Letters to the editor

SIR - I write in response to the letter from Ken Morton, managing director of Landmark Development Projects Ltd (August 17).

What a poor loser he is. He has not stopped complaining since the decision to turn down planning permission for West Bowling Golf Club.

Has he not yet grasped the fact that this Government has pledged to help regeneration in city centres (and I understand has given millions of pounds to Bradford for this purpose).

It has also promised to maintain and improve sports and recreational facilities in an effort to improve the health of the nation. Therefore in accordance with government policy the decision is correct.

Gerry Sutcliffe MP as far as I am aware does not play golf but to his credit is fighting to keep green and recreational land for his electorate, for which he is to be applauded

Mrs C A Binsley, Harrogate Road, Bradford

Why plan has failed

SIR - I have never read a more biased letter. In the interest of editorial balance, I highlight a few facts Mr Morton (T&A, August 14) forgot to mention for fear of reminding everyone why this speculative plan for West Bowling Golf Club failed.

l When the plan was announced (T&A, July 28, 2000) Mr Morton said 8,000 jobs would be created not including the construction jobs, now reduced to 4,000. A difference of this size reflects the pure speculation of the whole plan.

l The retail aspect of the plan contravened the UDP as reported (T&A, December 20, 2004).

l The original plan was actually refused planning as reported (T&A, September 27, 2002).

l The poor detail design of siting the magnificent grade II listed building in the middle of a new roundabout. This was condemned by English Heritage in a letter dated 15.3.02 from Trevor Mitchell, inspector of historic buildings. English Heritage, to Stephen Bateman, heritage manager, Bradford Council.

This whole plan was speculative from the start and went through the correct channels and failed. Mr Morton should stop blaming everyone else for the failure when responsibility for it failing lies with him.

C Holmes, Hopefield Way, Bradford.

Here are the facts

SIR - Re Ken Morton's letter (T&A, August 17) regarding the development of West Bowling Golf Club.

Yet again Mr Morton is not giving the full facts. John Prescott has not denied planning permission for this site - this site has had planning permission for ten years but any development must be in line with the agreed Unitary Development Plan for Bradford ie manufacturing and warehousing not retail, office, houses or a hotel as Mr Morton would build which would detract from the regeneration of Bradford city centre.

If Mr Morton does not understand the UDP I am prepared to go through it with him line by line.

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe does not oppose the development of this site for proper jobs and incidentally is not a golfer, only a hard-working Member of Parliament for the area.

Coun David Robinson (Lab, Wyke), City Hall, Bradford.

The way forward

SIR - It seems to me a number of today's countrywide problems have simple commonsense solutions, and I give below some examples.

Binge-drinking and drunkenness: make the manufacture, advertising and sale of alco-pops illegal, and destroy all stocks.

Road speeds and casualties: legally control the design of road vehicles to reduce acceleration rates and top speeds. Also make all vehicles capable of operating easily in top gear at 30mph.

Traffic gridlock: legally forbid the use of goods vehicles heavier than 30 tonnes within one mile of town and city boundaries, except with police escort applied and paid for in advance by the vehicle user. Shop deliveries should be by smaller vans. Rail freight should be encouraged for all commodities.

Public transport: reduce all bus and train fares by subsidising from community or income taxes, and re-municipalise local bus operations.

These and many other cases can easily be seen - but the likelihood of any of them actually being adopted is, I fear, negligible - since all would remove the profit motive and entail loss of revenue by great and powerful organisations - and might even reduce the dividends currently received by members of national and local government.

Ian R McDougall, Hawkswood Avenue, Heaton.

Puzzling changes

SIR - As a local Regen 2000 resident, I was shocked, saddened and mystified to hear about the Council's proposals to "sack" the Board and replace it with its own steering group due to the under-spend.

The fact that 92 per cent (£304,576.12) of the reported under-spend was in projects run by the Council or Bradford Chambers of Commerce, speaks volumes.

Mr Wiggins - please enlighten us as to the hidden agenda behind this? Why has the accountable body developed a sudden interest in Regen 2000, when the local authority has for many years neglected the needs of the community?

The contrast of the area pre-Regen to today has changed considerably for the better for the people who live and work there. The physical changes are one aspect of the positive impact but, more importantly, money, time and resources have been invested for long-term benefits and sustainability which will continue long after Regen 2000 has finished.

I have 100 per cent confidence in the people I have elected to the Board and who listen to and represent my views. I do not have any confidence if a steering group was created to deliver the remainder of the scheme.

Miss Abida Rafiq, Leeds Old Road, Bradford

Such a good man

SIR - The death of Robin Cook MP is a great loss to this country. He was not afraid to state publicly that the war in Iraq was wrong, he cared about education and spoke against top-up fees unlike some Bradford MPs.

Members of Parliament may have prestige, they certainly receive a good salary and have all their expenses paid. Despite these perks they will never have the wholeness, the goodness that was part of Robin Cook.

I have always found it strange that the Labour party never supports the good people in the party like Mo Mowlam MP who had to suffer the taunts of Peter Mandelson. When she was undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, she apparently got no help at all from Tony Blair.

It is a mystery to me how this man is still Prime Minister. Yes he did get an increased majority in Sedgefield but practically all the Labour candidates lost votes except for Ann Cryer who has always stood up for the people of Keighley.

Joan Foulds, New Line, Greengates.

A boost for city

SIR - The Rawson Quarter is an excellent addition to the city centre and when fully open will help attract shoppers back to this area.

Perhaps the times when it was wall-to-wall shoppers on a Saturday afternoon between Godwin Street and John Street may return.

With Rawson Place now pedestrianised, surely it is time to do the same along John Street between Northgate and James Street. Change the traffic flow and move the bus stops along Westgate so the connection between the Kirkgate shopping centre, Rawson Quarter and Oastler Centre is pleasant and traffic free.

Use the same materials and street furniture as on Rawson Place so it creates a uniform and clean look.

Specialist street markets could then be held along John Street such as antique markets, craft markets, flower markets and farmers markets which would bring colour and character to the street and this would help revitalise the historic market quarter and create a balance with the new prestigious shopping areas in Forster Square.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford.

A good deed

SIR - May I, through your paper, thank the kind-hearted person who returned a letter which had been dropped in Shipley. The person did this anonymously, so I am unable to thank them personally.

It is heartening that when all you hear these days is bad news and complaints that there are still considerate people around who are willing to go out of their way to do a good deed.

Mark Smith, Springhurst Road, Shipley.