Prostitution Petition Debated at Bradford Civic Hall

By Rachel Gallacher

A campaign to remove prostitutes and kerb crawlers from a Bradford Street has been received by Bradford City Council.

Over fifteen hundred residents and business people signed the petition to rid Lumb Lane in Manningham of sex workers, once and for all.







Lumb Lane was known as the Red Light District area of Bradford for many years until they were moved on by the police where they re-located to another street.

However, over the past few years, they have started to move back. Lead Petitioner Majid Khan said: ''The problem of prostitution has increased dramatically over the last two years and it has come to a stage where we can not take it any further.''

Speaking at the council meeting earlier this week, Mr Khan went on to say: ''The prostitutes and pimps start their work at 2 pm. After 11 pm, the streets are ruled by the prostitutes and their pimps. At that time, people are fearful of coming out on to the street and they remain there until 8 am.''

West Yorkshire police did manage to rid the sex workers from the area but Mr Khan believes that as soon as the heavy police presence was withdrawn, 'the problem came back again.'

As more than fifteen hundred people had signed the petition, fifteen minutes time had been given to discuss the problem. Once Mr Khan's five minutes were up, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain let Councillors express their opinion of the issue concerned.

Labour Councillor for Manningham Shabir Hussain said: ''I've lived in Manningham since 1969, it's always been my home and I've lived off Lumb Lane itself. It's absloutely fantastic what you have done here, the petition, it shows how you, businesses and residents feel.

 ''We and West Yorkshire Police will do the best we can... I have seen the neighbourhood policing team, inspector Baildon and they have took action. They have made fifty-two arrests in three months.''

The petition has now been passed on to the Bradford West Area Committee.

Women Take on Trades In Bradford

By Jonnel Benjamin

Bradford is leading the way in an award winning apprenticeship employment programme.



Incommunities has helped over 1400 trainees get work after a very high qualification success rate.

One third of trainees are females who are learning different trades through the scheme.

Joiner Lisa Kaye, 38, Keighley said: "I've always had the help that I've needed, If ever I needed it.

I've had good mentors that have taught me through my apprenticeship and I now I have my own apprentice who is making me a mentor".

Ms Kaye is an example that females can succeed in the trades world as she has won the best joiner of the year  award two years in a row and became the first female to receive the apprentice of the year title.

She admits most men work in the trade and sometimes she gets confused for a man.

Incommunities has also won the national Women in Construction training award.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire, David Ward and Apprentice

Bradford East MP, David Ward and The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Saltaire, met with current apprentices at the purpose built training resource at Dudley Hill Business Centre.

Rt Hon Lord Wallace said: "I hadn't expected such overwhelming enthusiasm particularly from the women.

"Women in construction is a relatively new thing. Incommunties have been encouraging women to get involved.

"It is much more encouraging for vulnerable people to have a woman. It just shows that this is a worthwhile scheme", he added.

Incommunities is also taking part in Bradford Council’s Employment Opportunities Fund by so far recruiting 133 unemployed people on 12 month contracts.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire and  David Ward gets a briefing of the project

Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Saltaire said: "We have been very short with all the good practical skills in construction.

"We should be building and refurbishing more houses so all the skills we have are being learned and developed in disciplined schemes.

"If Bradford is going to get back into textiles and other forms of manufacturing there are a lot of skills which apprenticeships will help to provide".

Bradford Rescuers Swamped by Abandoned Cats

by Óné Chappy 

Animal lovers in Bradford are worried about the number of stray and unwanted cats in the city.
 
 A group of Bradford friends were so worried about the increased number of abandoned cats in the district that they decided to set up their own cat sanctuary.

After 18 months of operation, Paw Prints Cat Rescue have looked after more than a 100 cats and kittens.

The sanctuary is run by Elaine Rodgers at her home in Bankfoot, alongside Anna Clarke.

Mrs Clarke lives with 14 of the cats in her own home and says that shows just how many stray cats there are in the city.

 She said: "There is a lot of cats in Bradford. In-fact, Bradford seems to be overrun with cats".

She said that the main reason there has been an increase in the number of cats being abandaned is because people get pets without fully understanding how to care for or be responsible for them.

She says although there are a lot of cat loving people in Bradford, they are not respoinsible enough.

She said: "I'ts so easy to get a hold of a cat or kitten and it should be taken more serious. People should be more responsible".

 Clark says this problem can be prevented, but people have to know and understand the animal before they consider getting it as a pet.

She said: "The main thing people can do to prevent all these poor unwanted cats and kittens is to get them neutered".

" There is money available and voucher schemes for people who are struggling, money wise", she said. 

Paw Prints Cat Rescue said they are heavily relying on the generosity of local residents to help them with their charitable deed.


The work they do looking after the cats costs hundreds of pounds a week, so food and money are always being sought after and welcomed.

 Click below for some of the Cats and kittens they look after that want homes.

West Yorkshire MPs Divided Over Pay Rise

By Daniel Lynch

Proposals to increase MPs' pay by twelve-per-cent were announced today by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.


The rise would be effective after the 2015 general election and could cost the taxpayer £4.6 million.

It's means MPs would earn an annual salary of around £75,000.

Bradford MPs have been speaking to BCB about today's announcement.

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe criticised the timing of the announcements: "I'm quite sad that the independent body has chosen now to raise this issue. It needs to be resolved but not at a time when the economy's as bad as it is. I would hope that they decide on the salary but defer implementation until a time when the economy can stand it."






Keighley and Ilkley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins said: "This proposed pay rise is not something I agree with and I will not be accepting it. Public sector workers are currently being subjected to a 1% annual pay increase. As a Member of Parliament, I am also a public sector worker.  I see no reason why I should be treated differently way to anyone else.”

Talking Success for Children in Bradford

By Jonnel Benjamin

Talking to children is becoming more important in schools across Bradford because of a new scheme called the 'Talking Children Charter'.

Pupils from schools across Bradford presented the Deputy Lord Mayor with the Charter today in Bingley.

Each school completed two pages of in the Charter with a mission statement and reasons why they think talking is important to their learning. Once each school has completed their pages it was delivered on to the next school.

Richard Ballantine, Deputy Headteacher at Keighley's Parkwood Primary School said: "It's a completely different approach but talking is central to learning.

"Other schools might be developing speaking and listening but dialogue and the children engaging with each other are just as important".

Deputy Lord Mayor Joanne Dodds with children from schools across Bradford

Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children each topic the school displayed in a banner outside.

Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Joanne Dodds said "It's absolutely fabulous.

"This scheme gives children the skills and chance to describe and look at things, but also know how to talk about things. It putting talk at the centre of learning".

Mr Ballantine said: "The success that the school has had from this project has driven us on.

"By using talk for learning and writing, it really has moved on the standards of teaching.

It's also made a huge difference to how the children are learning and the level of achievement they are gaining".

Children delivering Talking Charter to Deputy Lord Mayor Joanne Dodds

Theft Protection Scheme Introduced in Bradford

By Daniel Lynch

A new initiative is helping people in Bradford protect their valuables.

West Yorkshire Police are in City Park today to promote the scheme which registers items like mobile phones, laptops and bicycles to a national database.

Anything with a barcode or a unique I.D. number can be scanned to the system and linked to the details of the owner. Tamper-proof adhesive barcodes can also be bought and stuck onto items that don't already have one.

P.C. Karen Harrop told BCB around 150 people have already registered with her team and they expect more to follow today.

"If something's stolen or your house is burgled, you let us know and inform the national property website. That will send a flag out to everywhere in Britain. Officers on patrol carry hand-held scanners and can scan an item during a search. The scan tells us if the item is stolen and has details of how we can return it to the owner."

The database can also alert police to items which are scanned before being reported stolen, allowing officers to retrospectively identify missing valuables.

"It's basically a tool to enable us to get people's property back to them. It's only the second day in Bradford, but this is a national scheme and thousands of people have had their property returned to them because of it."

P.C Harrop and her team will be in City Park today to help anyone register their details for free.

More details are available here.

Ramadan - ''It's A Struggle But It's Worth It'

By Rachel Gallacher

Ramadan is about to start, which is considered the most important month of the Islamic calendar.

The annual tradition will see Muslims across the globe fasting from dawn until sunset for 29-30 days. 

Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations; in some interpretations they also refrain from swearing. Food and drink is served daily, before sunrise and after sunset. 

Sharaz Rehman, Printer at Menu Printers in Bradford, practices Ramadan because it's part of his religion. He says he also does it to remind himself how lucky he is that he can afford to eat food on a regular basis: 

''There's a lot of people around the world that struggle and that don't get food to it, so this just gives us an idea of how hard it is for them.

''Some people have to live every day of their lives with limited food whereas we only have to do it for a month, that motivates me to keep going.''

Some people are excused from taking part in the fast. Exceptions include an ill person or youngsters don't have to take part. Once you become a teenager then you are expected to fast.

Mr Rehman says it can be quite difficult though: ''If you're doing the same thing in the winter, it's not really hard because the sun sets around four o'clock, so it's not too bad.

