Letters to the Editor

SIR - The recent correspondence about the New Victoria has reminded me that my first visit there was on the evening of the day it opened. The film was Rio Rita. The "Mighty Wurlitzer" organ rose up from the depths and was played at each performance.

There was a delightful caf at the Alhambra end, and an excellent restaurant at the Thornton Road end where you could buy "supper" for the princely sum of two shillings and three pence (11p). It consisted of four courses: soup, a fish course, a meat course and a dessert. Coffee was tuppence (1p) extra.

I spent many happy hours at dinner dances in the ballroom at the New Vic. I heard the abdication speech of King Edward VIII there while at a dance - the dinner dance of the old Undercliffe Tennis Club, I seem to remember.

Bradford has lost so much of its heritage: Swan Arcade, Kirkgate Market, Busbys and of course Brown, Muffs. It seems a shame to let another bit of it go.

I read about the proposed lake on Town Hall Square. I think it will be a very expensive receptacle for the litter of today: cans, bottles, hypodermic needles etc. It will cost a fortune to fish that lot out each day.

I am now 92 years young and am most saddened to see the way Bradford is going.

Mrs Vida Chippendale, Intake Road, Undercliffe.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: The Brown, Muffs building is, of course, still standing.

The real choice

SIR - While all the "nannies" are still patting themselves on the back about the total smoking ban, could someone please explain to them the "Law of Unintended Conse-quences".

From next year, the Bradford area alone will instantly acquire more than 1,000 patio heaters outside pubs, all consuming precious fossil fuels and pumping out vast volumes of greenhouse gasses to hasten global warming.

So that's the real choice: a slightly smoky planet, or no planet at all. I know which I, and probably Keith Thomson too, would prefer.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

Airport's growth

SIR - I would like to echo the very sensible comments made by Mr Metcalfe (Letters, February 21) concerning the proposed sale of a majority share in Leeds Bradford Airport. LBA is a major economic asset of Yorkshire, as well as a direct provider of many jobs, but it is failing to provide any significant income for the five West Yorkshire councils that currently own it. Last financial year (2004/05) Bradford received only £78,000 from LBA, compared to a total Council budget of £1.2 billion. The sale of a majority share still leaves an annual dividend to Bradford Council that can hardly be much lower than the current amount.

To maintain its growth LBA needs bold decisions to be taken on expanding the terminal and aircraft parking areas as well as attracting more airlines. There are several large, experienced airport operating companies presently in charge of UK regional airports that have proven records of investing very large sums of money in those airports, clearly indicating they are taking a long-term approach. LBA needs the same!

M Sereda, Belmont Close, Baildon.

Time for equality

SIR - I have read about Jerry Springer: The Opera and find the idea of its portrayal of Jesus to be highly offensive. As a Christian I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

I agree that freedom of speech and artistic expression is important but so is courtesy and respect of other people's beliefs. They would not allow the Prophet Muhammad to be represented in this way. Also Jesus is a highly-respected prophet in the Muslim faith. I would appreciate equality of treatment with other faiths.

The Alhambra is a public theatre and the Council needs to express its responsibility over what is shown there. I think the Alhambra is a beautiful building and is a credit to Bradford but I am very saddened by this show being shown there.

Jane Latz, North Street, Bradford.

Excellent show

SIR - Stewart Knowles (T&A, February 18) writes "as a committed Christian" urging a ban/boycott of the forthcoming production of Jerry Springer: The Opera. Writing as an equally-committed heathen I would urge the precise opposite, not because it is some kind of anti-Christian tract (which it is not), but simply because it is such a rattling good show!

It is actually a biting satire on the vacuity of popular culture. The music is high quality throughout, truly operatic in mood and scale, and certainly in the TV version, beautifully performed and choreographed. Above all, however, it is very, very funny!

Whenever the pursed-lipped religious thought police surface, I inevitably think of American writer H L Mencken's observation that the chief contribution which puritans have made on earth is to prove conclusively that God is a bore.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

Poor audiences

SIR - The Church of England and the Methodist minister in Great Horton have both featured in your pages this past week. Good for the profile of our churches, though we take a different view on the issue - Jerry Springer: The Opera.

The Reverend Paul Flowers invites those of us opposed to this show to concentrate on larger issues, dubbing this one "trivial". My view is that this debate raises matters that are far from trivial. They are to do with how we live together in this plural democracy - how we balance freedom of speech and expression with public responsibility, decency and respect for others' beliefs; and how we consider these matters with courtesy instead of knocking seven bells out of each other.

I understand it has played to poor houses on the tour and I believe the fair-minded decent majority here in Bradford not only won't be going, they don't want to see it here at all.

Nick Jones, Vicar, St John's Great Horton.

Fire safety

SIR - In response to the letter from Mrs Simpson regarding the refused offers of furniture by Catholic Housing Aid and others.

Unfortunately we cannot accept items without fire safety labels, as we have to look to Health and Safety matters and we could not in all consciousness supply goods to people which may, in the event of a fire, give off toxic fumes and cause illness or even death.

We are desperate for goods, especially three-piece suites and beds, and if anybody has any which they would like to donate, the fire safety label is usually on the bottom of cushions of suites. We are also able to take just the bedstead itself without the mattress.

Gillian Gill, Catholic Housing Aid Services, Sedgefield Terrace, Bradford.

Fair play, please

SIR - Well said Ann Cryer, Keighley MP, that following the overwhelming ban on smoking in all workplaces, this should also apply to MPs in Westminster.

Not only would it be gross hypocrisy to continue smoking in this workplace, it would make it impossible to impose this ban anywhere. I am not a smoker, but justice has to be adhered to by even MPs.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden