UKIP Bradford calls for a vote on Odeon plans

Had a Letter published in the T&A regarding the Odeon and promoting UKIPs policy of local referenda....

Let the public decide

8:16am Friday 21st August 2009

SIR – Regarding the on-going saga and controversy of the Odeon, I think it’s time that a line is drawn under it and something actually achieved.
With all the information and accusations thrown around regarding the Odeon, why not give the decision to the people of Bradford? The Council will then have the authority to act – and act quickly!

There should be a Bradford-wide referendum of maybe three or four options with clear information regarding costs and intentions available prior to this, so we can all vote on which option we prefer.

One of the options must include refurbishment of the Odeon, even if it would be the most costly.
UKIP called for this, which the T&A reported on September 4, 2007, and it should be fully-backed. Why not let the public decide? Then the Council could actually get on with some “regeneration” for a change, with popular approval.

Public Meeting on Regeneration

"Bradford Civic Society wants residents to become more involved in the regeneration of Bradford city centre.
It wants to hear people’s views on what is good, what is not so good and what they would like to see in the future in terms of regeneration." - T&A

Looks like we'll get a chance to get our two-peneth in with the Civic society at an open meeting.

The event is called "The Regeneration of Bradford City Centre"
at the Impressions Gallery
Centenary Square
Bradford

between noon and 4pm on Saturday, March 21.

Make sure you get there and voice your concerns over the number of craters in the city and the poor odeon!

UKIP Called for sacking of regeneration boss - Yorkshire Post Article

UKIP Called for a local vote on plans for the odeon - T&A Article

Forgotten Queensbury?

City Hall Ok'd Tesco, but the Bradford South Area committee said no.

The main issues were the possible traffic problem, the creation of jobs, proximity to other super markets, keeping the village feel to Queensbury, possible impact to the enivronment.

While i broadly agree with not letting Tesco in, I think it should be with conditions.

I really think calling Queensbury a "thriving village" is quite a way off the mark, and allowing the monopoly of the pricey and rundown co-op to continue just isnt acceptable. Also the services in the village are not of a good enough standard at all.

What we need is a regeneration plan. Councillors are happy to throw hundreds of millions into failing city centre projects, while forgetting the wards and villages they are meant to represent. I think it's time we had some of our hard earned money back.

T&A report: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3982453.Queensbury_Tesco_store_plans_rejected/

The Broadway Crater

Why do we still have a massive hole in the middle of the city?

There still dosn't seem to be a date that we can expect to see the grand plan come good.
The Westfield development site are still trying to contact businesses in the hope they will jump on board, but as we move into a recession, this maybe rather difficult. How many years have they had with which to get these comittments?

Also there are serious hints at staff cutts, again thanks to the recession. The T&A reported an industrial magazine; "The magazine said it “understood” Westfield had put back the start date of three UK schemes, including the £320m Bradford development"

Even if it's not true, it's still bad news for Bradford and not exactley inspiring confidence in the project.

The Tory council have messed this entire project up from the begining, it's cost 100's of millions, an eyesore and a waste of our taxes, with no discernable progress for years.

The fiasco continues.........

T&A Report http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3976733.Broadway__delay__rumours_denied/