''But once it get's to the summer, you can go up to 17 hours. It's the first couple of days where you really feel hungry, but when you get in to the routine it just becomes normal.''

Breaking the Fast happens on the last day of the month when the 30 days is over. Mr Rehman told BCB that    towards the end, he's just counting down the minutes until he can eat again: ''When you see all the food on the table, no one's talking, everyone just waits until the final seconds of the count down until you can eat.

"When you eventually eat, you appreciate the food.When it's open, we eat dates and drink a glass of water first before prayer. After this we eat samosas, kebabs and just go for it.''

Man Accused of Shipley Murder Appears in Court

By Daniel Lynch

The man charged with the murder of Louisa Denby in Shipley has been remanded in custody after appearing at Bradford Crown Court.

Nathanial Flynn, 26, from Shipley is also charged with the attempted murder of a 9-year-old boy in a skatepark in the town, an assault on a 59-year-old man and with possessing an offensive weapon.
 
He spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood that he would remain in custody.

He will appear in court again on October 14th and if he pleads "not guilty" the case will be referred to Leeds Crown Court on December 2nd.

Shipley Petitioners Oppose Supermarket Plans

 By Óné Chappy   

Petitioners in Shipley are urging Bradford Council to refuse a new major supermarket development planned for their district. 

Around 300 signatures have already been collected for the petition, started by local businesses.

Bradford Council is currently considering planning applications for superstores to be built at the Crossley Evans scrapyard, on Otley Road, and at the Airedale Mills site.

Petitioner Jonathan Martell

Jonathan Martell, who runs Shipley Health Store and is spearheading the petition said that if a supermarket was built on the proposed sites, it would undermine the economic viability of local retailers, increase road congestion, air pollution and noise nuisance.

The petition has been running for just over two weeks.

Petitioners say the number of people who are taking part in the campaign are testament to the views and opposition from the residents and visitors of Shipley.

Mr Martell said: "We feel very seriously that it will affect the vitality and well being of Shipley and will take people out of the town centre at a time when Shipley is really progressing well, with less empty units, more businesses coming in and real growth".

He said the sites that would be replaced by the supermarket already have businesses operating there and those businesses already have employees and closing those establishments will put those employees jobs at risk.

Mr Martell is working alongside other businesses within the district, including the threatened scrapyard and some Bradford councillors to try and stop the development plan going ahead.

He said: "We feel passionate about Shipley's progress and not letting the supermarket take hold".

"The overall view is that Shipley doesn't need it and it will be detriment to the town" he said.

Slowly but Surely .... Tortoise Mike Returns Home ….

By Jonnel Benjamin

Missing Mike the Herman tortoise has returned home after being missing for two months.

5-year-old Mike was relaxing in the family garden in Yeadon when he went missing.

Owner Suzanne Collop, went to collect Mike from the garden one day back in May but couldn’t find him. She searched the whole neighbourhood without success, and became very worried for pet’s safety.

Mrs Collop said: “We thought someone had stolen him.

“We gave up. We thought that we would never see him again.

“But Two months later he just wondered back into the garden.”

It was on a sunny day Mrs Collop said: “One of the kids was playing in the garden and I heard him shout.

“He walked into the house with the tortoise in his hand and Mike was covered in mud, as if he’d been buried.”

Since returning home Mrs Collop said: “He’s been very pampered, we gave him a bath and treated him to strawberries.

“We’ve just spoilt him.”

Tour de France In Yorkshire- A Year To Go

By Óné Chappy 
 

 
Exactly one year from today (July 5), an estimated three million people in Yorkshire will attend the first stage of the world’s largest cycling race.

In twelve month's time, the Tour De France will come to Yorkshire.
 
To mark the occasion, a hundred school children attended an event on the Headrow in Leeds which highlighted cycling in the county.

The children gathered at the heart of the city and got on their bikes for a photograph opportunity and to celebrate Yorkshire's success in winning the bid to host the start of the race next year.

Chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity said: "One of the reasons we brought Tour De France to Yorkshire is to inspire a lot of young people to get on their bikes and fall in love with cycling as much as we do".

This will be the first time Le Tour will visit the north of England having previously only visited the south coast of the country and London.

Eighty-two year old Brian Robinson from Mirfield, the first British rider to win a stage of the race in 1958 launched the official countdown.

Amongst the VIP guests of the launch was Yorkshire's very own current professional cyclist Dean Downing. 

Mr Verity said: "It is the biggest event that's ever happened in Yorkshire and it's probably the biggest event that will ever happen in Yorkshire. It doesn't get any bigger than this for us."

