On Sunday night I rolled back from The Scruffy utterly depressed at the thought that Bradford could possibly “win” the dubious accolade of UK City of Culture 2025.
Tonight we find out as the decision is revealed on BBC’s The One Show.
As I made my way home, fireworks exploded into the skies above me, as they do nightly, apparently a sign that the drugs are ready. I think they call it entrepreneurial.
Despite being a proud Bradfordian, having lived here all my life, any claims to culture so far as Bradford goes are rooted in the dim and distant past. Our recent history is nothing to crow about.
In the 1980s’s and 1990’s, the place was alive; it may have lacked sophistication but it had a confidence and cheeky strut that papered over a few flaws to say the least.
Don’t look too close, this is all you need. And then the money went.
The professionals began a remorseless exit led, as in most cities, by the banks. Well-paid jobs and well-heeled punters were suddenly in short supply. Winners were few and far between; Bradford, simultaneously shorn of its old industries, was not one of them.
With almost typical bad luck we opted for a new shopping centre only to bump into a worldwide recession. Two highly damaging local riots – in 1995 and 2001 – had hardly sold Bradford as the place to invest; the exodus was in full flow.
We became a pariah so far as the external investment community was concerned and no more evidenced than the hole in the ground that lingered like a bad dose of the clap for a decade and more.
Prior to that, we had suffered the obscenities of the architect Will Alsop’s farcical plans to reconfigure the city centre along the lines of a Thunderbirds set.
More public money down the pan, catching the lining of numerous pockets on its way.
His Tuscan proposals for Barnsley proved just as stupid. Not long after, the city lurched from the council being controlled by a middle-aged bloke sporting an earring to a woman few had even heard of a decade previous, so far out of her depth as to defy belief.
Fast forward to the present day where a novice can lead a city to oblivion because fifteen hundred people voted for her. Add to that we have a Chief Executive on more money than Boris and even more invisible than him; you get the drift?
You may well counter that other regions have seen big winners and similar losers but nowhere in the UK has a city fallen from grace as spectacularly as Bradford. Its people deserve far better; true Bradfordians may be scattered like the wind but they rarely forget the place.
My city has absolutely no right to be awarded the UK City of Culture tonight; it cannot look after its most vulnerable as proven in the aftermath of the Star Hobson tragedy.
Those in authority have wasted £3m of our money in pursuit of personal career preservation. That the CEO and council leader continue to duck any level of personal accountability shames us all. As long as they are allowed to remain in situ, we are all guilty by association.
Our city is an absolute mess. The nightlife is a pale shadow of other cities whilst the daytime shopping experience is confined to one very modest centre.
If you disbelieve me, I challenge you to walk the deserted streets full of boarded-up shop fronts.
Call this cultured? Bradford deserves so much better than the cowards and careerists who cling to their grubby positions.
Gary Tipper says
Yep Steve,I echo your thoughts and comments about the bent officianados who have spectacularly ruined one of the largest Cities in the UK steeped in History.Now,unfortunately pretty much forgotten because of underlying events that have been,and probably still to come.Shame on you.Corrupt doesn’t nearly describe you people.
Peter capper says
Absolutely onthe money with your assessment,as a former Bradfordian,I’m also part of the White flight ,an unfortunate title but at the time in 2001 riots ,house values plummeting,and my first born due I decided amongst others it’s time to leave not just Bradford ,but the Aire Valley for York
Me says
It’s still a shit hole
Me says
It all started to become a mess at the end of the fifties…. People from overseas came to do the work that most Bradford people didn’t want to do…. They congregated within a 2 mile radius of the city centre. Many of the locals moved away…. It’s a mess and in another 50 years it will be controlled by….. thank god I won’t be around
Steve says
Other cities have prospered under the same conditions. Ours has failed due to appalling leadership.
Iain says
I couldn’t agree more. If the councillors were paid and employed based on results, I fear they would be looking for employment by now.
David Martin says
The council . Is that what it is. The city is being overrun by rats those with long tails and those that are getting paid vast amounts for supposedly running the city.
Ricky Holden says
The whole aim of this award is to drag the city out of the gutter. I agree with much that has been said about our civic “leadership ” but now is possibly our last chance to get out of the sh1t. I for one hope we can succeed. The Odeon development, laughed at and scorned by many detractors is going to be superb. As to holes in the ground, Odsal is finished and the insane sentimentality of the council in constantly backing pie in the sky projects there has to end. One can only hope the council can find leadership willing to take the Bull(s) by the horns and I’m not only talking about the Northern.
Paul says
Having lived in Bradford for nearly fifty years I can remember the 80’s and 90’s when Bradford had a real buzz about the place. Admittedly it has always been in the shadow of Leeds, however I still have very fond memories of growing up here.
How Kersten England is being paid £230,000 per annum as the CEO of Bradford council is beyond me. Without sounding too political the current council have let the city go to absolute shit. It has been voted one of the least safe cities to go out in on an evening which is clear from a visit a few months back. And once they introduce the Clean Air Zone this will most likely be the final coffin into our once great city.
Andy says
We’ll i suppose Bradford had to get something as a consolation prize since it’s never going to be considered important enough to get a decent rail link
Geraldine says
Having left behind my home town of Bradford many years ago, I am most certainly out of touch. However, I have heard through the grape vine (social media) similar reports and stories too many times. It shocks and saddens me as much as everyone else but what I don’t hear from anyone is ideas to redress the cities demise. Complaining of ineptitude and corruption is no doubt warranted but what are your suggestions to combat them ?
Steve says
Good evening
It’s been a long time but from occasional pictures on Facebook, life looks good; nice to hear from you. So far as your comments go, first of all , you like many others have chosen to leave. I stayed…and have no regrets because, as you will recall, give me a few beers and a game of cricket or footie at the weekend and Nirvana of sorts.
What to do about this mess; I fear little can be done. The much-feted multi-culturalism is a farce with distinct communities living side by side with wholly different aspirations for communities they live in. No politician will tell you this because the spineless wankers have only self-preservation at heart.
Trust me, Bradford is ****ed because a huge amount of talent has already left and the young that follow will never return. The talent pool here is like a village pond.
When we need the leadership of lions we have been saddled with donkeys.
What could we do? Firstly, the two-party state cripples us. Only in Bradford, when Boris romped home a few years ago – he is a wanker by the way – did Bradford vote for more of the same of a failing council.
If ever proportional representation could benefit any place it would be Bradford. When we need the best of ideas and intelligence, we have talentless cronies.
Where Leeds flew on the back of private money and enterprise, show me Bradford’s?
Finally, City of Culture is a load of bollocks. Showering the unemployable with meaningless grants will get us nowhere…watch and see…wherever you are.
Regards
Steve
David says
Born in Bradford in 47. The city started noticeably going down the pan in the 70s and has been in terminal decline ever since. The first riot finished me not to mention the second but I had to stay because of work and family commitments. Took early retirement in 2007. Joined the White Flight and took myself and my money and moved to Lincolnshire. Never looked back. Quality of life here is immeasureably better. Bradford died decades ago. White Flight – it is the only way.
Peter says
If you are BAME, especially Pakistani Muslim, move to Bradford, you will love it.
If you are English/British then exit and move out, find a new life with people you can identify with.
For me it was white flight. I am no masochist, why should I remain?