“The proper definition of a man is an animal that writes letters.”
Lewis Carroll
As a regular contributor to the letters pages of both the T&A and the Yorkshire Post – a form of self-medication – I was moved to write a personal note this week to the YP Editor.
Perhaps it’s a sign of lockdown madness? Maybe as the editor of a small community magazine I’ve entered the land of pedantry and line by line obsessive behaviour? However, each day I see the same ad.
Maybe reading the classifieds is a sign of desperation, of a long day ahead, but poor Neil (Men Seeking Women) seems to have been there all lockdown. Indeed the same ad was in twice on Saturday; is Neil just unlucky or does he have extremely deep pockets?
I suppose I must get out more but then Dom’s £12bn app says I cannot, at least for a few days longer. Hopefully, by then Neil will have found true love?
A few days later came the following reply.
You are not the first to be concerned over this gentleman and we have been in contact with Neil very recently and he is ok unfortunately he hasn’t found ‘the one’ yet.
Hard Won Freedoms
On the weekend when those of us grateful to recognise sacrifices we have been lucky never to have to make, stories of kids running amok with fireworks were depressing.
But it happens every year and, whilst not a fan of banning things as it suggests we are not as civilised as we had hoped, fireworks need banning. Either that or the authorities stop pussy-footing with the offenders and come down hard on them.
Finally, this story about a kitten that died after a firework was attached to it defies belief.
Mayor Hapless?
Despite my hometown having the external image of a leper colony, our great leader continues to shamelessly bang her own drum as she chases the new post of West Yorkshire Mayor.
She argues (YP – 9/11) that “devolution is so important because it gives strong voices in the North of England.” Really? The deal is £1.8bn over 30 years which is small change spread across the whole of West Yorkshire.
Equally, if it is such a good deal then compare and contrast the one on offer to North Yorkshire (pop circa 800,000) at £2.14bn – see here. The population of West Yorkshire is almost three times that of North Yorkshire.
Consider too the dynamism of Bradford compared to its neighbours? In a survey (6/11 – YP) Leeds was top of the region so far as new businesses set up in 2020. Bradford, with a population of over 530,000, often touted as the youngest in the UK by Hapless, does not feature in the list. In ninth place is Halifax just below Batley, Dewsbury and Hull.
Furthermore, take two struggling Northern cities desperate to attract footfall to ailing retail centres. In Barnsley they are spending £1.2m investing in existing car parks with new signage, lighting and even charging points. (YP – 5/11)
In Bradford we are knocking down a major carpark and are of the belief that people will either take the bus from a distant park and ride or cycle into town. Who do you think is really open for business on either count?
The Labour Party candidates were announced this week and what an uninspiring bunch, the pick of which will almost certainly be voted in by a disinterested electorate next May. A failed council leader, an ex-actress and a lawyer I’ve never heard of. Utterly woeful.
Cycle Clips At The Ready
More on plans to introduce yet more cycle routes here.
Schemes planned for the second wave of funding in Bradford include:
– South Bradford cycle routes, linking Holme Wood, Dudley Hill and Bowling with Thornbury though a connection to the existing Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway. Cyclists are advised to pedal like the clappers.
– A segregated cycle route along Thornton Road – connecting Crossley Hall and Girlington to the city centre. Cyclists are also advised to pedal like the clappers.
From Boris’ bottomless pit will come £2.1m to Bradford whilst the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will get £1,387,439 for “delivery of behaviour change” across the region. Motorists are to be asked to stop driving like the clappers.
Designed to boost “active travel” there was no mention in the budget for two sheets of industrial plyboard for the closed Buck Bridge in a distant area of Bradford that has yet to take the knee to the ruling party. When asked for comment, Cllr Comical was strangely distant.
And Finally
This always happens when I sit down to eat; an endless stream of woeful tales of modern life struggles. This week a rather portly woman was on Look North bemoaning the fact that the Government has not provided enough free laptops for her kids. Outrage I hear you say! Nasty Tories!
She had five of the bloody things…but it’s still not fair!
Beer time!
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