SIR - I was most interested in the letter from Mrs Loy about her mouth organ. It reminded me of my own introduction to the harmonica. In the mid-thirties, together with a few school friends, I joined Sedbergh Boys' club, at that time situated in Bowling Old Lane.

Each Monday night we had a visit from William Gutteridge (known as Tocado) who formed a harmonica band and rehearsed us for concerts at local churches and Sunday Schools. We each had an instrument provided for the performances and we asked only for our tram fares and some kind of supper.

Tocado would always start the evening by saying that it was his intention to prove that the mouth organ was a musical instrument and not just a toy.

I'm not sure how long Tocado lived, but I've always hoped that he would have heard the wonderful musical background to that film of the London-to-Brighton race, Genevieve. More recently there is the acclaimed TV programme, Last of the Summer Wine.

I'm sure most of your readers will agree that the musical treat there really does make such a difference.

Fred Shuttleworth, Cullingworth Road, Cullingworth.

SIR - A short time ago I wrote to my MP, Terry Rooney about my brother-in-law Keith Hallsworth, whose Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit have both been reduced because he got a rise in pension in April. Not only that, but they are reclaiming £128 which he has been overpaid.

I asked Mr Rooney what the point is of giving pensioners who are on benefits a rise in pension and then claiming back a similar amount from their benefits.

Today I received a reply to my letter. Mr Rooney also enclosed a letter from the Benefits Service which sets out how my brother-in-law's benefits are calculated, but in this letter Mr Hallsworth has suddenly become Mr Hallswell, so presumably as far as the Benefits Service is concerned, Hallswell that ends well.

As Mr Rooney is apparently unable or unwilling to answer my original question, perhaps someone else will. I repeat, what is the point of giving someone a rise with one hand and taking it back with the other?

Why not give the rise to the Benefits Service and cut out the middle man?

E L Roberts, Heath Terrace, Bradford 3.

SIR - The report "Church is fighting on" (T&A, August 16) gives the impression that Roman Catholic Christians within the Leeds diocese support a proposal to sell a piece of recreational land in Baildon against the wishes of local residents.

The matter is handled by a very small group, probably most of them clergy. It is unlikely that Catholics in Baildon have been consulted. As an active and investing member of the Catholic Church since 1959, I consider that failure to develop democracy in my church is a grave weakness.

Church representatives are acting against the common good of church members and of Baildon residents. They should consult a document issued by England's Catholic Bishops in 1996, for a clearer vision.

It's called "The Common Good and the Catholic Church's Social Teaching." The introduction, by the Bishop of Leeds, states "Democracy... is necessary for the common good".

Section 107 states "Our environmental common goods... are held in trust for the use and enjoyment of future generations... Commercial concerns must never see them as sources of profit".

In this matter the Church appears to be acting exactly as a commercial concern. Representatives acting for all the Church should make a fresh start, for the common good.

I urge local Catholics to support the Baildon residents, and write letters of complaint to the Bishop of Leeds.

Ted Harris, Ormonde Drive, Allerton.

SIR - Re the letter from Eileen Allen of Defend Council Housing Campaign (August 21). After members of that organisation knocked on all doors in Summer Hall Ing, Delph Hill, to tell residents their homes were to be demolished, many people approached me to clarify this situation.

The UDP papers, sections BS/H1.23 and BS/H1.24 mentioned an existing greenfield site and cleared brownfield and on Summer Hall Ing. However, it seems, that this relates to an area at the top of Summer Hall Ing called The Acre, and a field connecting Delph Hill to Woodside.

Half of The Acre has been demolished, at the insistence of Delph Hill residents, and will be replaced by new housing, possibly to buy at affordable mortgages to open up homes to own for young couples.

The green field will also, pending successful arrangements, have similar homes built. These plans are clearly shown on Royds proposals.

Demolition on Summer Hall Ing is not proposed and it would seem that this is a clerical error in stating the wrong street. If Mrs Allen and her colleagues had used a bit of logic and looked closely at the properties they targeted, they would have realised that half of them are privately owned and I'm sure that attempts to move people out of these houses would be legally extremely difficult if not impossible.

Securing planning permission to demolish newly-refurbished homes in excellent condition would surely be equally as legally impossible.

However, if anybody in authority can verify or deny the accuracy of this letter I would welcome their comments. But please, I only want facts.

Mick Stocks, chairman, CARE (Community Association for Regeneration of Estates), The Coppies, Delph Hill, Wyke.

SIR - I would like to take this opportunity to urge those readers of the Telegraph & Argus who are members of the Conservative Party to use their vote wisely in the forthcoming leadership election, and vote for the only man who can unite the Conservative Party - Iain Duncan Smith.

The Conservative Party needs to draw a line under its previous divisions over Europe and Iain is capable of doing this as his views concur with 85 per cent of the party's members.

I have enormous respect for Ken Clarke and his past achievements. However, he is not only in favour of adopting the euro, his entire European approach is one of broader and deeper integration.

In practical terms, this can only create divisions. The next two major national elections that this country faces will be a likely referendum on the Single Currency and the European Elections themselves in 2004.

If the modern Conservative Party is going to be a formidable contender in these elections, it will not be possible to sideline European issues in an election about Europe. The Conservatives must tackle the issue of Europe head-on. The only man capable of doing this is Iain Duncan Smith.

Robert Goodwill MEP (Conservative), Yorkshire and The Humber, York.

SIR - I read with interest the proposed objections by the owners of Petergate, London Allied Properties, in regard to the proposed Forster Square Development Partnership.

When licensees in Bradford objected to new licences being issued to new venues in Bradford, because it would affect their businesses, the Council took the stance that market forces could not be a consideration in blocking the issuing of new licences, and that the strongest would survive.

I hope that Keith Byers, when he makes his decision, bases it on the same criteria, and that the objections put in are seen for what they are - purely selfish.

In other words, companies such as Prudential Portfolios are looking after themselves. Let's be honest, companies aren't knocking down their doors to rent their units, judging by the number that are empty.

Let me make a comparison with Leeds (as much as it hurts). It has at least four clear shopping areas ie Corn Exchange, Merrion Centre, The Victoria shopping arcades etc.

I totally back the proposed development to knock down the ghastly- looking buildings, and the sooner the Kirkgate follows to be replaced by new clean units that are customer friendly, the better.

Dean Loynes, School Street, Bradford.

SIR - Anyone using the cycle path along the edge of one of our main roads deserves three prizes: -

1. A medal for bravery.

2. A dunce's cap for stupidity.

3. A gas mask for protection from air pollution and dust.

Using the footpath would only rate number 3.

It would be sensible for all new cars to have an air filtration system.

William Boocock, Wheatley Lane, Ilkley.