what we did.

When I had served the paper for ten years, I was invited to a little get-together, and was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and other things by Don. That was a lovely day, when he appreciated me so much and thanked me for all my efforts. He knew how to make you feel needed and wanted! Splendid fellow!

I have been a correspondent now for about 20 years, and whereas before I had two districts, I now have four. However, I thank God for the appreciation given to me by Don!

Vera Taylor, Chelwood Drive, Allerton.