Letters to the Editor

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

Hearing aid wait is far too long

SIR - It took the audiology department at Bradford Royal Infirmary more than six weeks to inform my doctor that I need a hearing aid.

My doctor then referred me back to the same department in order that I could see another specialist about my suitability for a hearing aid.

I have just been informed by the above department that I will have to wait almost a year for an appointment to tell me something I already know. Such a waiting period is unacceptable, especially as the government has poured increased billions into the health service in order to reduce waiting lists.

A friend of mine received his hearing aid inside three months using the health service in East Lancashire. I expect a similar response from the BRI.

I am a pensioner; is the audiology department waiting for me to die?

Sean Connor, Aurelia House, Cunliffe Road, Bradford

Well said, John...

SIR - I read with great interest John Pennington's "In My View" (T&A, February 3).

Each time I pass the building I wonder about the interior behind the sad exterior. It is time the public were given the full facts and if, as stated in the article, so much remains intact, there should be no question of demolition.

Won't Bradford ever learn from its previous mistakes, ie, demolition of Swan Arcade and Kirkgate Market? It must not happen to the Odeon.

Or are BCR waiting until the building deteriorates completely so renovation is impossible? Surely it must be more cost effective to renovate than to demolish?

We don't want a new building on the site, we want to keep part of Bradford that means a lot to old Bradfordians.

Listen to Mr Pennington, you powers-that-be, and give us the Odeon refurbished and a building to be proud of for future generations.

Jane Reid, Charles Court, Oxenhope

Save the Odeon

SIR - At long last someone, John Pennington, has given us an insight into the condition of the interior of the New Victoria/ Gaumont/Odeon building (T&A, February 3).

The Council should reconsider the plans for this building and have a full independent structural survey done. If restored, it would be a far superior concert hall than St George's and would encourage the big London shows and top artists to perform there.

Also, since there has been a revival of ballroom dancing, there is a readily-available venue.

A large majority of the people in Bradford want to retain this building and if something positive is not done it will be the "Swan Arcade" issue for years to come.

Mrs R M Kirton, Northallerton Road, Bradford

Parties failing us

SIR - Regarding the letter from Mr Derek Wright (T&A, January 31), I would suspect many people in this town mirror his feelings.

The current crop of political parties is failing us. Providing you have a pulse you will have noticed.

Mr Wright is right to say many of our current problems stem from the undemocratic European Union which currently dictates 70 per cent of our laws.

The EU's `open door' immigration policy, which was forced on us, has had catastrophic effects in our city as it has in the entire UK. The over-demand on our hospitals is continuing to suffocate our health service, while our school standards in Bradford are worse than ever.

As our chronically under-funded public services cry out for investment the government proceeds to pay the EU billions of pounds per year of our money!

All the old political parties have a pro-EU policy, only one `decent' party stands tall as pro-UK, believing the UK should govern itself and regain control of its own borders and that our taxes should fund our public services not the EU super-state. That's why I'll be voting UK Independence Party in the local elections.

Jason Smith, Town Gate, Wyke

MP is wrong

SIR - Once again Phil Davies MP speaks out without checking his facts (T&A, January 31).

I checked my facts with a spokesman for the European Parliament in London who confirmed that the pint of milk is "not at all at risk".

MEPs did vote on February 2 on legislation to standardise quantities of pre-packaged products but an amendment had already been passed at committee stage protecting Britain's pint. The vote confirmed that position. Phil Davies says "it is nothing to do with MEPs". Wrong again, they are the very people who have voted to make sure the British pint stays with us.

We elect our MEPs to make sure the interests of British citizens are protected and, once again, they have done so. They are our voice in Brussels and once again they made sure we were heard.

Mr Davies does himself no favours by using such scare-mongering tactics. We all live in the real world - he should try it himself every now and then instead of living in the world of myth and make-believe.

Lol Kirkwood, Belmont Crescent, Shipley

Pure invention

SIR - David Rhodes (T&A, February 1) grossly misinterpreted my letter regarding murdered Briton Katherine Horton and the fate of the two Thai fishermen (T&A, January 21).

He wrote: "Unlike Mr Lorriman, I cannot rejoice in the loss of young lives through succumbing to the deadly sin of lust". That is pure invention on his part. There was no expression of my emotions in my letter whatsoever.

Also, the sentence handed out to the Thai fishermen was not for `succumbing to lust' as Mr Rhodes says, it was for murder.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden

Top ten writers

SIR - I wonder if you would indulge me in my compilation of the top ten contributors to the Letters page 2005 and why.

In at No 10 is Peter Wilson, a witty critic with a keen sense of humour.

No 9 is the irrepressible N Brown who tells it like he thinks it is.

In at No 8 is Gary Lorriman who courts controversy, requiring a response.

No 7 is P E Bird who has an eye for spotting an argument and often follows through.

In at No 6 is Sid Brown, an intelligent man who doesn't write enough letters quoting passages from people I have never heard of, and always includes a subtle joke.

No 5 is Diane Duguid who from afar gives us her insight into Bradford that perhaps we don't see.

No 4 is Jack McPherson for his love of Bradford and I hope the town centre, when finished, meets with his approval.

The bronze medal goes to David Rhodes, a very perceptive man who writes about his varied observations.

Silver goes to Alec Suchi who must have had the best Hornby train set when he was a kid!

But the man who receives gold is Keith Thomson, the most prolific writer of all who tells us all how to save energy. Let's take heed, it is our planet.

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor

Haworth problem

SIR - Reading the article about possibly doing a remake of Wuthering Heights (T&A, February 3), it would be wonderful for the Yorkshire area of Haworth Moor.

But don't film in Haworth - the clampers would have a field day. Can you imagine a film crew being clamped?

Maybe the town needs to build some kind of car park where you pay on the way out. A building in keeping with the surrounding buildings would put the clampers out of business.

Also, how about a trolley car to take people back up the hill to their cars? It is the little pleasures in life that count.

Diane Duguid, E.4th St, Deer Park, New York

Offer wasted

SIR - I was surprised to see the Catholic Housing Aid Society's appeal (T&A, January 30), but not by the fact they are running out of supplies.

Last November I offered four single beds and other items to them and other charities.

Each in turn refused my offer as they are legally forbidden to deal with furniture not bearing the fire safety label - a comparatively new regulation.

In effect, our "nanny state" dictates that we pay to increase the waste mountain rather than help the needy.

Yet another example of the inability to foresee possible adverse effects before a final decision.

Mrs E Simpson, North Park Road, Bradford

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