Letters to the Editor

SIR - I am using reports in the T&A to compile a reference book of some of the more mind-numbing, jaw-dropping comments made by members of our criminal justice system, and Judge Roger Scott must now join that illustrious band.

His comments to a benefits cheat who, for three years, had conducted a clever scam, stealing £10,000 of our money to line her pockets, place him about halfway up the list of shame.

Having confirmed the offences were serious, he immediately reduced her prison sentence to 12 months community rehab, which means she was let off 'Scott'-free.

Then he went on to say - wait for it - "prison is a particularly unpleasant place to send defendants with no previous convictions"

Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather M'Lud. I thought prison was a place where naughty scallywags were sent for a little R&R in between mugging and robbing us, where they are assured of a warm room, a comfy bed, three good meals a day with colour TV, full gym facilities and a games room.

I had no idea prison was supposed to an unpleasant deterrent!

Malcolm Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

A sinister situation

SIR - I would like to add my comments to the ongoing saga of the Odeon.

Firstly, it is not very wise of the T&A to take photographs of the supposedly decaying side of the Odeon's structure. I consider that action to be almost immoral.

What I really find disturbing however, if not sinister, is what I believe to be a situation whereby not one single councillor has expressed an opinion to support the campaigners who are leading the fight to retain the Odeon and simply refurbish the building rather than demolish it.

The only explanation I can come up with for this deafening silence. is one whereby the three leaders of the main political parties in Bradford have instructed their particular councillors not under any circumstances to express their own personal view.

If that is the case, then I consider it to be an absolute disgrace.

E Mills, Wrose Mount, Wrose

l Editor's Note: I think it would be "immoral" to show only part of the building when the issue is about its overall condition. If we were allowed inside, we would show that too.

Spot the party!

SIR - Tony Blair, or should that be Tory Blair, manages to push through his education "reforms" with the help of Tory votes.

David Cameron is preparing to ditch all traditional Tory values in a desperate dash to the already crowded centre ground. I would expect a party re-branding, maybe the Tories could be renamed 'Blue Labour'?

The two old parties have so much in common, not only are their policies now virtually identical but both seem to be devoid of any principles whatsoever. In all but name, Labour and the Tories are the same party.

People have had enough of parties who promise anything, deliver nothing and deny everything. May 4 is judgement day for the 'old' parties.

Jason Smith, Town Gate, Wyke

A 30mph problem

SIR - Now that the number of motorists with eight penalty points on their licences is almost one million, and the revenue generated by speed cameras is in excess of £120 million per annum, it should be clear to everyone that the cameras are failing on their claimed objective of maintaining a 30 mph speed limit and so have no impact on road safety.

As a qualified driver myself I know how difficult it is to keep a vehicle precisely at 30 mph as even if you keep your foot steady on the accelerator there is still a tendency for the car to creep up by a few mph.

Traditionally before New Labour, this was taken into account by the police plus the fact that speedometers are not always 100 per cent accurate, and drivers were given a leeway of 10 mph - ie you had to do 40 mph-plus before you were prosecuted for speeding.

Needless to say this is no longer the case and as with everything this wicked Government rules with a zero tolerance and an iron fist!

James Sweet, Thursby Street, Barkerend

Try a vegan future

SIR - A study over five years of the eating habits of 22,000 people, including meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans, carried out by Oxford University on behalf of Cancer Research UK, found they all put on a few kilos in weight but meat eaters who changed to a vegetarian or vegan diet gained the least.

With the UK facing the threat of an epidemic of obesity, this is an easy, painless, cheap, healthy and delicious solution to the problem.

Vegans avoid meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and honey. Vegans do eat a variety of ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, pulses.

Being vegan is easy too, as many of the major stores now stock a wide variety of vegan products on their shelves. Veganism needn't be boring either as easy-to-prepare, delicious recipes are available in vegan recipe books and can be accessed on the web pages, such as www.vegansociety.com and www.peta.org.uk.

So here's to a healthier Bradford - try veganism and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy and healthy it is.

Atma Trasi, Kirkgate, Shipley

Soldiers should go

SIR - As An ex-pat living in Australia and reading the T&A regularly, I must congratulate Malcolm Wood for his excellent letter (T&A, March 13). I have written similar letters to newspapers in this country.

Unfortunately for us our foreign policy is dictated to us from the White House, while our latest Minister for Defence was formerly the Minister for Education so, you can see how serious this government takes defence anyway.

The violence in Iraq at the moment simply cannot be stopped by any country's troops and to say otherwise is defying logic.

This is a sectarian/religious uprising and the troops from all countries should leave. Every death of a soldier is a waste but even more so in Iraq.

Sam Williamson, Davidson Street, Bargara, Queensland, Australia

Best of British

SIR - Re Mr Firth's letter about National Servicemen claiming for compensation (T&A, March 14).

A lot of good came from National Service - it made you stand up for yourselves. A bit of parade ground drill made men of them.

Of course it was hard and people went to places like Malaya, Korea, Kenya, Singapore and Japan in peacetime postings but a lot enjoyed it as well.

When I was in it was 1950, wages 25 shillings a week. Then, for your last six months, you got a regular's pay which was brought in by the government because of the Korean War which extended your service from 18 months to two years.

People went to Korea as soldiers who were too young to vote in general elections, but we did and we met some of the best of British in those days.

It was a privilege to do it.

David Williams, Caythorpe Walk, Eccleshill

Too gentrified!

SIR - The traders in the Oastler Shopping Centre are quite right, the name means nothing.

Certainly it's a tribute to Richard Oastler, but how many visitors or local people know who Oastler was and what he did?

Why does Bradford Council try to gentrify everything? Do what other cities are proud to do and call it after the city: 'Bradford Market.'

S Bean, Bempton Court, Great Horton