He also said that the event is important to both the region and the people of Yorkshire and will result in many benefits.

"It will be worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy and there will be lots of people around the world who couldn't point on a map today and tell you where Yorkshire is. Come July next year and they will know where we are", he said.

Excitement from both the young and old has been building up within the region since the announcement that the largest ever event to hit the county would land in July 2014 last December. 
 
The 2014 start of the race, or the Grand Départ will take place in Leeds on July 5. 

Riders will pass by Harewood and Leyburn before cycling through Ripon and continuing onto Harrogate, where the first yellow jersey of the 2014 event will be won at the end of the stage.

For photographs of the event, click below.

Shipley Murder Accused In Court

By Rachel Gallacher

A man accused of murdering a Shipley pensioner has appeared before Magistrates in Bradford.

26-year-old Nathaniel Flynn is also charged with the attempted murder of a nine year old boy and an attack on a 59-year-old man was attacked outside his home in Idle. 

Flynn's also charged with the possession of an offensive weapon.

Eighty-four year-old Louisa Denby was found dead in her home on Prospect Mount around midnight on Monday.

The accused wore a red T-shirt underneath a blue jumper and remained handcuffed throughout his brief court appearance.   He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and will remain in custody until he appears at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday.  

Bradford's Centenary Square Hosts Gypsy Festival

 By Óné Chappy 

The Bradford Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have gathered at the heart of the city to celebrate the launch of a new book and DVD.

The joyous event organised by the Thornbury Centre aims to capture and celebrate the Gypsy Roma and Traveller community's lives in Bradford.

This was just one of the many events scheduled around the country, which coincide with the celebration of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month.

'Moving on', the book about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Bradford highlights the life and history of these communities in and around the city, who have lived within the diverse society for centuries.

Violet Cannon, project co-ordinator at the Thornbury Centre said: "In the DVD and the book, we explore things around discrimination and different subjects so people from the outside can get an honest look at the communities which are often sensationalized".

The book features photographs, alongside words of members of the communities to celebrate their culture and history with a local flavour.

The event was also a celebratory moment for Thornbury Centre's, for their success in bringing together the Romany Gypsy, Irish Travellers and European Roma people and encouraging them to live peacefully alongside each other, by recognizing their similarities and differences.

When asked why it was important for the event to be held in Bradford, Violet said: "Because people have such a narrow veiw of who Gypys and Travellers are".

"It's about showing the positive side of Gypsy-Traveller Culture", she said.

The idea behind the book and film is a hope that sharing the culture of these communities with the Bradford society will break barries and stereotypes which Gypsy and Roma people face on their day to day lives.

"What a lot of people don't know is that over fifty percent of Gypsy-Travller population are in bricks and water accommodation now".

"It's not the stereotypical, Oh they live in a caravan, they must be a gypsy", she said. 

The event organizers said mainstream media often prints stories that encourages hostility between different groups and this book offers an alternative view of the differing cultures.

"You're a gypsy because of your ethnic identity, you're an Irish Traveller because of your ethnic identity, not because you live on four wheels", she said.

The project which is funded by heritage Lottery Fund was celebrated on the square with a screening of the DVD, Gypsy culture crafts and dancing, alongside stalls providing information about the people and their culture.

Bradford Risk Of Birth Defect Double National Average

By Óné Chappy 

Researchers of the Risk factors for congenital anomaly in a multiethnic birth cohort study

Babies born in Bradford are nearly twice as likely to be born with a birth defect compared to the rest of the country, a study conducted in the city has shown.

Parents who are blood relatives and older mothers have been found to be the two main causes for this birth defect rate.

The results were acquired after a study involving 11,396 mums and youngsters involved in the Born in Bradford (BiB), a study of children born at Bradford Royal Infirmary between 2007 and 2011.

The study found that the risk of a child being born with a birth defect rose from three per cent to six per cent if they were born to blood relatives.

Researchers believe that these findings  are largely because of marriages between first cousins in the Bradford Pakistani community.
 
First cousin marriages in Bradford accounts for three-quarters of marriages among families of Pakistani descent in the city.

It is estimated that, worldwide, more than a billion people live in communities where marriage between blood relatives is commonplace.

A recently-retired consultant, Dr Peter Corry, who worked in the Child Development Centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary for 25 years said: "The study really confirms in a scientific way the number of congenital anomalies we have".

Nearly 1.7% of babies in England and Wales are born with a birth defect such as Down's Syndrome or heart problems, and among BiB babies the rate was nearly double that, at 3%.

