Man defeats the odds and walks again

 

A Bradford man who could hardly walk a year ago has been given an award today for his remarkable transformation.

Chris Nelson, 45, managed to shed 10 stone and turn his life around thanks to staff at Eccleshill Pool.

After being told he would probably spend the rest of his life using a wheelchair, Chris is now training for the Bradford 10K and the Bradford Skyride.

Chris suffers from chronic back pain and has undergone spinal surgery which forced him to give up his job as a lorry driver.

But in March last year his GP referred him to an exercise programme at Eccleshill Pool and today he is thanking staff there for helping him get his life back.

Today he was presented with a Bradford Council B Active award for his outstanding achievements which he hopes will encourage others to be more physically active.

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did manage to rid the sex workers from the area but Mr Khan believes that as soon as the heavy police presence was withdrawn, 'the problem came back again.'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