Bradford & District | Archive | 2001 | September | 4
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Tuesday 4th Sep 2001.
SIR - A key factor in any regeneration project is the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for local people. There is a major shortage of quality employment available for young people in the Newlands area, particularly apprenticeships.
If Newlands were to sponsor a scheme to subsidise the cost to firms of employing young people on three-year apprenticeships, this would be of great benefit to both the young people and to firms, and create real career opportunities for these individuals.
If, for example, Newlands were to sponsor ten people from each of the five estates, on a three-year apprenticeship, the cost would be in the region of £240,000 for three years, this would make a real difference to the lives of young people and show Newlands in a positive light.
J R Smith, Flawith Drive, Fagley.
SIR - With regards to K Trobridge's letter about large families. One person not far from me has just had her eighteenth child and her daughter her first. Also in two small streets there are 46 children. In most areas of Great Horton families have several youngsters. So I hope all concerned are keeping note of how many they have. Unfortunately the answer is no.
D Burnett, Great Horton Road, Great Horton.
SIR - I am writing in response to the police Operation Red Light, a totally misguided policy and attack on Bradford's working girls and their clients.
Prostitution is the world's oldest profession. If a woman wants to have sex for an agreed amount of money, that should be her right to do so.
Surely if - as stated in the T&A on August 28 - the local Chamber of Commerce is so concerned about prostitution having adverse effects on businesses in Thornton Road and the rest of the city, a body representing local industry should have a visionary and not a reactionary approach.
What a change of leadership it would be for forward-thinking people to campaign for prostitution to be decriminalised by putting pressure on local and national politicians to change the law, thus giving working girls a safe place to work.
This would also put pimps out of business, creating the desired effect that Operation Red Light states it wants to achieve.
Until the law is changed, the £175,000 and probably more spent by the police on this operation should be switched to catching real criminals.
David Woods, Paternoster Lane, Great Horton.
SIR - It was interesting to read the latest police initiative in tackling vice problems in Bradford (T&A, August 29).
I noted with interest the Editorial comment referring to the previous "red light district" of Lumb Lane, analysing the 1994/95 events. It was in keeping with the true sense of Bradford's best political correctness in referring to "a degree of community action to improve the situation in Lumb Lane..."
Actually this so-called "degree of community action" was vigilantism, violence and a form of gender/racial cleansing instigated primarily by Asian youth against working white women.
However, with Bradford's traditional "Nelson's eye", the authorities, including the media, permitted such scandalous attacks to be made against these vulnerable girls without condemnation or intervention.
These women were displaced into the commercial sector of Thornton Road/Sunbridge Road area into a more vulnerable environment where their exploitation by drug dealers and pimps and punters continues. The thoughts of us all should be with one girl recently murdered in this isolated district.
Unfortunately for the citizens of Manningham, the unchecked vigilantism of the Lumb Lane era was re-visited upon them in subsequent Manningham Riots when Asian youth realised the power they had to control the streets.
Les Vasey, Temple Rhydding Drive, Baildon.
SIR - In response to letters from A Milne and R M Kirton (August 29) regarding the late-night fireworks displays, I must inform them that the noise came from wedding celebrations.
Both writers should consider themselves fortunate that Britain has an open immigration policy for fiancees and that Ann Cryer's language tests have not been brought in. The reason being that about 75 per cent of Bradford Pakistanis do marry from Pakistan, and have their wedding ceremonies there.
Imagine how much noise there would be if more marriages took place between two British citizens.
As any "good" Muslim will tell you, causing undue stress to other people is one of the major sins, and muslims have been placed on earth to help their fellow human beings.
The more that people tolerate, the more advantage inconsiderate people will take of them. Your own silly liberal laws are to blame for all that has been forced upon you.
I Khan, Heaton Road, Heaton.
SIR - Thank you for publicising the International Mushara poetry event at the Carlisle Business Centre on August 26. As one of four European poets (plus one musician) who attended and enjoyed the performances of mainly Urdu poetry, I would like to pay tribute to the organisers and thank them for an experience which was inspiring, enriching and instructive.
Even though I could not understand the texts (with one exception, which was in English), it was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm of the audience for what they were hearing.
Their cries of "aiwa!" (yes!) at something they appreciated particularly, and even the way the poems were evidently constructed to provoke this kind of response, were an example to our more staid performance poets and their audiences.
It was also an example of the richness that is available to all in our multi-cultural society, at a time when some are resolutely trying to put the clock back and raise the spectres of racism once again.
We do not want all the very different cultures in our city to become "integrated" into a characterless, amorphous mish-mash. Let a thousand flowers blossom! And may we all come to enjoy all their different perfumes!
Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford 8.
SIR - Regarding the controversy of whether or not academic standards are improving, there is no doubt that GCSE and A-levels are posited on a lower intellectual level than previously.
This is evidenced by the fact that certain parts of the syllabus which were taught atO-level are now deferred until A-levels, and parts of the A-level are now deferred until further education.
The main criteria of assessing candidates was by examination but now assignments constitute a significant proportion of marks awarded.
Assignments test candidates' ability to research a topic and can be time-consuming, and in this respect the remit of modern studies is broader than previously.
Arguments made to justify increased pass rates such as pupils being more diligent or that teachers are more adept at teaching the syllabus are misleading.
If that is the case, why had not such increases occurred from 1951 when the GCE was first introduced and 1987 when it was reformed?
It is obvious that the numbers of people permitted to pass has increased, whereby in the old system this was confined to a fixed percentage.
Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.
SIR - Does it really matter who gets to lead the Conservatives? If Iain Duncan-Smith wins, the party will become so anti-European and right wing that it won't stand a chance of re-election. If Kenneth Clarke wins, the party will remain split on its attitudes to Europe and therefore remain weak.
It's ironic that it was the Conservatives who managed to get us into the EC. Changes of policy are not unknown, and should the Tories get into power again I expect they will opt for entry to EMU and the euro (if Tony Blair hasn't already done so) as it so obviously makes sense for industry and Britain, tub-thumping to Save the Pound notwithstanding.
In that case, I might even vote for them.
John Murray, Moorside Road, Honley, Huddersfield.
SIR - My late father Leonard Harrison was born in May, 1884, at 21 Rydal Street, Bradford. He was married to Mary Birch at St John's Church in 1912.
Leonard was an engineer, and I believe had an act at a Bradford theatre in the late 19th century.
Does he have any relatives in the city? I would love to hear from them. I will refund postage costs.
David Harrison, 83 Foundry Street, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6AG.
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