Forty-three different ethnicities were involved in the study, with Pakistani ethnic groups making 45% of the participants and white British being just under 40%.


Of the 5,127 babies of Pakistani origin, 37% had married parents who were first cousins, compared to less than 1% of married couples nationally.

Another major factor found to raise chances of a baby being born with a birth defect was the age of the mother.

The likelihood of  mothers having a child with a genetic defect doubled from two per cent among white British mums aged between 25 and 34, to four per cent among those aged over 34.

 Local health professionals  have received training in raising the issues with people in the Pakistani community, to try and make the issue easier to discus within society.
 
A Bradford GP, Rafaqut Rashid said: "There are a number of programmes which have been initiated, not because of this research, but they have always been there".

"This research has brought in some firm evidence which suggests that we should look more into the concept of raising awareness within the community and at the risk groups within the community", he said.

He said that there are schemes already in place, run by the 'Every baby matters' board, who look at the health of babies in Bradford and help families deal with birth defects.

The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research under the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care programme.

Councillor Calls for Unity After Shipley Stabbings

By Daniel Lynch

Labour Councillor for Windhill and Wrose Susan Hinchcliffe has called for the Windhill community to unite in the wake of this week's stabbings.

Coun Hinchcliffe, who is the Council's Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Culture, praised the people of Windhill saying: "It's a great place to live. People know and generally help each other. There is a real community spirit there. Undoubtledy this kind of event is whan that is really needed."

She says the best way to move on from the weekend's events, which left 84-year-old Louisa Denby dead and a 9-year-old boy in hospital, is to get back to normal life as soon as possible.

"We need to go about our business, making sure children get to school and people go to work. That's already started happeneing. After the initial shock people have their lives to lead and they get on doing that."

"Normality is the best antidote to something like this. It will have lasting consequences for a few families and they are in our hearts and minds at the minute."

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder relating to the incidents and remains in police custody.

Bradford Primary School Praised for Improvement

By Daniel Lynch

Bradford Moor Primary School has been commended for its rapid progress just five months after being placed in "special measures".

The school was criticized by an Oftsed  report from February but has since undergone significant changes at boardroom and classroom levels.

June's followup report, carried out by HMI (Her Majesty's Inspector) Katrina Gueli, found that the standard of teaching had improved while the City Council's decision to replace the Governing Body with an Interim Executive Board was praised.

Head Teacher, Janet Relton, told BCB the original report didn't come as a surprise to the school or local authorities.

"The report reflected where we knew the school was. We had already started work to make improvements."

Changes have been made to the structure of the school day and staff training was introduced to ensure pupils were being effectively assessed.

Mrs Relton hopes the improvements will not only influence the children's immediate learning, but their long term development.

"What we are trying to do is get the children to take ownership of their learning so that they are involved and engaged and ensure that we are teaching things that are not just relevant to the children but relevant to their futures as citizens and as people who work."

While the school is pleased with the recent Ofsted report which recognizes the progress made, they are aware that further improvements are needed and development of learning and play facilities are planned for the summer break.

"We believe that our school will rapidly become a good school and we are very pleased that the Ofsted and HMI report recognizes that the progress has already started."

Petition to Stop Prostitution in Manningham

By Rachel Gallacher

Bradford City Council are set to discuss a petition to stop prostituition in Manningham.

Lumb Lane was known as the 'Red Light District' area of Bradford for many years before sex workers moved on to Thornton Road.

But Manager of Sweet Centre, Mohammed Gulbahar, says that some of them are returning to the area and it's affecting his business:

''This has been a station for them for years, they moved and we didn't have any problems for over six years but now they're coming back again.

''They stand in front of the shop and it's not very pleasant when customers are coming in or walking past.

''We open at eight o'clock in the morning and we see a lot of them hanging around. It's not a nice thing for kids and families to see. We don't want that kind of thing around here.''

A group of people who live and work in the area, set up the petition in hope that enough signatures will lead to sex workers removed from Lumb Lane once and for all.

Mr Gulbahar says that he's seen parents of young children being put in to an awkward position: ''They ask their parents What's going on? What's this? Who is that? It just really isn't very pleasant for them either.''

This has been an ongoing problem for people living and working in the area and they just want it resolved.

The discussion at Bradford City Council is due to take place on Tuesday 9th July.

Shipley Stabbing Suspects Released

Four men have been released without charge in relation to the stabbing of nine-year-old Jason in the Carnegie skate park.

Murdered victim home -  Louisa Denby

The men who are aged 18, 24, 26 and 29, were released after being arrested for the attempted murder of young Jason.

