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.

Why Did the Chicken Cross ... Toller Lane ?

by Emma Wilkinson

The joke ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ was given an entirely new meaning in Bradford this morning, but this was no ‘yoke’.

Commuters’ schedules were scrambled due to poultry blocking Toller Lane, just outside the city centre.

During morning rush hour, three chickens clucked around the middle of the road, holding up traffic and bus services before police officers arrived to deal with the issue.

First Bus station manager Sam Jack believes the chickens belonged to a local man and had somehow escaped on to the busy road.

He said: “It’s very unusual, I’ve been working here thirty years and I’ve never come across it

“People on the 620 bus were just laughing. They were very understanding though, we’re a nation of animal lovers, none of us want to endanger any kind of living species, including chickens”, he added.

It’s thought the birds were returned home safely and the 620 bus service was only delayed for around eight minutes.

But Sam Jack said he’s not EGGspecting a similar situation to arise in the future.



Bradford's City Park Wins Top Planning Award

By Daniel Lynch  

City Park has beaten off competition from six other finalists in the Yorkshire region to win first prize in the Royal Town Planning Institute's Yorkshire Region Planning Excellence Awards.

It's the eighth award for the city centre space since the £24.5 million project was opened just over a year ago.

The award will be presented to planning officers John Eyles and Stewart Currie ar the RTPI Conference in Leeds today.

City Park is home to the UK's largest man-made city centre water feature comprising over 100 fountains and a 4,000 square metre mirror pool, as well as a recent update of free Wi-Fi internet access.

Coun Val Slater, Bradford Council's executive member for planning said: "I'm delighted City Park has won this award and that the quality of the professional work of our town planners has been recognised.

Blaze at Shipley Scrapyard

Firefighters were today called out to tackle a fierce blaze at a Shipley scrapyard.

Several cars were involved in the fire at Shipley Autospares on Leeds Road and twenty officers from four different stations were needed to put it out.

The cause is now being investigated.

Bradford's Centenary Square Sings for Peace

By Edward Watson


Hundreds of school kids gathered in Centenary Square over lunchtime to celebrate peace and community in Bradford.

The highlight of the Big Sing for Peace saw pupils from Thornton Grammar School collaborate with musician Roger Davies.

They performed the final three songs to kids from a host of Bradford schools who enjoyed over an hour of music as a grand finale to three months of the Routes for Peace season.

The project has run since March aiming to bring Bradford communities closer together and tried to celebrate its heritage and future.

The Head of the Peace Museum, Diane Hadwen, helped organise the Big Sing for Peace. She felt that even though it's only in it's first year the Routes for Peace season has had positive effects.

She said: "It's brought together people from lots of different backgrounds and with lots of different interests and it's recognised the fact there's loads of good work going on in Bradford.

"The impacts it's had is bringing organisations and community groups together.

"Instead of them doing things in isolation everybody knows what everyone else is doing and there's been a great sharing of good practice."

Mr Davies co-wrote the song 'City of Dreams' with the Thornton Grammar Schools pupils. He said: "It's a song written from the point of view of the pupils.

"I put myself in their shoes and they told me all about what life was like for them and we just wrote it like that.

"It's a celebration of what it's like to be young with a positive outlook and feeling good about who you are, where you come from and what you want to do with your life.

"And that all happens in this city of dreams of course - Bradford."

Bradford Success in Building Excellence Awards

by Óné Chappy
  
 

Hill End Lane, Harden

 

 

Four building schemes in Bradford have been short-listed for the national finals of the Building Excellence Awards.

 

Bradford Council put forward ten schemes from around the district, which has resulted in four outright winners in their building categories at the recent regional finals held at Headingley Stadium.

 

The award celebrates some of the best examples of building quality across West Yorkshire. 

 

Bradford entry winners include;17 Ladderbanks Lane in Baildon, 128 plots by Harron Homes at Hazelhurst Quarry Long Lane, Queensbury, Hill End Farm Hill and the Sustainable Enterprise Centre at Bradford University. 

   

The winning buildings are judged on the building's standards, their technical innovation and sustainable designs.

 

Projects submitted for the award range from domestic extensions to commercial developments. 

 

Bradford Council's Executive Member for  Housing, Planning and Transport, Val Slater said: "We are pleased to be so well represented in these prestigious awards. It is good to hear that such excellent workmanship is being carried out in our district, resulting in schemes to be proud of."

 

The Buildings Excellence Awards co-hosted by the five West Yorkshire local authorities - Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, were launched nine years ago.

 

They are the only regional awards of their kind to cover all forms of construction.

 

The regional event raised £2,374.81 for the nominated charity which was the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 

The national finals take place in London in the autumn. 

 

 

 Click below for more photographs of Bradford entry winners

Bradford Council Fined Over Cherrypicker Fall

by Emma Wilkinson

Bradford Council has been fined £12,000 and ordered to pay nearly £10,000 in costs after admitting serious safety breaches that could have resulted in the death of an employee.

Bradford Magistrates heard the 23-year-old worker from Bingley was pruning branches at a height of some 35 feet when the cherry picker overturned, sending him crashing to the ground.

The man suffered multiple injuries including fractures to his spine, collar bone, pelvis and right leg, plus internal injuries that needed surgery.

The incident happened in July last year and left the man out of work for more than five months. Although he has since returned, he is no longer able to carry out tree work at height.

Investigations were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Bradford Council after identifying a series of failings involving the planning and preparation of the work.

The court was told two tree workers set up the cherry picker correctly on a compacted path in the woods and one of them was working in the extended cradle among the tree tops. As he rotated the boom arm and cradle to move from tree to tree, the weight distribution of the machine changed and the cherry picker overturned.

The HSE investigation found the wrong type of ground mats had been provided to the team to put underneath the machine’s feet. The unbalanced machine then toppled without warning.

Keighley Man Rescued by Neighbour

A Keighley man has been rescued from a fire in his flat by a neighbour.

Emergency services were called to the flat on Greenfield Court at around 10 o clock last night.

The man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

It's thought the fire was caused by a kitchen appliance.

“Bankers Have Messed Up” – Bradford Author on Currency Scandal

by Emma Wilkinson

Bradford-based writer, artist and tattooist, Dr Joolz Denby branded the Bank of England “pathetic” and “stupid” in reference to the on-going saga about female figures appearing on currency.

In April the central bank announced that the face of prison reformer Elizabeth Fry would be replaced by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill on £5 notes, leaving The Queen as the only female face to grace bank notes.

But today the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King diffused criticisms of the decision, saying author Jane Austen is "quietly waiting in the wings" to be the face of the new £10 note.

But equality activist Dr Denby said: “The fact that they’ve had Jane Austen ‘in the wings’ shows they had some idea that everyone might complain about the lack of women and they simply had her as a contingency plan. It’s pathetic, if they wanted Jane Austen, why not put her on straight away, rather than replace the only female face with Winston Churchill?”

The initial suggestion that historical female figures may disappear from bank notes completely, prompted demands from feminist campaigners to know how the bank came to its decision and a group of 46 MPs and peers wrote to the bank asking them to reconsider.

The current selection criteria for anyone appearing on a bank note are that the person should be 'uncontroversial', easily recognisable, have made an enduring contribution to society and good artwork must exist on which a design can be based.

Dr Denby said the issue goes much further than women not being represented on bank notes though, suggesting that education on historical female figures is seriously lacking.

“Iconic male figures are very well-known but respected women in history are not sufficiently taught about in schools. A lot of young people would have no idea who Elizabeth Fry is and that is a real problem,” she said.

The final decision on whether Jane Austen will be recognised on future bank notes will be in the hands of Sir King’s successor, Mark Carney, who takes over the role on 1 July.

Dr Denby said although she would personally like to see the Celtic Queen Boudica grace the front of a bank note, she recognises Jane Austen would be a popular choice.

She said: “People love Jane Austen and regard her writing as iconic English writing and for those many women who admire her, I think it would be the right choice.”

Bradford Campaigners Hail 'Amazing' Cancer Treatment

By Daniel Lynch & Emma Wilkinson

A West Yorkshire woman who had both breasts removed because she was at high risk of developing cancer has told BCB that a new treatment is an "amazing" development. 

A new drug, which could the reduce risk of developing breast cancer by up to forty per cent, has been recommended to be made available on the NHS by medical watchdog NICE.

Women who test positive for a gene which increases the risk of breast cancer will be given the treatment which over five years could significantly reduce their chances of developing the disease.

It provides an alternative to women who, if diagnosed, faced the prospect of a mastectomy as the only meaningful preventative measure.

Tracey Barraclough had both her breasts, her ovaries and womb removed when she was found to be at high risk. Both her mother and grandmother died of ovarian cancer and Tracey had the same gene which causes the disease.

Tracey said: "It's really important to have options. None of my family did, it was too late for all of them. To have options is vital mentally and emotionally."

She believes the new treatment could be important to lots of Bradford women:

Bradford Shotgun Incidents May Be Linked - Police

Police aren't ruling out a link between two shooting incidents in Bradford which occured within twenty four hours of each other.

On both occasions a shotgun was discharged, the first at a flat and the second at a pub in the Otley Road area.

Due to the proximity and timing of the shootings police say they are investigating the possibility that they are linked.

A shotgun was fired in the flat on Brookefield Road damaging a window on Saturday. The second shots were fired on Sunday evening at the Peel Park Pub where a shotgun was discharged into the ceiling before the shooter escaped in a silver car.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.