Letters to the Editor

SIR - As yet another batch of 'double-inflation' council tax bills hits our doormats it is tempting to paint all the Council's operations with the same depressing brush of ill-managed inefficiency.

But one service at least seems to be delivering, and it is only fair to give compliments where they are due.

In the recent snowfalls, the highways department's gritting teams have done a magnificent job. Always out there ahead of the snow, whatever hour of the day or night, keeping the main roads and many lesser routes clear, well gritted and safe.

I don't know whether this unit has recently benefited from new investment, more resources or just improved management, but the result has been there for all to see if we only bother to look.

So a well-deserved pat on the back for this excellent team - now the challenge for the rest of the Council's operations is to match that level of service all year round.

We'll be watching you.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon

Different priorities

SIR - Labour's budget proposals to the Council included £4.3m more for Social Services - £2.9m more than the Liberal Democrats - so Coun Sunderland is right to say that her budget set "different priorities" for Social Services (T&A, March 13).

Labour advocated full funding for child protection, more for adult services and fair payments to family and friend foster carers.

The Liberal Democrats failed to address any of these issues or to match our plans for an extra £1m for older people and they voted against all this expenditure.

It is regrettable that charges for adults will increase next year, and Labour's budget did not propose this, it was included at the insistence of the Conservatives.

Much of Labour's priority investment appeared in the final budget due to our resolve.

The outcome saw more than £3m extra for services to vulnerable people -more than twice that proposed by Coun Sunderland.

So yes, on this occasion we can agree, we do have different priorities.

Councillor John D Godward, (Lab, Great Horton), Naseby Rise, Scarlet Heights, Queensbury

They're listening

SIR - In reply to the gut-churning letter from Gary Lorriman about the smoking ban (T&A, February 25), New Labour's manifesto stated a partial ban on pubs that sold food.

This did not go down well with all the members of parliament or the majority of the British public, so they listened to the majority and decided on a free vote in parliament for all MPs, no whips, no lobbying.

There were still three options to vote for, but they went for the complete ban which proves they do sometimes listen to the public.

The law doesn't come into force until the summer of 2007, so I am sure the pubs and clubs will come up with something to suit everybody.

The medical fraternity, hospitals, hospices, clinics, GPs, nurses, etc, are delighted with this new law because they know what heartache and despair smoking can bring to people, their relatives and friends.

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor

Caring shoppers

SIR - On Saturday I was waiting to meet my family at the top of the escalator at the Kirkgate entrance to the Arndale Mall when a gentleman fell on the down escalator

Watching the incident and drama unfold and myself being involved by alerting a nearby security officer, I would like to commend those passers-by who instantly stopped what they were doing to ensure the emergency stop was pressed so the gentleman was not trapped or more seriously injured, and then comforted the man who had injured his hand and leg in the fall until the ambulance arrived.

Well done to the Arndale security staff who were calm and professional throughout and all the other caring shoppers they should all be proud of themselves.

I wish the gentleman who fell a speedy recovery and hope his injuries were not serious.

Chris Frost, Leafield Avenue, Eccleshill, Bradford

The way forward

SIR - When the new Broadway shopping development rises up alongside Arndale House on Charles Street, it will make this building seem even more dirty and weather-worn.

At a time when this city begins to undergo its regeneration, now seems the perfect opportunity to find a replacement for this former 1960s 'showpiece'.

Perhaps Bradford Centre Regeneration could step in and launch a design competition to find a new star building that will fit in better with its surroundings and reflect the past.

Build a new Swan Arcade with a department store, shops, restaurants, apartments, hotel and office space.

This would complement the Broadway development and create a substantial futuristic shopping area that would be the envy of any other city.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford

My EU policy

SIR - Brian Holmans's logic seems somewhat muddled with regard to EU membership (T&A, March 8).

He claims that as a member of the EU we can help make the rules. Even as part of the EU we would only have a small say and our vote could well be ignored under the 'qualified majority voting' system.

He warns that if we left we would have to 'do as we were told or sell our goods elsewhere'. In fact, we buy far more from the EU than we sell to them so it would not be in their interest to disrupt this trade.

Norway and Switzerland are not members and both do proportionately more trade with the EU than us.

A release from the EU would also release the UK from the common external tariffs, enabling us to strengthen trade relationships with countries in the North America Free Trade Area, the Far East and the Commonwealth.

It is crazy to argue that in order to secure our economic stability we must sign our country over to the EU. I would advocate a free trade agreement with the EU, and be governed by our own democratically elected government.

Jason Smith, Town Gate, Wyke

Hurtful contents

SIR - I feel I must add my support to the letters you have already received expressing dismay at the staging of Jerry Springer: The Opera, at our city's Alhambra Theatre.

The well-documented contents of the production are extremely hurtful to at least two major sections of the population in our city - Christians and Muslims, two faiths which both respect and honour the person of Jesus Christ; Saviour to one and highly-regarded prophet of the other.

What a pity we live in a society that uses its freedoms to hurt and abuse others. Oh, for a world where we choose voluntarily to curb our freedoms to foster mutual respect and sensitivity.

Mrs D A Pearce, Nab Wood Drive, Shipley

Top of hate league

SIR - There has been a lot written recently about sentences being reduced by appeal.

One that comes to mind is where Aimee Wellock was killed by youths 'for a bit of fun'.

I always believed no-one could be more disliked than the present government, but the judges and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have to be up there with them.

Are they completely stupid and uncaring, or is it the money they get that makes them want to have these criminals back on the streets a lot earlier than the majority of the nation want them?

Jenny Sampson, Rossmore Drive, Allerton

Check all benefits

SIR - So the Benefits Office can calculate your benefit can they? Obviously not according to the latest information of incorrect payments to the tune of £130 million.

I would again advise that all people check your own on-line (if no computer use the library or a friend's) with www.entitledto.co.uk and if it does not agree with the benefit office amount you want to know why.

Any person overpaid, do not worry, keep it (I say again, keep it) as they cannot demand it back.

L Scholes, Chellow Grange Road, Bradford