A 26-year-old man who is a relative of the elderly women remains in custody after he was arrested for suspicion of murder of Louisa Denby and the attempted murder of a nine-year-old Jason.

Shipley Stabbing Update

By Jonnel Benjamin

84-year-old Louisa Denby was found dead in her home at Prospect Mount on Monday 1 July.

Murdered Louisa Denby

A relative of the elderly women remained in custody over night after he was arrested on suspicion of murder of Ms Denby and the attempted murder of a nine-year-old boy.

A second 26-year-old was arrested in connection with the murder of Louisa Denby while three men aged 18, 24 and 29 were arrested in connection with the stabbing in the skate park.

Police have now released the 24-year-old man without charge.

Within ten minutes of the stabbing of the young boy on Monday, an eight-year-old girl was also chased through her garden by a man matching a suspect's description.

The man reportedly fled when she ran screaming into her house on Prospect Grove, not far from the skate park. She was not hurt.

The young boy who was stabbed in the Carnegie Skate Park remains in a stable condition in hospital.

International Film Chiefs Attend Launch of New Bradford Film School

By Óné Chappy 

Leading figures from the UK and Indian film industry have launched an International film school at the heart of Bradford.

This new film training centre,  Bradford Whistling Woods International Film School, has been formed from a collaboration between Bradford College and Whistling Woods International Film School.

 Mumbai-based Whistling Woods International (WWI) Institute for Films, Animation and Media Arts is one of the world's ten best Film Schools.

Held at Bradford College, the high-profile red carpet event was attended by Bradford's award winning film and television producer Steve Abbot, the Lord Major Khadim Hussain and president of Whistling Woods International, Meghna Ghai-Puri, amongst its many guests.

VIP film school guests

 
Director of the film school, Trevor Griffiths said he believes that Bradford is an ideal location to have an international film school as the city is the world’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) City of Film.

This title bestows international recognition on Bradford as a world centre for film because of the city’s rich film heritage, its inspirational movie locations and its many celebrations of the moving image through the city’s annual film festivals.

Director Trevor Griffiths

Mr Griffiths said; "When I thought about opening a Film school here as part of Bradford College, it was to offer opportunity to people living in the north of England".

"Hopefully, it offers an opportunity and a resource for everyone in Bradford. It's not just for students who are coming to study film, it's about people who live in Bradford, live around Bradford, who want to access the facilities that we are building here".

This new partnership is expected to provide a unique learning opportunity for up and coming filmmakers to become part of ‘the best film school in the world.’
 
The WWI has a wealth of history and expertise in world film, and Photography has long been a key strength of Bradford College’s portfolio and benefits from its collaboration with the National Media Museum through its Fellowship programme.

Film Producer and the Chair of Bradford City of Film Steve Abbot said:" It's a wonderful affirmation as to why we are a world class city of film".

"I want Bradford to succeed and to overcome negative publicity and I am incredibly proud of being a Bradfordian, I am proud of being the Chair of City of Film and I am proud of being in anyway associated with this school", he said.

The Film School, which will also offer courses in animation and photography, opens in September this year and students will have the option to visit Whistling Woods International in Mumbai.

Arrests After Murder and Stabbing in Shipley

By Daniel Lynch, Edward Watson and Emma Wilkinson

A 26-year-old man is in police custody after a woman was found dead in her home and a schoolboy was stabbed in the chest.





The suspect is related to 84-year-old Louisa Denby, who was found in an upstairs bedroom of her home on Prospect Mount at around midnight having suffered multiple stab wounds.

The house where Louisa Denby was found last night

The boy, nine, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and was expected to undergo surgery this morning after being attacked in a skate park in the Windhill area of the town at around 4.40pm yesterday.

Police patrol the park in Shipley where a 9-year-old boy was stabbed

Police also revealed at a press conference, that within ten minutes of the stabbing of the young boy, an eight-year-old girl was also chased through her garden by a man matching the suspect's description.

The man reportedly fled when she ran screaming into her house on Prospect Grove, not far from the skate park. She was not hurt.

Four other men are also being questioned - a second 26-year-old has been arrested in connection with the murder of Louisa Denby while three men aged 18, 24 and 29 have been arrested in connection with the stabbing in the skate park. 

Police believe all three incidents are linked but are still appealing to the public for any further information.

But they don't believe the 9-year-old boy and the 84-year-old know each other or are related.

A local mum whose son is friends with the young boy, told BCB of her shock when she found out what had happened:

Commuters Braced for Saltaire's Summer Roadworks

By Jonnel Benjamin

Drivers commuting through Saltaire roundabout are being asked to be patient during major road works. The busy route will be disrupted for around six months as a result of work which will begin in the middle of July.

