Bid to halt invasion of betting shops in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bid to halt invasion of betting shops in Bradford
7:00am Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
Bradford Council is looking to take direct action to stop parts of the city centre becoming overrun by betting shops after further concerns were sparked by the opening of another bookmakers in Bradford.
There are now ten bookies operating in the city, as well as eight amusement centres and two casinos.
The latest William Hill branch, which has opened on Bank Street within a short walk of its existing bookmakers, has attracted criticism, amid claims Bradford Council was powerless to do anything about it.
The new Bank Street branch means there are five bookies in quick succession, and the move has come under fire from both traders groups and Council bosses.
Councillor David Green, leader of the Council, admitted they were unable to stop William Hill opening up its latest branch in Bradford as the premises had previously been used by a financial services company which, under planning rules, is in the same category of use.
He said the Council was looking at ways in which it could maintain a good retail mix.
“What we have got to try and do is not just simply rely on planning, but intervene directly in the future development of our city and town centres so that we can ensure a greater retail mix,” he said.
“We will be coming forward with some ideas about how we can implement this shortly.
“Over the years we have been in a position in the district where the Council’s ability to influence our high street has been limited. We need to look at a more proactive way to improve the offer and to encourage employment and entrepreneurship.”
The authority introduced rules relating to Council-owned retail property last year, allowing a potential tenant to be rejected if it would result in a concentration of a particular type of shop in one area, such as a bookmakers, takeaways or pawnbrokers.
Both Coun Green and Bradford Chamber of Trade have welcomed calls for new rules which would give betting shops their own classification under planning rules. This would lead to more change of use applications and therefore more opportunity for a local authority to step in. The Local Government Association, Mary Portas’s high street review and a Private Members’ Bill are all calling for the same rule change.
Val Summerscales, of the Chamber, was critical of the move by William Hill. She said: “This is one of the greatest concerns that we have as an organisation, that properties used by financial services don’t need to go back to anybody to apply to change into a bookies.
“We are looking to the Government to amend the laws to bring this kind of thing to a close. There was a private members bill last year, but it appears to have stalled.
“It would have allowed the local authority to place a cap and say we have sufficient bookies, and that would be enough to turn an application down. It would have also created a separate use class, which would mean a change of use application would be needed, meaning more opportunities for us and the local authority to have our say. Unless this is changed, any premises which have been used as banks and financial services could simply be turned into a betting shop without anyone being able to do anything about it.”
The trend for more betting shops is driven by restrictions on the number of lucrative gaming machines that can be located inside one shop, she added.
MP for the city centre, Respect’s George Galloway, said he would be asking questions in the House about the number of betting shops in Bradford.
He said: “They’ve joined the competition with pound shops to take over the shopping centres. It’s a manifestation of these desperate and impecunious times where people are desperate to make money somehow. They may be deluded, but it’s understandable when my constituency has the highest year-on-year increase in unemployment anywhere in the country. Any city centre needs a proper mix of shops and, this isn’t the case in Bradford right now.”
The trade association for bookmakers has defended bookies, saying they do not “cluster” their shops but open where there is the customer demand.
Dirk Vennix, chief executive of the Association of British Bookmakers, said: “Betting is a normal, everyday activity, with eight million people a year visiting betting shops to share the excitement of sporting events with friends and neighbours, generating more footfall than the average retail outlet apart from post offices and pharmacies.
“The industry is heavily regulated and taxed, contributing £3bn to the UK economy and paying nearly £1bn a year in tax. We also pay business rates, helping support town centres and high streets. Bookmakers create jobs in the areas they operate and nationally employ over 40,000 people, and this is at a time when one in seven retail outlets is vacant.”
A spokesman for William Hill told the Telegraph & Argus the company’s decision to open another branch so close to one of its existing shops in Bradford city centre was due to “market forces”.
She said: “We run and open our businesses around areas that have a high population and high amount of footfall. We also do a lot of market research before we decide to open. Betting shops bring footfall to the area as well which helps to make the area more prosperous.”
She added that the new Bank Street branch had created four jobs.
Comments(62)
K.Y.E.
says...
7:30am Tue 10 Jul 12
mad matt
says...
7:41am Tue 10 Jul 12
It's pure commercial greed and nothing else!
Avro
says...
8:12am Tue 10 Jul 12
A plethora of bookies, cash for gold, pawnbrokers and payday outlets is about all the city centre can attract!
saywhat12
says...
8:40am Tue 10 Jul 12
Avro wrote:these are very regressive businesses and you are rihgt to suggest we should oppose these businesses but the truth is they would not be drawn to Bradford or continue to trade here if their wasnt a demand for their services. I would suggest the root cause is poverty, drink and gambling addiction.
The growing number of Payday loan outlets should be brought to a halt too.
A plethora of bookies, cash for gold, pawnbrokers and payday outlets is about all the city centre can attract!
JimmyShip
says...
8:42am Tue 10 Jul 12
Why not get the stall holders from the Bazaar to take on a city centre shop, even at reduced rates, or would that mean going “legit” and having to pay, rent, tax and VAT?
Face it the city centre is dying, and Westfield will never happen. The councillors who have let this happen to Bradford should be ashamed of themselves, but I expect that won’t be the case as they are to egotistical to believe they have done anything wrong!!
BD16
says...
8:44am Tue 10 Jul 12
saywhat12 wrote:Agreed saywhat12. I believe that a city centre is a barometer of a citys health. Bradford is very sick. I'm not pretending to know what the solution is but burying our heads in the sand hasn't got us anywhere so far.
