However, it is important that readers like him, who live far away, should hear what those of us who live in the town already know, that Dewsbury today is really not a bad place to live.
I was born in the area, have known the town all my life, and six years ago came back to live and work here.
I can only speak for myself, though as Minister of the local Baptist Church and currently Moderator of Churches Together in Dewsbury, I can claim to have a fair understanding of the town's Christian community.
Local Churches meet together frequently for united services, youth activities and, yes, we do often pray together. We are involved with politicians and community leaders, and committed to the usual kind of activities by which churches have always sought to serve people. We have contact, both personally and organisationally with members and leaders of the Muslim community.
Dewsbury faces many challenges, which David's letter highlights, some of which, like the closing of shops in the town centre, are simply a reflection of the changes occurring in our society – and the fact that many of us tend to prefer the bright lights of bigger towns and cities when it comes to shopping.
I live in a Muslim majority area, where relations in the neighbourhood are very good indeed. Most of my neighbours greet me cheerfully in the street, and one of them always calls me, "young man", which is very encouraging for a 61 year-old!
Nobody should write off Dewsbury. It has a great past, going back at least as far as St. Paulinus in the 7th Century.
There's even a thought that the name itself came from an old word something like "Dieu-bourg", meaning "God's Town". With all the good will and prayer that goes on in this place, there is every reason to hope that the future will be even greater than the past.

THE REV BRIAN GOODALL
Dewsbury Baptist Church