Shop owner Angels Walmsley: "Please don't stay away"

The new layout will see the notorious congested roundabout replaced by a junction managed by traffic lights between the A650 and A657.

The aim of the scheme is to improve the control of traffic flow and make it safer for pedestrians while creating a reduction in rat running.

Shop owners are worried this will have a devastating effect on their business. Butterfly Rooms owner Angela Walmsley said: "We don't want people to avoid the area, it the last thing we want.

"We understand that it's going to be a bit inconvenient for people but there is no point in having a brilliant road system if there are no shops along the way."

This scheme will work alongside other  highway projects currently being implemented in Nab Wood and Saltaire which include the extension of the bus lane back to Bankfield and giving buses priority signals.

Clarence Road and Albert Road will be closed off to traffic. When the work is completed there will be a new one way link between these roads.

Ms Walmsley said: "Its not so much about the actual impact of what they're actually doing, it's the impact whilst there actually doing it.

"I completely understand that we need a better road system and everybody gets that, anyone who has driven through Saltaire understands that. But because the road works are going on so long the impact that it's going to have on trade ....."

Ms Walmsley, who hopes that during this time people will not be discouraged to have days out, said: "Come to Saltaire, it's fine. It's going to be difficult, there is going to be traffic but don't let it put you off.

"Worse case scenario, get a train, get a bus, walk. It's a beautiful walk along the canal, there are plenty of ways to get here and it's a brilliant day out. There are tonnes of beautiful shops so don't let it stop you."

Many more of these to come ... setting up barriers at Saltaire roundabout today

Pro Supports Bradford Boxing Stars of the Future

by Daniel Lynch 

Bradford's next generation of boxers are set to be recognised this morning for their participation in a unique training scheme.

The 'Contender Am Box' programme teaches kids the disciplines of the sport as well as giving guidance on healthy eating and drug misuse.

Kkalil Alam with Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson and Tasif Khan

The initiative was started by Police Community Support Officer Khalil Alam and is supported by The Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, the Amateur Boxing Association of England, NHS and Bradford Council.

Around 100 children from four schools took part in non-contact boxing classes and received guidance on healthy eating, drug misuse and bullying issues.

PCSO Alam told BCB he's delighted to be able to provide a focus for children in the area he patrols.

"A lot of the children were saying to me that they have no particular interests and that they don't do any sports; they wanted something to do. The idea of this programme was to get them involved in some kind of sport at a very early age.

"I want them to have a positive role model, like Tasif Khan, to see how successful they are."

Super Bantamweight professional boxer Tasif Kahn will attend the award ceremony in his home town this morning to support the scheme and encourage the young boxers of the future.

He said, "It's important to engage the kids, especially at this age. This is the age I started and sport has kept me disciplined in my life and kept me away from trouble.

"I'm grateful and thankful that I can be seen as a role model to these children. [Having a role model] can turn your life around and put you on the right path. I can appreciate it more as I see the children progressing and if I can be a role model to anybody I'm more than happy to help. "

Certificates will be presented by West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson. 

Commissioner Burns-Williamson said schemes like this are an excellent way of engaging with people at an early age.

"It's a good experience for young children to have a role model like Khalil. They've had a lot of fun and I think it's a really positive project to be involved with."

Gun Shot Fired in Queensbury

Investigations are continuing into an incident in which a gun was fired at a house in Queensbury.

Police were called to Sharket Close following reports of a firearm being discharged just after 2am on Sunday.

Two men aged 31 and 23 have been arrested and remain in Police Custody.

Anyone with information about the incident are encouraged to call West Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers.

Bradford Muslims Addressed with Hard-Hitting Khutba

by Edward Watson



Muslims were told to tackle their problems head on during Friday prayers this lunch time.

Imam and Respect Councillor Alyas Karmani addressed around one hundred Muslims at Islam Bradford on Preston Street.

His Khutba - or Sermon - entitled Tackling Street Grooming in the UK - addressed issues including kidnapping, forcing young girls into drug habits and sexual abuse of both girls and boys.

It comes in response to cases in the news of sexual grooming in Derby, Rochdale, Telford, Oxford and West Yorkshire.

Abdul Nasir, who attended the Khutba, told BCB News: "These problems are affecting our community and people need to be made aware.

"It's not just Muslims that need to be aware of this phenomenon - it's a problem for all of humanity that we should be tackling together."

Mr Nasir suggested that many of the people involved in these crimes don't attend the Mosques and that the issue needs to be tackled in the wider community.

He continued: "These people don't come to the Mosques or anywhere near the Khutba.

"Really we need to be speaking to the police and social services who have everyday access to the councillors and we need to try to get our message across to them."

Vintage Railway Plans Expansion

By Daniel Lynch

A vintage railway route in West Yorkshire could be set for a £750,000 makeover.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway bosses have discussed potential plans to expand facilities at the tourist attraction.

The tourist route which has been running trains for over 40 years welcomes over 210 000 visitor per year.

Chairman of the railway Dr Matthew Stroh says if the scheme goes ahead, there will be plenty of new things to see.

"A key part of the plan is to extend our engine shed at Haworth Station, so we can add a bit that visitors can come and have a look around at the engines that aren't working at the moment", he said. 

Increasing the number of locomotive sheds is a bid to draw more visitors in to sample the old-fashioned railway experience.

"The other key attration will be at Haworth station, where currently, it is great catching the train to Haworth village, but you can't see around our locomotives.

"And what I really want to do is to give them something to see, so they can see what it is like to look after these engines and learn about the engineering that goes into looking after them", he said.
 
The line which first opened in 1867 was famous for transporting coal to West Yorkshire's industries before it closed in 1962.

It reopened again to passengers in 1968 following the efforts of local enthusiasts who's preservation society and volunteer work breathed new life into the route.

Popular spots on the line include Oakworth, where the Railway Children movie was filmed, and Haworth which was home to the Bronte family.

A new cafe, improvement to the Haworth, Oxenhope and Keighley stations and refurbishment to the on-sight museum are just some of the few facilities which could benefit from the scheme.

Born In Bradford Conference Underway at National Media Museum

By Daniel Lynch

The fourth annual Born In Bradford conference began this morning at the city's National Media Museum. 

The project began in March 2007 and the medial progress of 13,500 babies born in Bradford Royal Infirmary between then and December 2010 has been tracked by researchers.

It is hoped that the study will shed light on why some children may become ill and even die while others go on to live long and healthy lives.

Opening the conference Dr. John Wright, who's in charge of the research, addressed several hundred professionals from fields of medicine and academia.

"Born in Bradford unites us around the common interest of a healthier future. We have hundreds of researchers world wide. In a sense this is one of the world's first crowd sourcing medical research projects."

Professor of Clinical Epideniology at the University of Southampton David Barker followed to discuss the impact of a pregnant woman's diet on her unborn child. He said the first 30, including those before birth, are crucial to a child's development.

"The nutrition we get in the womb alters our genetic make up for life. Get it right for the first 1000 days from conception - there is no second chance."

By studying the Bradford children, researchers hope to develop preventative treatments for conditions from Coronary Heart Disease and diabetes to asthma. Professor Barker said that these ailments aren't genetic but are often provoked by the diet of an expectant mother, or indeed her mother.

He said that this research can do "hugely beneficial things for a generation by focussing on childhood" and by ensuring the health of this group of children we can ensure the health of future generations."

Dr. John Wright says Bradford is the ideal location for a study of this kind as it "represents a contemporary, multi-ethnic, British population".

Bradford Ice Arena Plans Facelift

By Daniel Lynch

Plans to update facilities at the Bradford Ice Arena have been discussed with council leader David Green.

Arena Director, Krystyna Rogers says that although it's not clear how much help the council can provide, changes are needed for the ice rink to remain operational.

Just four years ago, £400,000 was spent on a new freezing plant, updating the model which was still in use since the rink's opening in 1961. In addition, Miss Rogers believes a new sign and better signposting on the city's roads could significantly boost interest in the rink.

"We can't do any more than we're already doing but the maintenance costs are horrendous. The income costs only allow us to make sure we survive."

Miss Rogers first took over the arena in 1991 shortly after original owners closed it and in 1995 her new company became a charitable organisation, Ice Time Limited, to ensure the rink's future.

Last month Miss Rogers was named Woman of Achievement in Business at the Sue Ryder Yorkshire Women of Achievement Awards and she believes her success has helped raise the profile of her campaign.

"Since I received the award there has been a little bit more attention on the ice rink and I was hoping that that would give me a stronger voice to highlight how important it is to the city of Bradford and the surrounding area."

Since the development of City Park, the campaign to save the National Media Museum and the council's bid to modernise the city centre with free WiFi, Miss Rogers says the rink has become an eyesore and a redesign would benefit the whole area.

"The square looks lovely, the Odeon is going to be redone and the National Media Museum is there. But as soon as you go up the hill it doesn't look so good. Making us look better would complete the regeneration of the city centre."

Watch BCB's Daniel Lynch try his hand at some ice-skating.