“We have to get more people out of cars.”
Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe.
All is well at the asylum with Hapless back again in full hot air mode.
Take a quick peek at the T&A article and spot the irony of blowing £9m on cycle lanes currently acting as private parking zones for those less concerned with the long arm of the law – see here.
The £9.19m West Bradford Cycle Superhighway will see new segregated cycle lanes starting on Sunbridge Road, and extending 2.5km to the West of Bradford, along Thornton Road and to Cemetery Road.
Nine million quid for that? As if there were not enough examples of millions blown away on useless cycle lanes in a city where the only safe mode of transport is a Humvee.
And to claim that the under 20s are the target clients for this whopping spend is…well you make your minds up.
Tales From The Allotment
We had some sad news to start the new year with the sudden passing of local character Cyril “Thommy” Thompson a well-known face around these parts. Thommy was always out walking his beloved golden retriever Harvey.
As he completed his daily loop of the area Harvey would naturally lead him to the back of the allotment I share with Greenfingers and perch patiently on the wall, awaiting his daily treats from the shed.
Work would be suspended as Harvey munched away contentedly knowing two would be his ration. I can only hope this beautiful dog finds a deserving home and, if it is local, that we still see him this summer as the treats are still in the shed.
Rest in peace Thommy and call again soon Harvey.
Searching For The Bright Side
I now know why I have avoided having a Christmas tree for so long; the pain of its “loss” is proving hard to bear. It lies outside awaiting collection as memories of the beautiful decorations and the twinkling lights fade fast.
Taking it apart felt like an act of vandalism, unpicking the gorgeous arrangement of baubles and lights – not my creation regular readers will well know – but accepted gratefully and gazed at in admiration for weeks.
So what chinks of light can we find for January? Well, it is safe to say we humans adapt back to normality pretty quickly and that by the time you read this you may well be there already.
The nights are getting lighter – roughly fifteen minutes a week – and it will not be that long before we anticipate the joys of spring. Strictly has finished till next winter and soon we can moan about hosepipe bans.
Always look on the bright side.
The Cost Of Turds
I’ve written about the absurd saga of the redundant Richard Dunn Sports Centre before. You may recall this was due to be flattened once the council stopped dithering about what they could do with the golden egg of a prime site.
Now, listed by Historic England’s raincoat brigade, it sits there costing an anticipated £150k a year from you and me just to keep it in the same sorrowful state it was for years – see here.
They say you cannot polish a turd…maybe you can…for a price?
When public money is so tight, common sense seems in equally short supply. There is no love nor use for this relic; flatten it or ask Historic England to foot the bill.
Far better-looking and more deserving buildings have long gone in Bradford at the flick of a match.
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