SIR - I was pleased to see the rose and "Yorkshire Day" on the front page of the T&A on August 1. But why don't more people remember it?

I am one of the Bradford Health Fellowship members. We meet once a month at Field House. When our day trip was announced for August 1, I asked everyone to wear a white rose for Yorkshire Day.

A few who met in the Interchange had forgotten my request so tried the nearby flower stall. The lady assistant said she didn't know there was a Yorkshire Day. Would they have a red rose as she had no white ones.

We stopped for coffee at a services caf, and there was a Yorkshire Shop. The staff there said they didn't sell roses or badges.

I am always proud to tell people I come from Yorkshire. Why does everyone make such a fuss about St Patrick's Day and don't even know there is Yorkshire Day?

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.

SIR - There have been many complaints in the T&A concerning the changes in the local bus route structure. I happen to agree with most of these, but one needs to remember that it is nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise which is designed to pay for the new (admittedly excellent) buses that First Bradford have introduced in order to be compliant with legislation concerning fuel emissions and disability access.

It would be interesting to know the total weekly bus mileage figures both before and after the changes.

As a regular, life-long user and enthusiast of public transport, I can say that First Bradford's initiative will do little for bus usage, particularly in the off peak. What the bus industry now desperately needs is regulation with all services franchised in a similar fashion to those in London. If their bus routes can be protected, why can't those in Bradford, or elsewhere?

A transfer type of ticket arrangement (or zonal fare structure) would have made the changes much more palatable, but please not by using the First Card.

How First Bradford can, for example, restrict their sale of Dayrider tickets to just holders of a plastic card is, I would suggest, questionable.

L Schofield, Reevy Road, Wibsey.

SIR - Further to the fiasco on the new bus routes. On Sunday, July 30, I caught the 11.20am 615 service to Bingley. It took 20 minutes to reach Bell Dean and had about eight passengers.

On we went down Sandy Lane non stop to Cottingley where two more got on. Judging by the cars lining the route, buses are superfluous.

How much better and useful was the old route, enabling the elderly and relations to visit BRI without a 200-yard slog uphill to a 617 or 618 stop.

Mr Hussain might be a whizz kid at drivers' rotas and schedules but he should study the density of housing along the routes, children and people having to get to work.

The old 615/17/18 route was much used and successful. Not so anymore.

R Jeffrey, Greenway Drive, Bradford 15.

SIR - The bus timetable for Allerton, Service 615, is now abysmal. On Sunday evening at 6.30, I walked down to Thornton Road to catch a 607 because a 615 bus did not arrive between 6pm and 6.30pm.

To get home on Tuesday, at 2.30pm, I walked on Thornton Road to City Road expecting to catch the 2.45pm bus from the Interchange. No sign of one.

I started to walk and reached Four Lane Ends at 3.15pm before I finally gave in and sat down. It was a hot day.

The 615 bus came eventually and I got home at 3.40pm. Meanwhile, three empty 607 buses passed me by as I walked.

This morning, I went for the 8.30am 615 bus opposite Bracewell Avenue and was late for work because this bus did not arrive. One eventually came at 9am. Three 617 buses turned around on Bracewell Avenue and went back up Bell Dean Road, all empty!

We need a more frequent bus route into town. Many people use this bus route to get to work, and in term-time, I'm sure the buses will be over-crowded.

First Bradford need to re-think their timetable for Allerton. Better service? I don't believe it!

Mrs J Connor, Merrivale Road, Allerton.

Khadim Hussain, operations director of First Bradford, said: "I regret to note Mrs Connor has had some difficulty using First Bradford services. With regards to the 615 service I would like to point out that there is no Sunday service between the times stated (6pm and 6.30pm) - a 615 service does operate at 39 minutes past the hour (from Stoney Lane).

"I can confirm that all scheduled journeys before and after operated in accordance with the published timetable.

"Regarding the incident referred to on Tuesday, I can confirm that due to a technical fault with the ticket machine the bus was unfortunately delayed and although the journey was completed, I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

"With reference to the comments regarding the 615 service opposite Bracewell Avenue, I can confirm there is no scheduled service at 0830 hours, however the driver of the 0829 service (from Stoney Lane) confirmed the journey had operated on time.

"In addition to the 615 service (which operates every half hour Monday to Saturday daytime between Bradford and Cottingley via Allerton), First Bradford do operate a ten-minute frequency (Monday to Friday daytime) on both the 607 Blue Line (serving Thornton) and 617/618 Pink Line (serving Allerton).

"I would like to assure Mrs Connor that her comments have been noted and that we shall continue to monitor all our services for their effectiveness.

SIR - What we have now is what we have had on Halifax Road for approximately eight years: no evening service after 6.15pm and no Sunday service on the 681.

Meanwhile Woodside have no day service but from 6.41pm onwards you can catch it every half hour into town.

Who thought that one up? From where I am it's two stops either way. So why don't we get together? We fought 25 years ago for a decent service on Woodside and we got it. Now they have lost it.

Think of us on Halifax road virtual prisoners eight months of the year in the evenings.

No wonder Bradford is losing out. So many of us go to Halifax to shop and we shouldn't have to.

The 508 is very convenient, more than I can say for Bradford buses.

Mrs Z Fleming, Farfield Grove, Halifax Road, Bradford 6.

SIR - The Government has injected over £1 million into public transport.

The people of Idle have not benefited from this. The direct services to Greengates, Leeds and Otley have been axed.

The elderly, the lame, the blind, partially blind, mothers with small children are now isolated.

Many of the elderly, unable to cross roads to change buses not more than once but five times to get to the same place, are becoming house-bound, unable to cope with the present arrangements.

What have the people of Idle done to deserve such treatment?

Please restore the 670, 648 and 644 bus routes.

Government money was injected into public transport to improve services etc not to axe them and make life more difficult.

Mrs C M Hodges, Runnymede Court, Idle

SIR- Im glad to see that Woolworths is coming back to Bradford again. Here in the States, Woolworths is no longer, and I really miss it. Just to go in there and pick out your own candy, or buy a spool of thread, is much better than the large stores.

I will definitely visit on my next trip across the "Big Pond". I wish them luck with the new "Woolies"

Diane Duguid, Deer Park, New York, USA.