“Sport has become such a big business that the line between journalism and being a broadcast partner for all intents and purposes has been obliterated.” Dave Zirin
Most days I wake up, scratch around and cannot believe my luck. In this world of materialism, what do they mean by having it all?
My new mini-shed for the local birds arrived this week. Not only is it made with recycled wood, the manufacturer promptly recycles the token fee at The Scruffy.
I cannot wait to see the birds flock to the outdoor pool, feast on the hanging nuts and chirp contentedly.
Yorkshire Soap
As the Yorkshire CCC racism soap opera rolls on, one man is always worth reading.
The excellent Yorkshire Post cricket writer Chris Waters – not a Yorkshireman by the way – is one of the few with the courage to write objectively, honestly and not simply follow the noise.
Last Saturday’s piece was as good as I can recall – you can read it here.
Sadly, this could run on and on with the potential financial consequences for the club inestimable.
Throw in around £3m for unfair dismissal claims added to a debt already circa £16-17m and you did not need a Masters in Business to work out the consequences.
So the U-turn predicted here weeks ago is now complete; YCCC will stage international cricket after all with all sides proclaiming victory. It seems money talks.
Hot Air
Following the decision by Leeds City Council to defer the introduction of a clean air zone, now Manchester has put similar plans on hold until 2026.
The main reason cited is a lack of supply of electric vehicles. Logically, you would expect this to apply nationally. This week a national survey concluded traffic was a third-down compared with pre-pandemic levels.
So how is it that Bradford, an economic desert compared to the powerhouse centres of Leeds and Manchester, is pushing on with a clear air zone? Whatever the merits of these, it is clear that there is no working logic here.
Meanwhile the local paper gave an update – see here – on a set of major infrastructure developments across West Yorkshire, first announced in 2023 (oops! actually 2019 – see here) in the Government’s devolution deal for the area.
In Bradford there were four major projects, worth over £80m. There were the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings, Market Street and the Jacobs Well area, expected to cost £30m, the demolition of the Hall Ings car park and the creation of a new entrance to Bradford Interchange in its place (£13.2m), a new South Bradford park and ride that would ferry people from a site in Odsal to the city centre via a new bus fleet on Manchester Road (£20m), and the creation of a new cycle route on Thornton Road (£17.5m).
The projects are not now expected to be completed until summer 2024 although there is little sign any have even started. But what of the budget, now three years old already?
Anybody who has built a garden shed in the last three years will tell you material costs have gone skyward, as indeed, have labour costs. So anyone who thinks £80m will be the final figure here must be bonkers.
And £17.5m for a cycle route? You could buy every lycra-clad lunatic a private plane and still have change.
Finally, consider the timing. Bradford Live, perhaps the best thing to open in the city centre for decades, opens later this year. By then large swathes of the city centre will be a building site and a major car-park will have been demolished.
Only in Hapless Hinchcliffe’s Happy Valley.
Rishi’s Punt
With the rise in the energy price cap about to bite, Chancellor Sunak is chucking the cash about again. This week I received notification that I would be getting £150 back via a Council Tax rebate.
All well and good but what chance the great unwashed putting this under the bed until next winter instead of rushing out for a Carling 24-pack and a Happy Meal?
With access to the best brains in the country – allegedly – surely options other than a quick bung are out there?
Ironically, France is rumoured to be about to slap a windfall tax on French energy giant EDF which will limit the volatile locals to a 4% increase. They will have to find another excuse to riot this summer.
Of course, EDF can always recoup this via British punters.
Vive la France!
A big knob at BP argued against a windfall tax because it would limit their ability to invest in green technology; which seemed a bit counter-intuitive. In effect, what he was saying is that we punters will pay for this investment through sky-high bills.
Vive le dividend!
Will they then come down?
Phil Marks says
Would recommend anyone interested in YCCC to read the article written by Chris Waters in The Yorkshire Post.
Thanks Steve
Michael T. Leahy says
Can someone please provide a map of the proposed bus routes through the pedestrianised city center ?
I think we should be told.