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.

Residents Kick Up Stink Over Waste Processing Plant

By Daniel Lynch and Emma Wilkinson

Residents of Frizinghall say they are at the end of their tether because of the smell from a nearby waste processing plant.




According to people living near the plant, it's original purpose was for the processing of skip waste, but around two years ago black bin waste began to arrive at the facility on Canal Road.

Residents say when they complained of the smell to Environmental Health Agency, efforts were made to enclose the rubbish in an air-conditioned building. It was promised that this would contain the smell which was particularly putrid on warmer days.

Despite the assurances, protestors submitted a petition to Bradford City Council to block the plans for the building enclosure with homeowners saying the facility was too close to a residential area.

Phil Goode, who lives near the plant, told BCB: "You can't go out in your own garden because of the sour smell of rotting rubbish. That site stinks every day."

"The air conditioning unit doesn't seem to have had any affect at all. On warm days they have to have the doors open which makes the roof useless because the smell just gets out."

He also says the rubbish poses a health issue for residents and schools near the plant.

Business Development Director for the plant, Tim Shapcot, said the company are working to ease the problem.

"Our job as a reputable waste management company is to ensure that we are maintaining the amenity as part of our planning permission and our waste management license."

Mr. Shapcot said the roof has made a difference, contrary to what residents say, and that more is being done to control the odour.

"The roof has actually contained the smells. We do have some issues with airflow in the building and that's what we're currently working on. I'm fairly confident that in the next two weeks or so that a lot of those problems will be eradicated."

Bradford Pub Cordoned Off After Shotgun Fired

 

A Bradford pub remains cordoned off this lunchtime after an incident involving a firearm.

A masked man is believed to have fired a shotgun into the ceiling at the Peel Park pub on Otley Road, last night, before fleeing the scene in a silver car.

No one was injured but Police are appealling for anyone who was in the pub at the time,
or anyone who saw a car speeding off down Barkerend Road, to come forward.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(Photo: Emma Wilkinson)

West End Stars of the future Perform at Bradford Alhambra

by Rachel Gallacher

West Yorkshire stage and musical theatre stars of the future will be performing at Bradford Alhambra tomorrow.

Leeds based College SLP, are rehearsing for their show 'West End to Broadway' which has been choreographed by some of the biggest names in the business.

Eddy Cox a star of Chicago, Nick Winston who choreographed Loserville and Saturday Night Fever's Rosy Thompson are just some of the names involved in the creativity.

BCB reporter Daniel Lynch spoke to Head of Dance Kirsty Sparks who said that the show has something for everyone: ''We've got big Broadway musicals like Annie, commercial work, Sondheim and amazing Broadway tap numbers.''

Miss Sparks also told us how important it is for the students to get experience like this before graduating:






Some of the third year students have already secured employment for when they graduate next month, Morgan Jackson will be joining the UK tour of Stanley Donen's ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' and Sam Murphy has been signed with a London Agency.

Police Search for Missing Bingley Schoolgirl

By Edward Watson



Police are appealing for information to help find a missing schoolgirl.

13-year-old Morwena Evans was last seen behind Windhill Church of England Primary School in Shipley when she left her friends on Thursday evening.

She attends Beckfoot School in Bingley.

Anyone with information should call West Yorkshire Police via 101.

World Curry Festival kicks off in Bradford

By Daniel Lynch

Bradford's City Park will be taken over for the next three days by the World Curry Festival.

Restaurants from all over Yorkshire will be exhibiting a selection of their menus while the stage will host musicians from the city,

Traditional foods from Jamaica, Kashmir, India, Pakistan and Malaysia among others will be available to sample.

St Leonard's Farm Celebrates One Millionth Visitor

by Sallie Gregson

St. Leonard's farm in Esholt is celebrating huge milestone.

The millionth visitor passed through the gates at the popular children’s farm, in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, this month.

Farmer James Wainhouse and his wife Denise were thrilled to have reached such a huge number of guests.

Our reporter Sallie Gregson visited the attraction: