SIR - The undersigned organisations support the Government's continuing efforts to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Until the disease is eradicated, these controls must remain a priority. All our organisations want the countryside to return to normal as soon as possible.

Vital and vibrant local partnerships have been established to address FMD issues. We encourage all local authorities to set up such forums and to invite representatives from our organisations to join them.

We support the endeavours of those local authorities which have succeeded in opening some parts of the rights of way network. However, with the bulk of paths in England and Wales still closed, the public perception is that the countryside remains off limits. We therefore:

l Remind all local authorities of the recent veterinary advice from the Ministry of Agriculture.

l Call upon them to take prompt action in adopting the DETR's recent framework documents as a means to reopen, in time for the Spring Bank Holiday, all those footpaths, bridleways and access land where it is safe to do so.

l Ask authorities to publicise as widely as possible the extent to which rights of way and access land are open since walkers, cyclists, riders and other recreational users are extremely unlikely to visit without this information.

Ramblers' Association, National Farmers' Union, British Horse Society, Council for National Parks, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, Cyclists' Touring Club, Outdoor Industries Association, Camping and Caravanning Club, Pedestrians Association, Woodcraft Folk.

SIR - On the radio this morning, Shirley Williams said that if New Labour won a second term she expected devolution to continue with the initiation of regional assemblies in England.

If ever we are asked if we want these assemblies, will we be given the exact cost of setting up same?

Some people may want an assembly for Yorkshire but would they want to pay billions (no one speaks in millions any more!) to set one up, and fork out loads of money for members "to look after Yorkshire interests"? I for one wouldn't.

More layers of government means more of the same but at a highly increased cost.

Does anyone know what it cost to set up the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly? And I don't mean just what it cost the Scots and the Welsh but the English as well.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - It might just prevent racial problems in Bradford in the future if the law was changed to force parents to take responsibility for the actions of their children.

If a child is brought up correctly - no matter what its racial background is - that child will respect other people and their property.

If parents were made to answer to the law for the actions of their children, there would not be many parents prepared to go to prison for the stupidity of their children.

More than likely, one court appearance would normally be sufficient for a parent to make sure that thereafter, he or she would know just what their kids were getting up to!

P Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke

SIR - I read with pride the letter sent to you from Mr Khan. He hit the nail on the head when he talked about the "yobs" in Bradford.

Many people have felt for many years that we are being pushed out of the town.

I was one of these people who finally moved out here to Thornton after living in Girlington for 26 years - happy ones at that.

The police do a damn good job keeping the yobs at bay but when they get together in a mob, all hell starts.

So keep up the good work printing letters like Mr Khan's. Let's feel good about our city again and live in harmony.

J M Popplewell, Thornton Road, Thornton.

SIR - In reply to criticism of my letter on Asian yobs, I would like to make the following points.

Sher Azam claimed that I was condemning the whole Asian community, when I only apologised about the behaviour of Asian yobs. There are many law-abiding Asians who are not yobs and are a credit to their race.

As for CRE spokesman Mohammed Amran, I would like to award the prize of the most obvious statement in this history of the world, with his view that there were problems across the board.

Statements like this give people the go-ahead to cause disorder and anarchy, without any fear of repercussions. The obvious excuse will be that there are white people just as bad.

He is handsomely paid at the taxpayers' expense, and should fully justify our outlay. They both prove my theory on Asian leaders playing down any problem.

Anyone with any doubt regarding the scale of the problem should read the T&A, regarding muggings, rapes, race attacks and the weekly arson attempts on Lister Mills.

If community leaders continue in defensive mode, you can bet your last penny that there will be more riots and possibly fatalities.

I Khan, Heaton Road, Heaton, Bradford.

SIR - From 1919-1930, Bradford Water Board was involved in reservoir and pipe-laying schemes to meet demand in Bradford. Joseph Booth and Brothers Ltd., of Rodley, Leeds, became after 1926 Clyde, Crane and Booth.

Does anyone know anything of the tramways and stock connected with the water board's schemes? At least one Booth "union" design narrow-gauge battery electric diesel was used. Either it belonged to the contractor or was owned by the board for a while.

Any information on Booth locomotives and cranes is eagerly sought.

J P James, 8 Dale Road, Stanley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE1 6EY.

SIR - It is time again to implore all your readers to use their votes in the coming elections. This is very important. The American Presidency was carried by only a few hundred votes.

But watch out for the "Con" in Conservative.

Remember it was a Con government that decimated the British manufacturing industry; that closed down and sold off the land of hundreds of hospitals; that sold off British Gas, Water and Electric (who own them now?)

The Cons sold off British Rail. They also underfunded the schools in an attempt to get them to "opt out". Most of the schools in Bradford were returning deficit budgets including the one that I was a governor of.

Does anybody really want the Cons back?

K Woodcock, Mostyn Grove, Wibsey.