Clamp down on quad bike morons

SIR - My wife and I regularly walk our dogs in Springwood, Esholt, on land which I believe belongs partly to Bradford Corporation and Yorkshire Water.

We went into the woods on Monday morning and were astounded, and I must say disgusted, at the state of the footpaths.

We were there last Saturday morning and between then and Monday the footpaths have been turned into a sea of mud.

By the width of the tyre tracks a number of thoughtless, selfish morons had ridden quad bikes around and around every path they could find, ruining the lot.

It will take months of dry weather before the paths are anything like decent again.

What's the point in having notices threatening legal action against these mindless people if no-one does anything about it?

Peter Hainsworth, Dale Close, Tranmere Park, Guiseley

Food for thought

SIR - After watching The Road to Guantanamo on Channel 4 I am disgusted at the treatment and humiliation the prisoners are suffering, and the destruction of their dignity.

In the programme the Americans spoke English, but only had a few phrases they repeated constantly.

If the American Secret Service and MI5 were so intelligent they would have found Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein without causing all the loss of life in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I suggest the Americans stay out of other countries and give their soldiers education on how to speak English and behave properly towards others of every race.

L A Egglestone, Langbar Road, Ilkley

Hard to believe

SIR - Would D Rhodes (T&A, March 9) really like us to believe that, if it were still state-owned, British Gas would not have increased its prices by the same amount?

Increased costs mean to a company increased capital outlay, which in a capitalist society, means, in turn, a relative increase in returns on such capital.

Share prices do tend to rise when the commodity increases in value and he must remember many pension funds have shares in companies such as British Gas.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley

Invasion of privacy

SIR - I would like to make one thing clear before I go any further. I am totally opposed to drivers using mobile phones while they are driving.

It is a stupid, thoughtless and dangerous thing to do. The same goes for not wearing seat belts.

However, I do not like the proposals going before Parliament to use cameras to snoop into your vehicle. This is definitely a step too far.

We are already watched everywhere we go. How much longer before there is a proposal to put cameras in your home to keep a watch on you there?

This proposal is an invasion of your personal privacy and I wonder if it is against your human rights.

People will have to speak up about the relentless march of the police state before it is too late.

Martin R Gardener, Carr House Road, Shelf

A baths let-down

SIR - I regularly attend Bowling swimming baths but, when it was closed due to a break-in, I decided to try Eccleshill baths as it had a refurbishment last year.

What a disappointment it proved to be.

The changing rooms are meant for a midget to use, God help any larger person having to use these facilities. The water temperature was ridiculously low for this time of year, not one bit inviting.

I do realise Bowling baths cater for the disabled and have to have a decent temperature for customers, but Eccleshill seems to have gone the other way.

As I had attended Eccleshill before the refurbishment I was bitterly disappointed after all the money spent on this project.

What a relief it was to get into the shower and get warmed up before going outside into the horrible weather.

A Jones, Otley Road, Bradford

Let's have more

SIR - Your report on the Girlington solar-powered mosque (T&A, March 6) was encouraging and it is to be hoped the many developers in the district take note.

Not only will they save money in the long term by producing some electricity for their own use but they will be able to sell the surplus to the national grid at a time when energy costs are rising steeply.

Above all it will reduce the emission of climate change gases and we will all benefit.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford