City lake would be monstrous waste

SIR - One of your recent correspondents suggested that the proposed city centre lake could become a symbol of hope for Bradford. How pleasant it must be to be so naively trusting.

Unfortunately, as a civil engineer I have been trained to both evaluate and cost such schemes.

On both counts I'm afraid that the lake falls into the 'have-brained' category.

The cost will be astronomically high, while the benefits will be absolute zero. In fact, I would nominate the scheme as a symbol of stupidity.

Of course, once global warming takes its relentless path and the lake dries into a mosquito-infested swamp, it will then become a symbol of despair.

One wonders what our elected representatives are doing at this time. It appears that they are so overawed by this vision, they have all been struck dumb. No doubt they will recover their voices in time for the local elections.

Perhaps, before we place our little crosses in the box, we can ask them why they haven't spoken out about this monstrous waste of public money before now.

Eddie Bennett, Duchy Drive, Heaton.

Irresponsible act

SIR - Some people high up in Bradford's leadership must have a long and strong affiliation with water.

Hence the planned puddle in the heart of our city and the grandiose desire for the Grand Canal on Canal Road. In the present times of changing climates, increasing violent storms, devastating floods, artificially waterlogging our low-lying city centre is an unbelievable act of irresponsibility.

For the sake of fanciful, spectacular distraction this senseless and very expensive water-campaign goes on and on, pushing aside our much-divided city's real social-economical problems, with Maud Marshall masquerading as the midwife of Bradford's rebirth.

The people in charge of things to come were very quiet in the long sad years of neglect and decline. Now, for really good buildings we need really good builders, decent leadership and united people!

K Novak, Kingsley Avenue, Bradford.

Valuable funds

SIR - Council tax has raised a great deal of controversy due to its perceived "unfairness". Local income tax is coming into favour.

In my case, the Council is paying more than twice my income to keep my wife in a specialised nursing home. There are many people like me who must get a cold shiver at the thought of any scheme that would reduce the rate fund the Council receives.

Lots of people take the attitude that the Council is very much over-financed. Maybe it is, but we need to be very careful about how much it needs. I certainly would not like to guess.

Jack Mawson, Grove House Crescent, Bradford.

Come and join us

SIR - Obviously Mrs Moor (T&A, September 29) hasn't understood the contents of my letter. If, as she says, she is a caring dog owner then there is nothing to reply to.

Living where she does I would have thought she would have wanted Shipley Glen to be a clean area.

If wanting good health for everyone is moaning then I am guilty.

If, however, she would like to contact me she would be welcome to join one of the four voluntary charitable groups for which I give my spare time freely. Alternatively she could join me and my frequent little picks with others around the local areas.

Barry Foster, Gilstead Lane, Gilstead.

No success here

SIR - I recently read about Councillor Anne Hawkesworth proudly announcing that the campaign 'Go Girlington' had been a huge success. It was also in the Council's newsletters Community Pride. I drive on Toller Lane and past Girlington several times a week and to be honest, I see no difference whatsoever, the streets are strewn with litter and rubbish.

Perhaps Coun Hawkesworth should take a trip up and down Kensington Street, Girlington Road and the backs of these to see it didn't work and money again was wasted.

Jenny Sampson, Rossmore Drive, Allerton.

Excuse for suicide

SIR - Whatever M Shaffi may reply, this is my last letter on the subject of violence in the Koran. He says it allows war only in self-defence. This is simply untrue. 9:5 and 29 are in one of the very latest chapters, chronologically. They are verses "revealed" as Muhammad's power grew.

They inspired the Islamic armies in their quest to conquer Arabia, then Iran and the Middle East and even beyond; possibly the most successful military campaign of all time, but hardly "defensive".

The "Sword Verse" (9:5) is said by some to have abrogated 124 other verses on war.

The presence of such verses can be used, together with others on the rewards of "martyrdom", as at least an excuse for suicide bombing among impressionable young men (and women). What a tragedy!

Lionel Fitzsimons, Killinghall Drive, Bradford.