Letters to the Editor

SIR - Is Bingley really in relief because the roof of Myrtle Walk is to be torn off and replaced by...er, canopies (Telegraph & Argus, August 16)?

Every party involved is keeping their cards close to their chests. Morrisons have quit so all hope rests with the Co-op but what will they bring to the party (assuming the lease assignment by Morrisons goes through) as they already have relatively new or refurbished stores at Baildon and Riddlesden plus a convenience store at Saltaire?

Without a significant upgrade by the Co-op I cannot see quality retailers rushing to occupy "knocked together" units in Myrtle Walk while the main thoroughfare and environs remain in the existing unattractive configuration.

Mrs Wood is right. The whole place needs knocking down with Halladale putting in new money to make their initial investment work and attract retailers. Bradford MDC has to accept that the library needs to be repositioned and help the developer with improved car parking and access to Myrtle Walk.

With such steps Bingley shopping could be rejuvenated. I like to think it may happen but whatever the Co-op comes up with I fear that the citizens of Bingley will be disappointed and their relief will revert to resignation,

J G Collins, Southway, Eldwick

A driving danger

SIR - It was a pleasure to read Kauser Khan's letter (T&A, August 12). What a pity she has so mis-interpreted my letter (T&A, August 9).

In no way was I condemning the shalwar kameez - I think that particular mode can be very attractive indeed.

I believe the only reason I could be regarded as "alienated and isolated" is the fact that, exceptionally, I have lived in Pakistan and India, speak Urdu and Hindi, and have always liked Pakistanis.

My concern is about the increasingly foreign and alien impression caused by the wearing of the black hijab, jilbab and the burka.

According to my Muslim friends most of these are worn by young married women to show how religious they are, since they speak or understand little of the Arabic of the mosque, and since they are native English speakers their knowledge of Urdu/Punjabi/ Bengali is very limited.

The wearing of the burka when driving is positively dangerous due to the lack of peripheral vision. I have heard of one driving school which will not accept burka wearers for this reason.

Finally the fact that church statues of the blessed Mary appear to wear Pakistani country clothes follows from the medieval paintings showing imaginary clothes of the era of Christ's birth.

Ian R McDougall, Hawkswood Avenue, Heaton.

Railings update

SIR - Re the letter by George Whatmough, "Get 'em painted" (T&A, August 20).

As a resident of Crag Road I have had to endure looking at those dilapidated, rusty railings for years.

I bring Mr Whatmough good news. They are to be replaced at long last. God willing the work will start in early September 2005.

R Halliday, Crag Road, Shipley.

Care fees help

SIR - We're glad the serious issues around the provision and funding of care are finally getting the attention they deserve following the DTI's response this week to the OFT's damning report into care homes.

But while the Government works to put these measures in place, the real losers are older people and their families left feeling vulnerable at a time they need support the most.

The care fees 'affordability gap' continues to widen, while the chaos over who pays for care carries on unabated.

The plans outlined by the Government, particularly those recommending straightforward fees and pricing information, may go some way towards resolving this situation.

However, we continue to be concerned for the people who are battling a care system that comprises a confusing labyrinth of legislation, regulations, blurred lines of responsibility and complex rulings.

Older people entering or already in care, confused about their options, entitlements and funding, need trusted, independent advice and information. The Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service provides this by offering impartial advice to anyone, entering or already in care, regardless of means.

Readers can telephone freephone 0500 76 74 76 for further information.

Philip Spiers, Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service

I'm still waiting too

SIR - I felt I had to put pen to paper in reply to comments about Premium Bonds.

I can beat the 33 years of Mrs M Crook (Letters, August 18).

I bought two in 1955. I also informed Ernie of my moves, but still no joy. I've wondered about returning them.

Had they been invested in the bank at least I would have gained a tiny amount of interest.

I've still got my fingers crossed.

S Harrison, Musgrave Drive, Eccleshill.

The 'other' plan

SIR - I am sorry that Jack Mawson (T&A, August 9) finds my attempts to denounce duplicity somewhat obtuse. Perhaps it will help if I give an example.

The land at the junction of Listerhills and Thornton Road is earmarked in the 'masterplan' as wetlands. Jack may well remember that this area was once a gasworks.

In the 1980s we reclaimed the area by taking away all the solid pollutants. Measures were put in place to neutralise any residual nasties.

Have these been successful? An in-house team would have the knowledge to check, but would one of Jack's international superstars?

It might be amusing to have frogs that glow in the dark (except in the local French restaurant, of course) but on the whole I think it best if our Council officers are more involved than they are credited at the moment.

Incidentally, in our masterplan (yes, one did exist!) this same piece of land had a quite different use. It was to become a grade-separated junction on the final leg of the inner ring road.

Will Alsop has a much better solution to road traffic problems though - ignore them and they will go away!

Eddie Bennett, Duchy Drive, Heaton.

Tackle jails issue

SIR - We're building more houses and flats to meet the demand for accommodation yet we seem reluctant to deal with overcrowded jails.

Britain is not a poor country, we can afford to construct bigger and better prisons and should do so as soon as possible.

Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon says that overcrowding poses a serious danger to prison and public safety (T&A, August 13) but not being able to lock up law-breakers would constitute a greater threat.

The Home Office must deal with what is now a serious situation or else the judiciary could end up in the ridiculous position of having to literally select who goes to jail.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford.

I'm at a loss...

SIR - I heard with interest, and not a little mirth, that the post office is changing its method of postal charging according to size, not necessarily weight.

They say this is to bring them up to date with the current variation of envelope sizes.

There will be some sort of gauge at post offices so you will be able to determine the correct cost. They intimate, that some prices will go up, and some will come down, but they will not make any further profit from this venture.

Now for the mirth - what sensible company alters its pricing structure, incurs the expense of advertising the change and the cost of size gauges in all post office outlets and then says, 'we will not make any extra profit'?

If I 'read' it right, they will make a loss, with the cost of the expense in the changeover and the cost of manufacturing gauges.

Now, either they are a sandwich short of a picnic, or they think I am. Need I say more?

A G Goldsbrough, Dale Court, Fieldway, Ilkley