Letters to the Editor

We were contracted to produce the Lord Mayor's Parade, Street Arts programme and the Bradford Mela. This we did in the exceptionally short time scale of five months through the dedication and commitment of a hard-working team supported by literally hundreds of other people.

We are exceptionally proud of our programme which has won widespread involvement from local community groups and schools, while the Secret Bradford Tours expanded the basis of festival throughout the district.

The additional programme elements such as the multi-faith open day, and the open-house exhibitions succeeded in promoting and celebrating the cultural diversity and talent present within Bradford.

The festival has generated many positive comments, both from the local community, regular Mela goers and the police. Attendance figures for the festival in excess of 200,000 speak for themselves.

The Bradford International Festival is committed to developing the festival through continued liaison with the local community. We always listen to critical comment, and hope that with the continued support and belief of the people of Bradford, the festival will grow to be the jewel in the crown of the city's culture bid.

Neil Butler and Robin Morley, Festival Director and Festival Producer on behalf of the Festival team (info@bethere2002.com).

SIR - I understand from your Letters page that Bradford has recently had a festival.

I have lived in the Bradford area for 20 years and in past years have been a staunch supporter of the festival - great events, good participation and a genuine community spirit.

For the first time in many years there was no obvious publicity or programme of events, apart from an obscure website which bore no relation to Bradford Festival.

I understand that this year's organisers were imported to the city following disagreements with the "locals" who seemed to have done an excellent job in previous years.

If the recent poorly publicised and attended events is indicative of our (questionable) bid for Capital of Culture status, then we may as well pack up now and not waste any more money.

Rob Watkins, Leyburn Grove, Bingley.

SIR - I noted with interested that the organisers of this year's festival proclaim it a great success. I can only assume that this was a different festival to the one I witnessed.

On the opening day in Centenary Square the lack of facilities was laughable. In previous years there has not only been a wonderful selection of food and drink but also tables and chairs at which to sit and enjoy the performances. This year there were no chairs, the food consisted of two burger stalls and where once there was a beer tent this time we had something that looked like it had just driven in from a lay-by in the mid west.

The rest of the week continued in the same vein, just minus any food whatsoever. At the Mela, right, there was no children's area, no lost children's tent, a distinct lack of stalls and toilets situated hundreds of yards from the playground - not to mention the street hoarding that advertised the event without saying where it was.

I cannot believe that Bradford Council replaced the former festival workers with this group. Never mind Capital of Culture - Capital of Calamities would be more appropriate.

P Chapman, Blenheim Road, Manningham, Bradford.

SIR - The director of UZ, the private company that ran this year's Bradford Festival, claims that they "decided that we would have quality". I would like to ask him to name the "quality" items his company brought to the festival other than Abrar ul-Haq.

They inherited the Lord Mayor's parade and the street theatre, and the latter was poor this year. I also find his claim that "all ideas and suggestions would be heard" somewhat dubious.

During last year's festival I was involved with an event that got a large amount of media coverage. The then festival organisers could not have done more for us.

This year I tried to talk to someone from the new festival company for months about a similar show I was producing. They were among the rudest and least helpful people I have ever tried to do business with, and I ended up putting "Bradford Festival Fringe" on the posters.

When will we, the Council Tax payers of Bradford, see the accounts relating to the festival? I want to know what it has cost us. I don't want to have to end up paying for another Transperience.

Glyn Watkins, Hampden Place, Bradford 5.

SIR - What a disappointment! We went to the Mela expecting the usual variety of stalls run by voluntary groups selling anything from eggs to elephants.

This year there seemed to be more toilets than stalls. The choice of food was poor, commercially produced and at busy times there were long queues.

There seemed to be nothing particularly Bradford about this Mela; it could have been just the same in any other city.

In the past the Mela has reflected the vibrant, multicultural city that we are. We hope it will return to this role in the future.

Mollie Somerville, Heather Grinter (Members of Girlington, Heaton and Manningham Council of Churches Community Relations Group), Heaton Park Drive, Bradford 9.

SIR - As a council tax payer I have put money into the Bradford community and feel I get nothing out of it, especially with the on-going situation at Bradford Bulls.

The Bulls team do not only play rugby but are part of the whole Bradford community by visiting schools and inviting schools to Odsal.

Bradford Bulls community development programme covers topics such as education, health and fitness and sporting awareness. This has been running for seven years.

The whole of my family are season ticket holders, with ages ranging from six to 70, and all we want as fans is a stadium like the JJB to watch a class team. There is no need for supermarkets and hotels to be built at Odsal.

Bradford Council, you have messed us about for the last 13 years. If you don't get your finger out now there will be no Bradford Bulls in Bradford - and they are the best thing about the place.

Pauline Jennings, Raeburn Drive, Wibsey

SIR - The actions which the Council Chief Executive is proposing concerning Odsal Stadium stink of what in the 1960s was known as Rachmanism.

A landlord allows a property to deteriorate so much that it becomes entirely uninhabitable by the sitting tenant to the extent that they eventually leave and give up the lease. The landlord then sells the derelict property to a developer.

The City of Manchester has turned a derelict area into a stadium for the Commonwealth Games which subsequently will become a new home for Manchester City FC.

In 13 years the City of Bradford has turned a sports stadium which had potential and which was a home for the World Club Champions into a derelict area.

C.A.Sanders, Southway, Guiseley.

SIR - I was disgusted to hear what options the Council has given the Bulls for Odsal Stadium.

It seems that they are all too happy to give civic receptions and boast that they are SuperLeague and World Club champions but when it comes to the crunch the Council doesn't come up with the goods.

Their options simply do not make good business sense and seem to be pushing the club into a corner that they cannot get out of.

I'm ashamed to say I live in Bradford - a place where a great sporting team is not appreciated.

Vicky Woodcock, Oakenshaw Court, Wyke

SIR - Apart from the Bulls, what has this city got to shout about? It is on its knees as far as image is concerned. Sports stadia and the teams that use them are crucial to a city or town's inner fabric. Great facilities for all and jobs to boot: Odsal could have been this!

It's a shame we can't aspire to this as they can in places like Hull, Wigan and Huddersfield.

Phil Smith, Moorfield Drive, Baildon