Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | August | 4
From the archive, first published Thursday 4th Aug 2005.
Sir - May I through your paper express my gratitude to Keighley Central Taxis and the honesty of their driver Mr Shafait Ali.
Travelling home in a taxi at midnight on Saturday, after a day celebrating my son and daughter-in-law's wedding I realised I had lost my wallet, which contained an unusual and foolishly high sum of money.
We were unsure as to the name of the taxi firm, as the firm we had booked were adamant we had not taken their taxi!
During my inquires to other taxi firms the manager at Central Taxis said that they had done a taxi to Long Lee at about midnight and that he would investigate further.
Later that day Mr Ali turned up at my house, along with my wallet with all the money intact. He had been asked to search his vehicle and had found my wallet down the side of the passenger seat.
Mr Ali would not take a reward for himself, as he considered he was just doing his job.
Steve Christian
Cherry Tree Rise,
Long Lee
Sir - I fully agree with Mujeeb Rahman's letter dated July 1 2005 regarding the lack of moral values in today's society, and that this is due to people turning away from religion.
I fully believe that this has led to the systematic breakdown in what was previously strong neighbourhoods throughout Britain.
In today's transient and materialistic society, how many people really care about their community or even about their family and neighbours? I am relatively well travelled and I can certainly say that in many other poorer and much more religious parts of the world, family and neighbours really do take an interest and take care for each other.
How many of us living in today's Britain really share in the joy and pain of our family and neighbours as if it were our own? Very few I suspect. How many of us even say hello to our neighbours?
Instead, what I see is that many people simply use their family and neighbours as targets of what materialistic goals they need to achieve.
Therefore, we say to ourselves, we must have the better house, the better garden, the better car, even the better looking wife or husband etc.
Is this really the direction that we wish our society to continue heading?
I think that what we all need to do is to take a step back and re-evaluate what matters, what is important, what stays with us.
Once we do that, I have no doubt that most of us would take the decision to care more about our families and our neighbours.
Yousef Walker
Addingham
SIR - I am in total disagreement with the views expressed by your correspondent Ken Mather.
It is extremely naïve of him to maintain that the recent bomb attacks in London are the result of this country's involvement in Iraq and to demand the resignation of our Prime Minister.
Sixty years ago Adolf Hitler murdered tens of thousands of innocent people and the then League of Nations was powerless to prevent this.
Over the past 20 years Saddam Hussein murdered hundreds of thousands of Muslims and again the United Nations lacked the will to intervene.
Fortunately, there were others, including Tony Blair, who were determined that this monster should be stopped.
I, too, am a man of Christian principles, and I salute our Prime Minister for shouldering this enormous responsibility.
ALEC ASPINALL
Westview Way,
Keighley
SIR - Stuart Feather accuses me of having suggested that suicide bombers are "martyrs and not murderers". I suggested no such thing.
I pointed out that suicide bombers conform to one dictionary definition of the word martyr, which is true. I made no mention of murder. In my opinion, suicide bombers are martyrs by definition and murderers in fact.
As to cowardice, I consider it obvious that for a young, fit person to embrace his or her own certain death for a cause requires a great deal of courage especially since, in the case of a suicide mission, the bomber often knows weeks or months in advance what lies ahead.
Samson brought down the roof on his own head and on the heads of a great many others. Murderer? Coward? I was taught to regard him as a hero.
R E SWINDELLS,
Spring Row,
Oxenhope
SIR - I would like to voice my thanks through your paper to all personnel concerned with my "visit" to Airedale General Hospital.
I've had a hip replacement and their care for me for the seven days I was in Ward 9 couldn't be faulted. I found it to be a clean hospital with caring friendly staff.
The food was to a very high standard and was pleasantly presented and with ample choice for breakfast, lunch and evening meal.
Everything was explained to me regarding the operation and care.
So let's have more publicity for the NHS's good points instead of running down the NHS all the time.
IRENE LUNN
Greenside Lane,
Cullingworth
SIR - We have lived up Whin Knoll Avenue for 14 years and have petitioned numerous times for speed bumps to be installed, but to no avail.
The speeding drivers were bad then, so you can imagine what it is like now, since Highfield and Highfield Lane have been fitted with them. When the drivers who use Highfield Lane get to the top they immediately put their foot down and we suffer the consequences. Their speed is frightening.
Over the years numerous dogs have been killed and a young girl knocked down, but the council still refuses us the peace of mind while our children are out playing.
I wish the council would do a speed check and see for themselves how dangerous our avenue has become and how badly we need these bumps. What is it going to take - the death of a child?
M WOOLLARD
Whin Knoll Avenue,
Keighley
SIR - After reading the article in which Ann Cryer suggested that children should be given a fish oil supplement to improve behaviour, I felt the need to write in.
I have many years experience in the health trade and feel that I need to correct some of the information that was published. Ann Cryer is sending out the wrong messages to parents, she needs to get her facts right first.
Like Ann Cryer mentioned from the study and possible Government initiative (something which I fully support), the fatty acids from oily fish have been found to benefit children's behaviour and concentration levels. Children would actually need to take more than one fish oil a day, over a period of time for it to initially have an effect.
My main issue with the article is the confusion with what a fish oil actually is. Fish oil is from the more oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna.
Cod liver oil is the oil from a cod's liver. They are not the same.
Cod liver oil contains vitamins A and D which in the cod liver oil that is sold in shops, the dose is far too high for children to be taking. Not mistaking, however, that cod liver oil can supplement adult general health and joints but not brain development.
Also, people should not buy supplements just because they are "cheap".
Sometimes you pay for what you get.
When going to buy fish oil supplements for children make sure the right product is being purchased and the staff in the shop should always be able to help.
M Potts
Skipton
SIR - I was very concerned to see that the Environment Agency is encouraging angling as a past time.
Surely people can think of more productive things to do with their spare time than to cause physical harm and suffering to fish and destroy our riversides in the process.
Many people think that fish don't feel pain but this is untrue. Fish are vertebrates, with a brain, a central nervous system and pain receptors all over their bodies, including the lips. As with mammals, it is a biological necessity to feel pain. Scientific research from around the world substantiates this, as reported by the Government's very own official advisory body on farmed animal welfare.
Fish start to suffocate out of water and their gills may collapse and bleed. Even if the fish are returned, handling by the anglers removes the invisible outer mucus layer, which provides waterproofing leaving the fish open to infection.
I am surprised that this is something the Environment Agency condones when hooks and nylon line are regularly lost or discarded, with deadly consequences for wildlife. Litter is also left behind, including jagged bait cans.
With the school holidays coming up I urge your readers to encourage their children to take up a cruelty-free activity for the summer.
Kelly Slade
Campaigns Officer,
Animal Aid,
SIR - On reading the articles on the American Signal Crayfish, my reaction was to build a trap and go take these invaders on -- then further on in your article it says I cannot do it as it is illegal.
When I was a boy if I fancied crayfish I would go to my local stream and catch them for my tea, now we cannot do anything because its illegal.
The Environment Agency has only themselves to blame for the mess our rivers are in, these crayfish aren't new, they have been in the rivers for years, they travel overland as well as up stream and down stream, I have never heard anything so ridicules as, you can catch them on a rod and line but you cannot set a trap for them and don't forget you must have a rod licence.
Correct me if I am wrong, I thought you had to have a rod licence to use a rod to catch fish? Crayfish are not fish, is this another silly rule that's appeared? These creatures are wiping out our native stock, not only devouring them but also passing on a disease which is killing them off, we should be getting them out anyway we can not pussyfooting around making rules on how we can catch them, they are vermin and should be fair game to anyone who can get rid of them
What a good word biodiversity is, it's a bit like diversify, a modern word for a modern rivers authority, it means nothing to me, they couldn't sort the rivers out then and they will not do it now, unless we have a free for all and catch them all, then its too late.
JOHN PITTOCK
Address supplied
Paul Raven, head of conser-vation and ecology for the north east region of the Envi-ronment Agency, says national crayfish by-laws had been in-troduced in June this year authorising the use of traps.
We will use this approach to authorise the trapping of established alien crayfish populations as appropriate, he said.
Anglers using the River Aire are being advised by the EA that if they catch a signal cray-fish, by rod and line, they can be removed. The best way to humanely kill them is to place them in a deep freeze.
SIR - Last week my husband and I had occasion to look after one of our younger daughter's dogs while she was on holiday.
There are notices around Cliffe Castle and Utley Cemetery warning people of substantial fines for not clearing up after their dogs have made a mess, yet on our walks around Utley we have been unable to find any receptacles for the bags of dog poo.
We always take poo bags with us and clear up any mess but would appreciate not having to then carry the bag(s) for the rest of what may turn out to be a long walk.
We would appreciate a comment from the appropriate council department as to why our area does not have any receptacles for dog poo.
J E TOFT
Ferncliffe Drive,
Utley
A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We no longer supply dog dirt bins and we now ask dog owners to place the dirt in plastic bags and dispose of it in their bins at home or in council litter bins.
"Emptying dog bins raises significant Health and Safety issues for council staff and can be very unpleasent for members of the public passing by the bins due to the smell and concentration of the dog dirt.
"We are striving to keep the district as clean as possible and we want people to call us on 01274 431000 to let us know if there are not enough litter bins on our streets."
SIR - As August begins, there is great joy and hope in the countryside that the barbaric "sport" of fox cub hunting will not be taking place.
Senior police have clearly stated that cub hunting is illegal. The League Against Cruel Sports urges all those who see anything suspicious that may indicate that this evil practice is continuing to call its Hunt Crimewatch on 0845 330 8486 or e-mail info@huntcrimewatch.com. Take photos or film if possible and report any other evidence you gather, to the police and/or Hunt Crimewatch.
Douglas Batchelor,
Chief Executive, League
Against Cruel Sports.
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