The fight to save a beautiful part of Idle Moor comes to a head next week with a meeting at Shipley Town Hall, attended by a Government Inspector.
Attempts to build on these fields have been refused to my knowledge at least three times but still the greedy developers come back with their brainless schemes to make a fast buck.
What value local opinion or the planning process when they can keep coming back like a blocked turd? With the Government desperate to build new houses, will our beautiful open spaces be protected?
Fat Kids
I’ve been banging on about the state of our kids – see previous – for well over a decade now. Sadly, this is an issue that simply gets bigger (shocking pun…Ed)
In Bradford the issues appear to be ballooning (oh dear!) according to a recent piece in the local rag “Bradford has the highest proportion of overweight 11 year-olds in West Yorkshire and their number is growing.”
Over 36 per-cent of Year Six children (final year of Primary) were measured as overweight or obese during the 2013/14 school year. The national rate is 33.5 per cent.
As another example of our divided society one expert was quoted as saying “…that poor children are more likely to be obese is nothing new. But what is startling is the gulf between health outcomes for rich and poor, the fact that childhood obesity is continuing to rise and children are getting fatter younger.”
There are many dynamics to the obesity issue with kids but surely simply saying that more kids get fat because of poverty misses the mark? It is perfectly possible to eat healthily and inexpensively; this is ignorance rather than a lack of affluence.
Go cost out a Big Mac and then see how many kilos of vegetables you can get for the same money.
I won’t bang on again about the lack of recreational opportunities for kids as well because the evidence is there for all. That over a third of our kids will enter secondary school in such poor condition does not bode well for adulthood.
Autumn Statement
On page 63 of the Autumn Statement
there is some reference to additional spending for Schools & Children plus Culture & Sport but only a modest £60m in total.
Given the billions the NHS is predicting to spend countering obesity, someone, somewhere is not quite getting the message.
Must get out more!
Big Al’s Corner – The Life Giving Powers of The Scruffy
The Big Man woke up last Saturday after a modest two-gallon Friday to find his boiler was on the blink…the household one. With a night of passion ahead with the long-suffering, lovely Luckless Linda and a hangover the size of the Pennines, it looked like a long day.
Meanwhile, a few of us had been entertained during the afternoon watching Old Grovians beat South Yorkshire rivals Thornesians with Villas posh boy – Joe Lawrence – dominating the line out.
Who would have thought you could lift a fat lad so high we mused from the safety of the other side of the white line whilst tackles crunched in and Molly’s hip-flask was shared generously.
As darkness fell and the winter chill started to seep through our bones, we sought refuge at The Scruffy and sent out the obligatory “In Residence” message to the Big Man.
Soon he shambled in appearing to have the troubles of the world on his shoulders.
“I’m only stopping for two!” he announced as we all smiled knowingly. Two hours later – maybe that’s what he meant – spirits were revived and he was warming to the evening’s prospects just as lovely Luckless arrived.
“What’ll it be love?” he said as Luckless adjusted her snow jacket and pulled down her fluffy hat. “Curry or a Chinky” The Scruffy fell into an instant silence.
Next week Big Al is up before The Scruffy’s Standards & Ethics Committee on charges of racism for use of the term “Chinky”. This will be chaired by the sensitive souls that occupy Nob ‘Ed Corner with Judge Jackie ruling.
If proven guilty of being grossly politically incorrect he wins a gallon of ale and a free Chinky.
Odeon – More Reasons We Need It
A quick look at the listings for tours by what you would term as mid-range artists next year – Elvis Costello, Michael Ball and even Strictly veterans Anton & Erin – show extensive schedules but none including Bradford.
Meanwhile, the Spring 2015 line-up at our very own St George’s Hall reads more like the Wheeltappers & Shunters. Further evidence of the clear need for a venue of scale so that a city like ours can attract some half-decent entertainment.
A Little Known Fact
Did you know – I didn’t – that only in December does a 1st class stamp have no greater standing than a 2nd class? For you frugal types that’s a saving of 9p a Christmas card; you could buy the card with that!
Dear Old Auntie
Seasons greetings to the fat cats at the BBC where austerity is clearly taking time to catch on.
Disclosures over the last week or so that 91 executives earn more than the PM’s £142k a year – 11 of these earn twice that figure and more – make you wonder why we still endure such a crock of shit over Christmas with all that stellar talent.
The Modern World
For several years now we have had record world oil prices filtering through to high prices at the petrol pump for ordinary people and escalating costs for industry pushing up the prices of most of the things we consume.
Now oil prices are in freefall so surely good news? Not one bit according to the commentators and now we face Armageddon with job cuts, loss of tax revenues and a collapse in investment.
Just another day when the world got ever more unexplained.
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