Akbars To Buy The Bulls?

Bradford based restaurant chain Akbars have confirmed to BCB News that they are involved in talks to buy the Bulls.

Speculation has been rife as to who could potentially take over the club, and we can now exclusively reveal the restaurant chain are very much in the picture.

Akbars Restaurant in Bradford

The troubled super league giants have until 5pm today to finalise any potential deal to save themselves from liquidation and extinction.

BCB's Josh Stead spoke to Akbars Corporate Manager Dill Butt about the takeover talks...

listen to ‘Corporate Manager of Akbars Restaurants Dill Butt’ on Audioboo

Meanwhile, the Rugby Football League have said that even if the club finds a buyer, it doesn't necessarily mean its troubles are over.



The Bulls Stadium in Odsal



Sanctions are likely to be imposed by the league, and any takeover will depend on factors such as the buyer taking ownership of the stadium and paying off the clubs debts.

Even if the club is rescued today, it will be the first step on a long road to recovery.

Monarch Airlines Announce New Flights From Leeds Bradford Airport

Monarch Airlines have announced a multi-million pound partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport. This will make our airport the sixth UK base and create 200 jobs in the area.

Twelve new routes have been announced, and Monarch will now fly to Turkey, Italy, Cyprus and Portugal. Flights will start from Summer 2013 and also aims to promote inbound visitors to the region.

Monarch MD Kevin George and Leeds Bradford Airport Chief Executive John Parkin

BCB's Josh Stead Spoke to Monarch Managing Director Kevin George and Leeds Bradford Airport Chief Executive John Parkin about the announcement...

listen to ‘John Parkin, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Managing Director of Monarch Airlines Kevin George’ on Audioboo

Bulls 'Last Match'

If this is to be the Bradford Bulls last ever game, it certainly was the way to go out.

The Bulls secured a resounding 44-12 win over the Super League's bottom side the London Broncos. The victory moves the Yorkshiremen up to sixth in the table, but thoughts of the play-offs will be the last thing on the minds of everyone connected with the club this week.

The reality of the situation is that if no investor is found by tomorrow to provide the £600,000 needed to remove the clubs debts, the administrators begin the liquidation of the clubs assets and the existance of the Bradford Bulls is no longer.

Focusing on the match itself, the Bulls were far superior to their London rivals. Brett Kearney was the hero of the match, scoring four tries, on what was a comfortable afternoon, at least on the pitch.


The Full-Back spoke with BCB News' Tom Simkins after the match.

listen to ‘Brett Kearney Bulls’ on Audioboo

The Great Yorkshire Show

The current adverse weather could have an affect this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

The event is one of the top attractions in the UK's agricultural calendar and is set to commence next Tuesday. It has been running since 1837 and features the best that Britian's agricultural industry has to offer.

Chief Executive of the Yorkshire agricultural society Nigel Pulling spoke to BCB's Josh Stead about their weather concerns...

listen to ‘Nigel Pulling’ on Audioboo

Milk Cuts

Hundreds of farmers are vowing to take action against cuts threatening their industry.

It follows an announcement from three major milk processors that they will pay less to farmers for their produce from the 1st August.

It's estimated this could lead to an average drop in revenue of 50 thousand pounds every year.

Bradford Dairy Farmer Steven Coats spoke to BCB's Josh Stead about his concerns over the issue...

listen to ‘Stephen Coats Milk’ on Audioboo

Heart Surgeries

Criticism has continued this afternoon of the decision to close the only Children's Heart Surgery ward in Yorkshire.

Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey has today criticised the decision taken to close the Children's Heart Surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

This comes after an NHS review carried out by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts felt expertise was being spread out too thinly across the 10 sites. Alongside the closure of the unit at the LGI, is the shutting of ones at Royal Brompton in Chelsea and Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

Earlier on today we heard from Mother's in Bradford as to how they felt about the closing of the only Heart Surgery for Children in the whole of Yorkshire. The reaction they gave to us was unanimous and dismayed that this could make the difference between whether a child survives or not.

BCB's Tom Simkins Spoke with MP Stuart Andrew a little earlier this afternoon.

listen to ‘Children's Heart Decision’ on Audioboo

West Yorkshire Police to lose over 800 officers by 2015

A report issued by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has found that West Yorkshire Police will have to cut a total of 810 police officer posts by March 2015, to cope with government budget cuts. The force needs to save £103 million in the same period.

The HMIC report was to assess the force's progress in achieving savings in the comprehensive spending review period, it found that by the spring of this year they had planned how to save 95% of the required amount. The force has already reduced it's police officer numbers by 562.

However, despite the number of posts being reduced, the proportion of police officers working on the front line is expected to rise from 87% to 94%, which will be one of the highest percentages in the country.

The report also found that crime rates in West Yorkshire are decreasing, but at a slower rate than across England and Wales as a whole. The force is working to close the gap in crime performance between itself and other forces.

85% of victims in West Yorkshire were satisfied with the service they received from West Yorkshire Police, which is a higher proportion than the average for England and Wales.

West Yorkshire's Deputy Chief Constable John Parkinson paid tribute to the efforts of officers and staff to sustain performance.

"Frontline services in West Yorkshire are being protected as far as possible by making more of the cuts in back-office functions. West Yorkshire Police has one of the highest proportions of its staff dedicated to the frontline and we intend to maintain that position," said DCC John Parkinson.

Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson is Chair of the West Yorkshire Police Authority. BCB's Edward Breslin got his reaction to the HMIC report...

listen to ‘Cllr Mark Burns-Williamson’ on Audioboo

West Yorkshire Children's Heart Surgery

West Yorkshire parents have vowed to continue their fight to save the childrens heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

A review concluded last night to close the unit, forcing patients to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool to receive vital treatment. NHS bosses say care concentrated in larger, fewer sites will improve standards.

Bradford mother Shelly Turpin's son Joshua is a regular at the heart unit, and spoke to BCB's Josh Stead about her feelings towards the decision...

listen to ‘Shelly Turpin on LGI Heart Unit’ on Audioboo

Skills For Work

Bradford Chamber of Commerce are calling for schools to do more to prepare kids for the working world.


They feel our schools are not properly equipping children with the skills to make the transition into work.

BCB's Josh Stead spoke to Vice Chairman of Bradford's Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Rex and Proctor Paul Mackie about the situation...

listen to ‘Paul Mackie ’ on Audioboo

BRADFORD ATTRACTION COULD RECIEVE 3.3 MILLION FACE-LIFT

BRADFORD ATTRACTION COULD RECEIVE 3.3 MILLION FACE-LIFT

 

One of Keighley's most popular tourist attractions could soon get a 3.3 million pound rejuvenation.

Bradford council hope a Heritage Lottery Fund grant will bring Cliffe Castle on Skipton road back to it's former glory.

The 150 year old museum was originally the mansion of local Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield.

The council hope that if the application is successful the family friendly site can gain a new lease of life and attract more visitors to the area.

BCB News spoke to Special Projects Manager Dick Webb, who says the money will be put to good use if granted.

He told us the gardens will be restored to their original Victorian splendour along with water features and a new children's play area and cafe will also be up-dated.

To listen to Dick Webb's full interview with BCB's Tom Simkins listen here:

listen to ‘BCB News speaks to Dick Webb ’ on Audioboo