SIR - I live adjacent to Peel Park and every year the Mela is a nightmare. We have to patrol our own parking spaces and suffer abuse from those who are advised not to park.

Parking tickets are all well and good but that does not prevent the culprits from literally dumping their cars wherever they can.

Surely in a large green district such as ours, the committees can find unused fields away from residential areas and main roads and therefore avoid the major disturbance that is caused by this event.

Peel Park is one of the most beautiful and in my view, neglected parks in Bradford. The damage caused by both travellers and the Mela should be avoided at all costs.

I doubt Bradford Council will be returning the Mela to Lister Park.

Vicky Leith, Otley Road, Undercliffe

SIR - Councillor Anne Hawkesworth put it mildly when she stated that the travellers are "cocking a snook at us"!

Bradford must be regarded with total disdain and contempt by the travellers who come here frequently, leaving the ratepayers to finance the cleaning-up operations, and then depart with impunity.

By any standard this situation cannot be right, and steps should, could, and would be taken to change the local bye-laws or laws of the land if our elected councillors and MP got their act together in a concerted effort.

Peek Park is a wonderful park, a natural beauty spot, and it is about time that the park and its nearby residents were given a rest from disruption, damage, and destruction, from its continual hosting of the circus, fun fairs and the Mela.

Donald Firth, Harrogate Street, Undercliffe.

SIR - The gipsies fear neither the Council nor the police and have faced "get tough" measures for most of my life. It's just another of those things, like the endless fireworks problem, that have been with us for decades, with no action or solution. The "traveller" problem over the years has cost enough money to build a large home for the elderly.

G A Lorriman, North Walk, Long Lane, Harden

SIR - I too deplore the mess left in Peel Park by last week's invasion of travellers and agree that it is high time to take steps to stop their regular occupation of private land and to make them accountable for the mess they leave behind.

However they are not the only ones to show a completely irresponsible and anti-social attitude to the city's parks and open spaces.

A recent visit to Bradford Moor Park was spoiled by the amount of litter, household rubbish and discarded furniture thrown over the wall along the Silverhill Road side of the park.

I despair for our city when so many of its citizens are working against the common good instead of working to improve things for the good of all.

The time has come for tough action, for fines that will hit them where it hurts and that will raise some of the money needed to pay for the staff of the cleansing department who have to clear up after these vandals.

Dorothy Ellis, Woodrow Drive, Low Moor.

SIR - If Joe Bloggs parked in Centenary Square with a caravan, the police would no doubt have him moved in no time. So why not take action when these travellers take over car parks, private or Council and parks?

These travellers should be moved on quickly and made to take all the rubbish with them.

R Agar, Folly Hall Close, Wibsey.

SIR - It is surely unreasonable for your correspondent, Ivan Sadiwink, to assume that just because I warn of the dangers of the Islamophobia being propagated throughout the West in the guise of the phoney "war against terrorism", this means I condone the stoning to death of a Nigerian woman.

It would be as illogical to assume that just because I have fought all my life against anti-Semitism this means I condone the assassination by Israeli soldiers in the name of Jehovah of 1,859 Palestinians, including 346 children, since September 2000.

All the religious bigots who persecute their fellow human beings in the name of any godhead, whether they be Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, or indeed atheists like Pol Pot, should be aware that the crimes they commit are a blasphemy against the God who commands us to love one another, and declares that his very name is Love. They should know that they will stand before the judgment seat to answer for their crimes.

But God also says "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). He tells us to put our own house in order before presuming to lecture others on their failings.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford 8

SIR - What a load of clap-trap from Ian Bennett (Letters, October 30). I understood Mrs Galilee's letter; like hundreds of thousands of Bradfordians she is anxious at what we see as "the British way of life" being eroded.

Mr Bennett claims the right of Muslim women in their choice of apparel, then jeers at lovely English girls wearing colourful ensembles!

I agree that many of these Muslim girls are highly intelligent, many with a superior education. What Mr Bennett doesn't say is the 22-year-old female law graduate can then be sent back to Pakistan to marry a 17-year-old cousin uneducated, unable to speak English.

Mr Bennett's claim that the average Muslim female has any sort of equality with men is not born out by horror stories in the media.

Les Brotherton, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - There is a unique opportunity in Bradford to develop two prime sites in the city centre, the Odeon and the Tyrls.

Build a major new concert hall on the old Odeon cinema site. A new building could include the two domes restored to their former glory and have a striking glass frontage.

Build a prestigious department store building on the Tyrls site for House of Fraser/John Lewis/Selfridges to occupy overlooking an elegant public square with a central water feature.

The cafes and bars complex in Centenary Square will bring a continental feel to Bradford and provide a pleasant area to relax on a nice summer's day.

Part of City Hall could be converted into an art gallery with an exhibition area, local history displays and a restaurant.

The possibilities really are endless, but at the end of the day Bradford deserves the very best.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - Care in the community is not working in Bradford. It is ten weeks before Social Services can assess anybody. The Council will save money by letting people die, so why does it not put forward a case for euthanasia now?

We at the Retired People's Action Group are asking retired people to put up as candidates in all the elections. Our group will help with leaflets etc. Let us put these councillors out of office. There are a lot of retired people who have more experience than the councillors who are in office at present. Let's give this city a council we can be proud of, one which helps the elderly and the disabled.

J R Smith (chairman, Retired Peoples Action Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley.

SIR - My business brings me to Bradford. Recently I came with an elderly relative from Australia. She knew nothing of Bradford. She had a fresh view with unbiased eyes.

"What a fantastic city. Just look at those wonderful buildings. What a magnificent City Hall. There are so many great shops. So much to see and do. Everyone was so friendly. It didn't feel like a strange place at all. I felt completely at home. I had a really enjoyable day."

When I told her of Bradford's image, she would not believe me. Expect more visitors from Australia!

Andrew Carroll, Meadow Bank, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire.

SIR - May I thank all of the people who wrote letters of support and telephoned after the documentary Pet Hate was shown on BBC1 last Thursday. Some lived as far away as Devon and Birmingham. All had the same message: "Keep up the good work your doing".

Interestingly not one has condemned me for my actions and love of cats, as Bradford Council, neighbours and courts have over the last two-and-a-half years, which has given me hope.

Jenny Sampson, Rossmore Drive, Allerton.