SIR - As a retired nurse, I feel I must question the assurances made by the Directorate of Personnel at the Community Health Trust that needs are being met within the district nursing service in Bradford (T&A September 18).

When will the powers-that-be listen and hear what the nurses are saying? Yes, needs are being met, but with great difficulty.

Over the past year I have had first-hand experience of seeing the nurses caring for a terminally-ill patient and giving support to families and carers.

The only occasion the service was in question was weekends when out-of-hours staff were coping with patients they did not know and probably geographical areas they were unfamiliar with.

Mrs U Conroy, Beacon Road, Wibsey.

SIR - Yet again, Mr. Wood (September 19) repeats the mantra that more city centre cars equals higher sales.

Bradford already has more actual city centre parking spaces than Leeds, therefore it is more successful, yes? No.

If we are to have more cars in the centre, where are they to go? Whose buildings (i.e. businesses) will have to be knocked down to provide parking space? Where will we put the extra roads to take the extra traffic? Whose children's lungs are to be sacrificed on the altar of commerce?

Bradford centre's failings lie in: developer-driven ugliness (Broadway/Petergate); replacement of engineering and textile jobs with less-well-paid service ones; and a failure of the Council and retailers together to create an imaginative centre.

Cars don't spend money. What we need is a people-friendly, attractive and unpolluted city that is pleasurable to shop in and regeneration of public transport, so that we can make a rational choice as to which form of transport is most suitable for a particular journey,

At the moment, we do not have that choice.

Mike Healey, Dyehouse Road, Bradford 12.

SIR - I totally agree with Peter A Rushworth and Nora Pemberton's letters about pulling out of Europe altogether.

We do not need Europe as they need us, especially our money. As an ex-Serviceman who helped to chase the Germans from France, I can tell you that a leopard never changes its spots.

They couldn't beat us by guns or bombs, now they are trying to beat us with the pen.

The Germans still want to rule the whole of Europe, and France - who lost their country twice - have jumped into bed with them.

What we need is an Independent English Parliament. We want a referendum.

N Brown, Petersborough Place, Bradford.

SIR - I was puzzled to read the news item "Diabetic - I had to steal food or I'd have collapsed" (T&A, September 15).

To steal chicken to remedy low blood sugar would have had no effect at all as a diabetic needs to take glucose or carbohydrate to raise the blood sugar, such as chocolate or Lucozade, etc.

I'm sure if a diabetic has no money at the time, then the person at the checkout would understand if the empty wrapper/bottle was taken to them and the situation explained - that the diabetic needed to take the sugary food to avoid collapse in a medical emergency.

Why choose chicken when it wouldn't help?

Mrs J Magson, Deanstones Lane, Queensbury.

SIR - As our daily lives become more and more noisy, many of us will at some time experience a temporary ringing in the ears. For four million people in the UK these sounds, known as tinnitus, are a permanent feature of life. Since tinnitus can sound as loud as a jet engine, it's not surprising that the constant noise can lead to stress, isolation and depression.

Although there's still no cure for tinnitus, it can be treated. But new research by medical charity Defeating Deafness shows that many GPs just aren't aware of the treatments on offer.

That's why we're launching a free information pack for those affected by tinnitus, explaining the causes and the treatments available.

If you, or someone you know, is affected by tinnitus, order your free copy today by calling the Defeating Deafness Information Service on freephone 0808 808 2222.

Vivienne Michael, chief executive, Defeating Deafness, Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.

SIR - As this once-proud city descends still further into the foul sink of lawlessness and immorality, your articles of September 8 (Pages 20-21) serve to underline the frustration and despair felt by many of us who have spent years of loyalty to Bradford and undying hope for a better future.

Mike Priestley confidently suggests that Bradford city centre is as safe a place to be as any during daytime hours. However, after dark it is a very different story - Olwen Vasey speaks of the frightening atmosphere after 5.30pm, when, especially on Saturdays, a strange hiatus and uneasy calm can be felt between the departure of the shoppers and the arrival of the drinkers, while Fridays and Saturdays at closing time for the pubs and bars are horrendous.

Added to this there is the constant wanton vandalism in the suburbs - wrecked bus-shelters and telephone kiosks, not to mention the burned-out cars.

We are told that the police are short of resources and therefore resort to a reactive rather than a proactive stance.

It is mandatory therefore, that the necessary resources be found as soon as possible in order to reassure an increasingly fearful public.

Derek Mozley, Moorhead Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - With reference to your article "Security to be stepped up at council properties" (T&A, September 20).

I find it amazing that Bradford Council is going to spend £70,000 on security locks for 14 flats. Even if the work involves new locks and doors, surely £5,000 per door is extremely expensive.

It's not really surprising Bradford Council is having to cut £4.7 million this year and £11.8 million next year from its budget if they are happy to splash out sums of money like this.

Is there anyone working at the Council who has any knowledge of how much things should actually cost?

Richard Stables, Baldwin Lane, Clayton

SIR - While I approve of areas being upgraded, it seems like a lottery.

When some residents can smile for redevelopment, others have to put up with horrors.

The snicket between Yorkshire Electric and New Plan Furniture off Sticker Lane is an abomination.

This is a public right of way as we have recently been reminded by a posh sign at the end of Bullen Street. It is strewn with litter (never cleared).

Yorkshire Electric was asked a few years back to relocate their rubbish skips that end up with the rubbish being freely blown about (no response).

Vagrants leave empty drink bottles scattered about and others use it as a toilet.

The bollards to deter riders have been pushed down by vandals. Recently three baths were dumped there. Horses and their manure are regular visitors.

This is a nightmare scenario from the year 2000, not some futuristic science fiction horror world.

There are no smiles on residents' faces around here.

Doreen Webster, Bullen Street, Bradford 4.