Letters to the Editor

Mr Devanny criticises the RSPCA for supposedly breaking its promises and failing to help a stray dog.

The RSPCA has never promised its donors that it will collect stray dogs. Time and again we point out that the RSPCA cannot pick up strays or accept them from people who find them.

Local councils are legally responsible for stray dogs and receive public funding to provide stray dog services through dog wardens. Outside office hours, however, this responsibility falls to the police.

The RSPCA is a registered charity. It would be a poor use of the donations we receive to fund an activity that two other organisations are paid to carry out.

We also have extremely limited resources. If we accepted a stray dog from a member of the public we would have to keep it for 28 days before it could be re-homed. Our much-appreciated donations would be better spent caring for unwanted pets, abused and neglected animals, and sick or injured wildlife.

The RSPCA will intervene if a dog is sick, injured or in imminent danger, often ensuring that immediate veterinary treatment is given.

And, of course, Mr Devanny could have taken the dog to a police station himself had he really wanted to.

Heather Holmes, RSPCA regional press office, Leeds.

SIR - Being a committed Christian, Tony Blair sees the need to set out a moral case for his behaviour and actions. Yet he justifies his commitment to war against Iraq and North Korea by a casuistical argument fit only for a barrister arguing a defenceless case.

He accuses the peace marchers of having "blood on their" hands. Yet Jesus said the peace-makers were blessed. And the Pope condemns the US warmongers and their policies.

Blair's first mistake was in telling George Bush after 9/11 he was "ready to pay the blood price" - without having first consulted Parliament and the people as to Iraq's non-involvement in al Qaida's assault on the Twin Towers.

He then took on the role of chief advocate for Washington's war plans. Yet wherever he went he was rebuffed - first by Syria and Saudi Arabia, now by France, Germany, Russia and China. Some lesser-lights in Europe, clinging to US coat-tails for handouts, responded favourably.

Blair should listen to his father-in-law. Tony Booth, who said at the peace-march: "Give peace a chance." And I would say: "Then you will not have a troubled conscience to the end of your days, as did Field Marshal Douglas Haig."

Robert Hornsby, Bredon Avenue, Shipley.

SIR - Self-important self-publicists like Karl Dallas should think very carefully as they gather "column inches" and TV exposure before they set off to Iraq to become "human shields".

In June 1944 my home with me and my family inside was wrecked when a V1 Flying Bomb was brought down by Spitfires over the Weald of Kent rather than allow it to fly on to London to cause much greater death and destruction.

What I wonder would Hitler's response have been to a proposal by concerned German citizens to travel to England to prevent such indiscriminate bombing of innocent men, women and children (I was seven at the time).

How fortunate for Mr Dallas that he happens to live in a tolerant democracy which allows him to indulge his fantasies without risk to his liberty despite his blatant and unpatriotic attempts to undermine confidence in the judgement of our elected government.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley.

SIR - The French have been our traditional enemies for almost a thousand years and nothing has changed. In the two world wars France was invaded twice by Germany, screaming for help first from Great Britain and then the USA, and a million have died in France - for what? They really have earned their historic title of being the most selfish country in Europe.What a different song it would have been if September 11 had happened in France!

Wake up, you lot who know nothing about recent history. Who do you think helped all the asylum seekers over the fence into our country?

The USA now knows the nature of the French. Nothing will be the same again. But Churchill knew all this. He warned us half a century ago. Get out of Europe. Nobody can possibly trust that lot.

Gary Lorriman, Long Lane, Harden

SIR - In reply to D Higson's letter regarding Netherlands Avenue (T&A, February 15). I must say that he is talking utter rubbish. I have lived just off Netherlands Avenue for 17 years, and to my knowledge it has always been access-only. As for it being a continuation of Cleckheaton Road in the past - how far is he going back?

Why does he not use Cleckheaton Road, which takes you directly to Odsal Top roundabout towards Wibsey and Little Horton Lane/Manchester Road. Why exactly is he cutting through Netherlands? As for his two-hour traffic monitoring. I also monitor traffic daily. He wants to try about 8.30am and between 5pm and 6.30pm - that's if he can manage to get across the junction on Huddersfield Road without having an accident.

Furthermore, I would also add that Cleckheaton Road is a B road, and is meant for heavier traffic taking the main route. Netherlands Avenue does not have such status.

There are three signs at the bottom of Netherlands Avenue stating it is for access only - access, that is, to residents and to people visiting the immediate vicinity.

Mrs Z Smith, Cloverville Approach, Low Moor

SIR - Re the letter from Mrs J Robinson. Phoenix Park at Thornbury was on the side of Dick Lane where the new Odeon now stands. There stood the club house, football pitch, tennis courts, bowling greens, cricket and rugby fields and golf course.

These were for the use of the Phoenix Works staff (English Electric, then GEC, now defunct).

Phoenix Works stood where the Travelodge and two other buildings now stand, one of them still empty. Between 5,000 and 7,000 people worked at English Electric on three sites.

Most of these were highly-skilled engineers and designers but were discarded and thrown on the manufacturing scrapheap.

So if a monument should be erected it should be to those people. There's still plenty of room on the site of the once-Dick Lane works.

L Smith, Tyersal Avenue, Tyersal.

SIR - Most of the people living in Lower Baildon welcome Saltaire's Heritage Status. Many used to work in Salts Mill. People see it is an opportunity for new jobs, good shopping and having fun.

The tramway is appreciated, and much enjoyed by children.

Public concern exists in Lower Baildon about the fact that most of the land is publicly owned and that powerful interests will wish to build car parks and amenities that will service the needs of visitors but do nothing at all for he people of Lower Baildon.

I hear these topics regularly being discussed in private and feel it is time that a public airing was given to the matter.

Stewart Main, Community Worker, St Hugh's Centre, Coach Road, Baildon.

SIR - In these days of doom and gloom may I congratulate the cast and production team of the Dick Whittington panto at St George's Hall last week.

I went with my six-year-old grandson for a treat - and boy it was a treat. The singing, dancing and comedy was super. I liked the tap dancing 'Sailors' spot. Most of the ladies and one gent were past the "first flush of youth," and they were fantastic.

The show didn't cost a bomb and was in aid of a local charity for children.

Thank you for a lovely, lovely afternoon. See you next year!

Kathleen Foster (aged 61) and Declan O'Reilly (aged nearly six!), Everest Avenue, Shipley.

SIR - Regarding the comments by Karl Dallas about the Manningham Ward Labour Club site, saying it could be used to build something that would benefit the community.

What he didn't say was it was used by members of the community before, and now nearly two years on we are still waiting for land to build its replacement.

So will the powers-that-be spare a thought for us, and come up with permission to build on the land the committee have in mind?

Mrs Irene Ford, Eskdale Rise, Allerton.