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did manage to rid the sex workers from the area but Mr Khan believes that as soon as the heavy police presence was withdrawn, 'the problem came back again.'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

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.