“It is always easiest to run with the herd…it can take a deep reservoir of courage and conviction to stand apart from it.” Seth Klarman
Recently I wrote to the local paper; the letter follows with a link to the article I was commenting on.
I refer to your article dated 24/6 – £20m bid for centre. When the swimming pools “strategy” was announced several years ago there were no surprises as to the areas of Bradford favoured and those marginalised by the announcement.
Funding was not an issue it was claimed as the proceeds from the sale of the Richard Dunn site would more than cover the grand plan – all was well!
Wind forward and nothing has happened with what is clearly a prime site whilst the new Sedbergh facility is now open serving South Bradford. Bowling Pool has had a fortune spent on it whereas the futures of Bingley and Queensbury remain in the hands of local people.
A few weeks ago the Government invited local authorities to bid for its Levelling Up Fund only for Cllr Hinchcliffe to wail it was so unfair, just give us the money! Now she has a plan!
Squire Lane, supposedly a £10m new pool, never happened. Now it could be reborn as a £20m facility to fit in the with fund – how very convenient.
This council are not fit to run a tombola stall and consistently ignore large parts of the district for political purposes only. City of Culture? You must be joking.
Not for the first time I was accused of being “far-right”. This was by someone without the courage to use their own name and address – as you must when submitting a letter.
You can see the comments trail here.
This coincided with an exchange of emails with the Editor, urging him to make it mandatory when submitting online comments not to hide behind a pseudonym. So far the paper has only added a token warning note and the invisible bed wetters continue unchecked.
Free Speech
We live in a country where free speech has always been prized. To be accused of being “far-right” simply for pointing out the indisputable flow of sports funding was predictable.
Neatly, as if to further add weight to a point I have been making for well almost three decades, came this article re more cricket funding – see New Myra Shay sports facilities to be funded by England Cricket Board
For those of you who still suspect me of wandering the house in jackboots, across the road from Myra Shay is The Karmand Centre, itself a beneficiary to the tune of millions.
Not far away a new indoor cricket centre will be built. Throw in Bradford Park Avenue and tell me who is being dealt the bum hand? And this is just cricket, as multi-racial as you could get.
Governing bodies led by distant politically correct do-gooders – whose kids probably go to private schools – and local politicians utterly dependent on the block vote are a toxic mix in Bradford.
Is It Me?
I was reading The Yorkshire Post Country section the other week with a cuppa as I came across a piece on dog hydrotherapy.
City Of Culture Bid Update
A woman who was robbed in broad daylight in Bradford city centre now says she has to wear flat shoes so she can run away the next time. T&A 30/6/21.
The Simple Things
As my Mum sat downstairs taking in Wimbledon this week, the old man suggested she bathe her feet. He came back with the washing up bowl and a giant bar of green soap which I remember used to torment me in a past life.
At first, she wasn’t keen, protesting it was too hot. Eventually, she lowered her old feet into the bowl and sat back contentedly. It did not seem to matter which day it was, this was good.
Fearing having to take the knee to dry her off, I took my leave. I think she could get used to this modest treat if only this dreadful disease would allow her to remember.
Happy Anniversary
BBC Look North was in Bradford this week to reflect the twentieth anniversary of the Bradford Riots. Amongst the hand-wringing, a resident wailed that Oak Lane was no different now.
“Where has all the money gone?”
Twenty years ago Oak Lane had a BMW dealership; I rest my case.
Quote Of The Week
From the Council Executive meeting this week – see here 39 minutes in – as our regeneration guru Cllr Comical reported to Hapless sat high above on her perch.
“I’ve been able to visit (Darley Street Market) and sit in a giant digger!”
All is well!
Lord Frazer Irwin says
Name and address get everywhere. It’s not the first time I’ve heard of folk challenging various Editors on the matter. Have done myself. A point mentioned in that meeting about Bratford being the youngest city. Nooo!
The UK city with the youngest population is Slough, with an average age of 33.9 and only one in 10 people aged 65 and over. It is followed by Oxford (34.4) and Luton (35.1). The average age in London, the sixth youngest city, is 36.5. Bratford is way down the list.
Back to the meeting. Councillor Waffle did a very good job of reporting precisely nothing. There’s a few folk in Ilkley looking for blood with regards to parking and this chap mentions it in passing as if it were not a problem.
I agree with you about outlying districts getting little compared to inner city projects. Our libraries have been hit by cuts, some priceless art collections were moved from Central Library to Baildon Library. Later we find that is to be closed and the collection to be housed in a Shipley warehouse. Rant over with.
Art may not be upper in your life but it does beg the question about all this City of Culture rubbish. I wonder how many folk over your way realise Bratford Council bought the Moors Centre in Ilkley for £6.5 million as an investment?
Keep safe and well.