SIR - Re J Taylor's letter of October 8. How can he speculate that churches like St Philip's will be sold to become mosques or community centres? St Philip's was built in 1860 as a Christian centre for people to worship God and has continued as that today.

We are not fools. The change in the racial make-up of the area is clear for all to see. But this doesn't mean that God's church will pull out. We will never leave Girlington without a Christian presence!

Surely if we live in a mixed community there is a place for everyone. St Philip's is growing with many more young people worshipping with those not so young. The church has spent £75,000 on reorganising the building. Is this the sign of selling up? The church is alive with the power of God with prayer taking place daily at 12pm.

The building is used for men's English classes twice a week and we hire the hall out for community events. We see the only way forward as working together. We thank the Muslim community for their support after the attack on the church last November 5.

We realise the majority want to live in peace and harmony.

Rev Tony Tooby, St Philip's Church, Girlington

SIR - An MRI scanner is an expensive scientific instrument with high running costs, whether it is used or not. While there appears to be a case for a second scanner at the BRI, there is another option.

There are 168 hours in a week and the current scanner has until recently only been used for 40 hours per week.

The problem faced is not a lack of potential instrument hours, but rather more one of getting highly skilled staff to work shifts and unsociable hours.

It would be appropriate to use the existing scanner seven days per week for at least 18 hours per day before pressing the case for a second instrument.

I am sure, if given the option, patients would be happy to turn up for a very early morning, or an evening appointment, rather than wait months for an appointment. Furthermore parking should not present a problem.

Derek Maitland, Clumber Drive, Gomersal

SIR - How sad our city is. There is nothing to go into the centre for except pay bills, stroll around and then back home. Why isn't there some kind of weekly open market in Centenary Square or some kind of monthly stalls with craft and gifts, paintings etc or artists doing portraits and people selling their wares.

There is nothing to do here. There is no art gallery for local artists to go and exhibit their work and sell their pictures. Bradford is full of banks and pound shops. Capital of Culture? Far from it.

All people say about Bradford is it's dead on its feet. There is nothing to aspire to. Can't the Council see Bradford people are crying out for just a little bit more. It's an absolute disgrace. What is to become of our poor city?

V Emanuel, Centre Street, Little Horton.

SIR - It's official! Bradford is up for grabs and it's happening all over the city, not to mention the West Bowling Golf Club debacle.

Only a week after the panel meeting rejected the application, the decision was overturned. I was surprised by Councillor Cooke's comments, seeing as his interest didn't extend to actually attending the meeting.

I was at the meeting and those who spoke against the application were most vehement in their opposition.

It seems incredible that a Council ambitious enough to enter the Capital of Culture race should be so backward in its ideas of urban regeneration.

The way forward is to make Bradford a pleasanter place to live, not to surround it with ugly, empty warehouses while ignoring any concerns by the Environment Agency.

We want to attract genuine investors, not mere speculators who have no interest in improving our environment or creating jobs for that matter, just in making a fast buck.

Instead of giving these people such an easy ride the Council should be urging central government to provide better incentives to develop existing sites rather than allowing a few to profit by blighting the lives of the many.

Mrs G Graydon, Nottingham Street, Thornbury, Bradford.

SIR - With regard to the West Bowling Golf Club scheme being back on, how much more green-belt land is Bradford Council going to let developers have?

What do we want with more superstores? We have enough. As for saying it will bring in 5,000 jobs, that is dreaming.

There are plenty of derelict sites in Bradford without taking green-belt land. Bradford's Planning Committee must be stopped in its tracks.

They give permission too easily for developers and builders. Anybody can get permission to build and develop anywhere.

Future generations will look back in anger for what we have allowed to happen to our green areas.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Bradford.

SIR - As the days pass, the time for the vote on entry to Europe nears, and we should all be aware of the French. They have a wonderful history in art and in literature and there was Mme Curie and the can-can. On the other hand it seems they love to say "Non" to any proposal which is not theirs.

Recently American representatives have spoken with the French leadership in order to gain support to deal with Iraq. In the past, after all other "atomic" nations had long since finished their atomic bomb tests, the French refused to cancel their final sessions.

Moreover the French attitude to NATO was uncompromising (French forces will be commanded only by the French).

Anyone with any sense will not begin a journey with someone who is determined to make decisions irrespective of the wishes, beliefs or ideas of others. He who travels light travels alone. We must say "Non" firmly and clearly when the time comes.

Arthur Burge, Longhouse Drive, Denholme.

SIR - So Mr Ian Fisch, director of Linking Estates, says "there will be no real disturbance to anyone" when the proposed development at Highfield Avenue, Idle, goes ahead.

The proposed development will totally decimate the wildlife of the area. There will be wholesale felling of mature trees, hedges ripped out, birds and small mammals including a colony of bats, will be disturbed. One of the few remaining "wild" places in the north of Bradford will be lost. Minimal replanting can not make up for what will be taken away.

For the short term (two years?) the residents of Highfield Avenue, Santa Monica Road and Sandhill Fold, which borders this land, will suffer the noise and dirt etc while the houses are being built. But long term, they will be losing a peaceful haven never to be replaced.

Bradford can ill afford to lose places like this.

Sylvia Walker, Santa Monica Road, Idle.

SIR - What a load of codswallop for Suzanne Rehman to suggest that Peter Sutcliffe's crimes were comparable to last year's race riots for damaging the reputation of the city (Letters, October 1).

But she is right in saying that this murderer was neither Asian nor Muslim, not like the worst serial killer of Muslims the world has ever had: Saddam Hussein. He's killed millions.

As if to justify Islam she mentions converts. Yes, you have that choice without being persecuted in England. What's the chance of a Muslim in Pakistan changing to Christianity?

As for saying that Islam has given more rights to women than any other religion...well there's no printable answer to that. What about that "right" they haven't got yet, the one regarding being sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. What happens to the man?

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Long Lane, Harden