Letters to the Editor

The first accused - a white male - received five years. I look forward to Imran Khan and Justice for All taking up his case.

As liberal England wrings its hands at the fate of the Bradford rioters, the forgotten victims are the members of Manningham Labour Club. No-one has been charged with attempted mass murder and the site is a weed-strewn wasteland. Where is the outcry?

It vividly illustrates the sham of the anti-racism industry. Racism fits neatly into a box labelled "offence by whites against ethnic minorities".

I used to be proud of Bradford's multi-racial mix. Now I think it's a cynical sham. The professionals, whose job it is to be offended on behalf of their communities, have stifled the debate.

But I'm glad at long last a few brave individuals are beginning to put their heads over the parapet. The debate must be driven by such people, otherwise in steps the BNP.

David Pendleton, Providence Terrace, Thornton.

SIR - As a father of a 15-year-old girl I can understand the despair that the family of the girl snatched from Oak Lane and raped by two Asian youths must be feeling.

If it was alleged that a Muslim girl had been raped by two white youths, would we now be discussing the aftermath of another Bradford riot?

It is time the elders and religious leaders within areas of this city got a hold of the unruly and offensive elements among their community's young people.

In view of all the publicity about the election of a BNP councillor in Halifax and the "tightly sprung coil" speech of the Home Secretary, these people may as well have written an invitation to the BNP to come into the city.

J Whiteside, Grebe Close, Clayton Heights, Bradford 6.

SIR - I have a recommendation to help solve at least part of the problem of illegal asylum seekers. First pass a law that states that no-one may apply for entry into the UK from within the UK.

Then have planes supplied by some of the many charter companies and have all illegal aliens flown straight back to the country they left. This would be very costly but far less so than clothing, housing, feeding and (God knows why) giving them aromatherapy!

There is such a thing as tough love and it is about time that the people of the UK saw some given out for their sake. There are literally millions of people who wish or need to leave their country, for numerous reasons other than just wanting a better life, but the UK cannot take them all in.

Ken Hodgson, Longacre Drive, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.

SIR - I am deeply concerned at the prospect of war with Iraq and the inevitable humanitarian disaster that will result. The evidence for invasion is tenuous to say the least.

I do not sympathise with, or support tyrannical despots such as Saddam Hussain and do not condone his brutal treatment of Iraq's population. Equally, I do not condone the supply of arms to such regimes, sanctioned by our own successive governments.

We are part of the problem, while pretending to be part of the solution.

Tony O'Connell, Harrogate Street, Bradford.

SIR - Do any T&A readers want to take on the challenge of a lifetime to really make 2003 a year to remember?

We are looking for 300 people to take part in 'Trek for Life', a special ten-day journey to the Great Wall of China, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2003 (October). The charity is hoping to raise £1 million from the event to go towards its pioneering breast cancer research programme.

Anyone over 18 can join the trek - no matter how unfit you think you may be! All you need to do is pay a small registration fee and pledge to fundraise a minimum amount of money to Cancer Research UK.

So, if you've always dreamed of visiting one of the ancient wonders of the world and are keen to raise funds for a life-saving cause, take the plunge now and sign up for Trek for Life. Just call the team on (0870) 6060016, e-mail ultimatechallenge@cancer.org.uk or check out www.cancerresearchuk. org/ultimatechallenge for more information.

Claire Bewell, National Events Manager, Cancer Research UK.

SIR - With reference to a Parish Council for Bingley, your Comment says Bradford Council needs to rethink its whole approach if it is to avoid the costly fragmentation of the way the district's affairs are run. You also say it won't be long before places like Queensbury do the same.

I for one welcome the formation of Parish and Town Councils. It is the Conservative council's view that devolving power and responsibilities to local areas is the best way to deliver services, and instead of fragmentation you would have all areas feeling included within the Bradford district. We are working towards this.

The campaign for a Parish Council in Queensbury and Clayton Heights was actually started by me over a year ago. Threequarters of the ten per cent of signatures required are already collected. Once this ten per cent is met, the residents will then decide by ballot whether they want a Parish Council. This has been delayed because of the boundary review.

Under the Queensbury and Shelf Urban District Council, services were better organised and delivered locally, and the rates residents paid were half what they were when Bradford swallowed us up!

Councillor Andrew Smith (Con, Queensbury), Chapel Street, Queensbury.

SIR - Norman Brown, in his enthusiasm for capital punishment, writes (Letters, January 29) "it is better for one innocent man to die than for 100 guilty ones to get away with it."

So Norman would be quite happy to be strung up by mistake, I reckon. One cannot but stand in awe of such selfless devotion to a cause.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

l SIR - Bradford Council seems to be bent on destroying Bingley. The latest idea to replace Bingley Arts Centre with a supermarket is absolutely outrageous. The loss of the Arts Centre, the home of music and talent in Bingley, is unthinkable.

The Buttercross and stocks, all part of Bingley's heritage, will also be lost, the gardens in the town centre ending up no doubt in a huge car park.

Is this all we in Bingley can look forward to? "Better Bingley " indeed!

Helen Mills, Myrtle Avenue, Bingley.

l SIR - The proposal to build a supermarket on the site of Bingley Arts Centre is not urban regeneration, but cultural vandalism. It will result in a town without a cultural heart.

Bingley is being handed on a plate to the developers. The Green Party supports sensitive planning to regenerate urban centres, so reducing longer journeys to out-of-town supermarkets. This is better for the environment and for ourselves.

However, replacing a superb and well-used arts centre with a supermarket is not the answer. There are more than enough supermarkets to go round. We should support existing local shops more strongly and redevelop the Myrtle arcade. Above all the local community should be involved in planning, right from the start.

Quentin Deakin (chairman, Shipley Green Party), Newark Road, Crossflatts.

l SIR - For heaven's sake leave one of the few decent areas of Bingley alone. Build a new supermarket on the site of Myrtle Walk. The current buildings are an irredeemable wreck largely without tenants. Then build another retail and restaurant development and perhaps a second supermarket on the derelict site of the Auction Mart.

Geoff Innes, Holyoake Avenue, Bingley.

l SIR - Why not just turn Bingley into an urban car park? The developers have carved the trunk road through the 'Throstle nest' of old England. Maybe to complement the car park and cheap supermarket, they could squeeze in a drive-thro' burger restaurant.

I grew up in Bingley and have the fondest memories of my youth there. I wish I could move back to the town as I often feel homesick for the place. Don't kill off Bingley completely. The town and its residents deserve better.

Anton C Clark, Porters Avenue, Dagenham, Essex.

l SIR - Do our planners and politicians never learn from history? Why ruin the nicest bit of Bingley town centre or a jewel of a building like City Hall? I can remember the Mechanics Institute, Kirkgate Market and Swan Arcade (just!) and others. If they had been left intact we would have had a city centre to be proud of with many modernised buildings. A bit like Leeds really! So can we have some sensible ideas for developing our city centre and outlying towns.

Roger Campbell, Manscombe Road, Allerton.

l SIR - I thought your editorial Comment "Don't tear heart out of Bingley" was spot on. We seem to have a council which can't recognise what is right within the boundaries and does not known when to leave well enough alone. It is so infuriating to be governed by such people.

Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Shipley.