“It has been a long road. From a mountain coolie, a bearer of loads, to a wearer of a coat with rows of medals who is carried about in planes and worries about income tax.” Sherpa Tenzing.
New Comedy Channel For Bradford.
Our cash strapped Council, down on it’s luck for so long, has announced plans to film the proceedings down at City Hall.
According to the T&A we “could soon be able to watch from home as local politicians debate and decide on the big issues affecting the district.”
Who on Earth would want to watch this rubbish is frankly beyond me; another classic waste of money from our clearly not so cash-strapped Council.
And there’s more…
Sign Of The Times?
Strange days for those that seek to idle a few hours away at the end of a working day with the day’s papers at the gym before being assaulted in one of the many torture sessions available.
Even at this haven of muscle and sweat, one cannot escape the fury of the debate as to whether we stay or leave the EU. Indeed, the gym’s very own illegal immigrant – Roma Ed – has been thrown into a state of panic.
So much so that we’ve had a change of the papers; out goes the Brexit-leaning Daily Mail replaced by the let-em-all-in Guardian.
Pandering to the general IQ level at the gym, Ed has thankfully retained The Sun avoiding a customer exodus and ensuring the instructors can still practice colouring-in.
Ploughing through the Guardian I came across a letter signed by over eighty luminaries of the arts world protesting at the decision to strip one of the few jewels in the battered crown of Bradford of a large part of it’s main attraction.
The removal of a major part of the photography collection at the National Media Museum smacks of arrogance and contempt. Although the Council apparently own the building it is clear they have little say in what is displayed.
Put more pertinently by one of the signatories “a number of us who have deposited our photographs in the museum specifically wanted our work to be preserved in the North.”
As a result a press release followed. Dame Mary Archer said: “My fellow Trustees and I were struck by the depth of feeling that has been expressed about the future of the National Media Museum.”
Now we have promises of a re-brand and re-focusing of the museum which, for now, the Council appear to have swallowed. Then again, you sense they had little choice.
So you might then think that the Council would seek to influence and preserve what it still can?
Read on…
The Comedy Club.
Another classic from City Hall with the story concerning the installation of “about 50 new signs and maps going up around central Bradford to boost tourism.”
The cost of erecting enough signs to cater for London is quoted at an eye-watering £200k, justified on the basis that the Government coughed up half. Presumably, if one central Government dope thinks its okay to blow £100k then it’s easy enough to find a few more locally to agree?
Somewhat helpfully Conservative group leader, Councillor Simon Cooke said the cost worked out at around £4,000 a sign. How refreshing to find a councillor that can pass his Key Stage 2 Maths.
Labour Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe said “Had we not spent the money on signage we wouldn’t be allowed to spend it on any other council services…” and we do love spending!
The Lib Dems posted another picture of their depressed leader and that was that.
Nigel Rice, Project Delivery Manager at Bradford Council, said: “It is important that visitors and residents are able to find their way around the city centre. In Bradford with one shopping centre and a theatre?
Hot on the heels of this news came plans to spend £15m on Forster Square train station in an attempt to bring it out of the 1970s introducing coffee and flushing toilets.
The news was greeted with much acclaim but as visitors alight in their millions – from where we may not know – what attractions will our flashy new signs point them to?
Across town are two examples of the Council’s incoherent policy towards the city centre “rebirth”.
Our Leader, whilst claiming to remain “supportive of Bradford Live’s plans” re the Odeon indicated at the weekend that if these plans were not successful, they would have to look at other options for the building – including demolition.
This is despite the considerable sums of money already spent securing a building left to rot for over fifteen years by several Councils’ ineptitude, dithering and far worse to mention if I had a decent legal team.
Given the building’s potential to provide a half a million plus population – the sixth biggest city in the UK – with a credible entertainments venue, it is utterly depressing that it’s ultimate fate may rest with a bunch of Councillors with the vision of a jail house rat.
Comparable cities in terms of population – Bristol, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester – all offer their inhabitants a quality venue so why not Bradford?
Puzzling too is that close by, the Council are committed to a £14m spend on a new swimming pool. A worthy project indeed but, in terms of economic benefit to the city – not votes – which venue do you think would attract more visitors.
Curious that across town Leeds (not them again!) demolished it’s international pool in 2007; Leeds Arena opened in 2013.
And as George grandstands about HS3 and more on the Northern Powerhouse, why hardly any mention of Bradford. Could it be that most would not trust the Council here with a toy train set?
Mad Woman On The Loose.
The Scruffy is a place to be on your toes at the moment as Our Jackie is suffering the combined effects of quitting smoking and the menopause. One misplaced comment and you risk sitting there covered in beer.
Having tried valiantly to go down the route of e-cigs, they were no match for her powerful draws and blew up leaving her at the mercy of cold turkey.
Pulling pints furiously whilst simultaneously stuffing her face with an assortment of cheese Quavers, jelly babies and chocolate digestives, few have yet dared to suggest that the savoury sweet toppings being dropped into our pints were less than desired.
“What you lookin’ at?” she screamed as I surveyed the debris on the top of my pint “piss off to the Black Rat if you don’t like it!” And then she disappeared down into the cellar with another three bags of Quavers, landlord Michael locking the door for a cooling-off period.
It might be good for air quality levels in Idle if she does manage to quit but these are dangerous times for a bar fly.
Good News Corner.
News from the excellent Tyke Taverner confirming what most of us knew; going to the pub is good for you.
“New research from Oxford University has revealed that people who have a ‘local’ pub are not only significantly happier than those who do not, but also have higher life satisfaction and have more close friends.”
Need any more reasons?
And Finally!
Beer!
Gasman says
She reminds me of many a girl you used to be drawn too in your A day when you were Bradfords own “chubby chasing champion”