Avro wrote: The growing number of Payday loan outlets should be brought to a halt too. A plethora of bookies, cash for gold, pawnbrokers and payday outlets is about all the city centre can attract!these are very regressive businesses and you are rihgt to suggest we should oppose these businesses but the truth is they would not be drawn to Bradford or continue to trade here if their wasnt a demand for their services. I would suggest the root cause is poverty, drink and gambling addiction.
thelastmanstanding
says...
9:03am Tue 10 Jul 12
Z.Raja
says...
9:17am Tue 10 Jul 12
badford
says...
9:27am Tue 10 Jul 12
saywhat12
says...
9:28am Tue 10 Jul 12
Z.Raja wrote:the stories about all the betting shops in Bradford centre springing up everywhere, a breading ground for crime, disorder, armed robberies, drink and drug abusers and pretty much any other anti social, seedy activity, they go hand in hand.
We congratulate and appreciate Bradford council for serving enforcement orders for Trade x and Drummond Mill Retail Bazaars. But the basis of other existing Bazaars (Bradford and Marlborough) are the same. Breading grounds for benefit cheats and illegal immigrants. Similar action should be taken against these existing bazaars.
Why are you ranting about bazaars, its quite bizarre.
billosat
says...
9:38am Tue 10 Jul 12
Apollo
says...
9:46am Tue 10 Jul 12
The best bet (no pun intended) is to open the shop and apply retrospectively for permission - it seems to work for everyone else in Bradford. That and get a few tame Councillors on your side. Seems to work for bazaars and should work for betting shops.
dannywho
says...
10:06am Tue 10 Jul 12
Why are some poeple so defensive and keen to deflect?
Its a shame that some people want to continue in their ignorant and hostle fashion towards other communities.
Why is Bradford full of pawn shops, betting shops and other socially damaging businesses and what type of people are using these services.
Lets please stay on topic and address these important issues instead of being defensive and deflecting on to other people.
windymiller
says...
10:15am Tue 10 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
10:28am Tue 10 Jul 12
Broadway for one, should never have been allowed to have so many bookies and arcades as they’ve spread like a cancer taking more and more units in the area and retail numbers have fallen. Retailers don’t want to trade on the same streets as bookies, retailers want to trade next door to other retailers.
It’s better to have an empty shop that’s available to come back into retail use than a bookies that once open will put off or drive away nearby retailers.
We were told the City Park would bring in investment, yet it’s the same story as last year, the year before that, the year before that and so on, more retailers closing down, more bookies moving in and to top it off the same old pretend regeneration of trying to force more hotels and apartments on a city that doesn’t need them.
jayho67
says...
10:44am Tue 10 Jul 12
The councils argument here is that there are to many bookies and its going to put people off, now I would agree with this, 10 in t he city centre is way too many. And its not a planning issue as the council accepts within the planning law these businesses can trade, again the issue is three are too many and its going to put people off from visiting and give the centre a bad image.
All very well and good, but then why is there a youth rehabilitation centre at the bottom of Darley street. After a few visits to the town centre i kept noticing a group of learly looking youths outside this one building, eventually my curiosity got the better of me and on one trip I peered in and was shocked to see a notice on the door which read something along the line has offender rehabilitation.
Ex cons being rehabilitated right in the middle of the city centre shopping zone.
Honestly if i didn’t know any better it think somebody was deliberately trying to run the city centre into the ground.
Save2020
says...
10:54am Tue 10 Jul 12
Clowny
says...
11:03am Tue 10 Jul 12
You’re correct, putting offenders amongst shops where there’s nearby temptation and opportunity for shop lifting and robbery is only going to undermine the city centre’s attraction to shoppers.
jayho67
says...
11:09am Tue 10 Jul 12
Clowny wrote:Yes, i beleive it is next to Greggs, now personally my fear is not that they will shop lift etc, i think that would be unfair.
@jayho67 Is the place you refer to is just below Greggs?
You’re correct, putting offenders amongst shops where there’s nearby temptation and opportunity for shop lifting and robbery is only going to undermine the city centre’s attraction to shoppers.
But my concern is that it adds to the overall negative impression of the city and the last thing tourists or outside visitors need to see in a city centre is ex cons loitering outside their probation office.
Come on, what genuis in the ouncil thought that was a good idea.
yangyeight
says...
11:09am Tue 10 Jul 12
Clowny wrote:how can people say such stupid comments.
@jayho67 Is the place you refer to is just below Greggs?
You’re correct, putting offenders amongst shops where there’s nearby temptation and opportunity for shop lifting and robbery is only going to undermine the city centre’s attraction to shoppers.
ex cons still have a right to a life.
served their time.
Clowny
says...
11:27am Tue 10 Jul 12
It’s a very well planned out idea when you think about it, if I were an offender I’d be really pleased, there’s a nearby methadone supply on Bridge Street, a Greggs next door, plenty of arcades and bookies within seconds away. It’s the perfect day out.
Mr Jolly
says...
11:45am Tue 10 Jul 12
Stan the Fan
says...
12:43pm Tue 10 Jul 12
angry bradfordian
says...
12:59pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Save2020 wrote:Well I see no problem with betting shops, so thanks for your assessment on my intelligence.
People who would rather see a betting shop than an empty shop, are absolutely stupid. These shops are there for one reason only, to take your money. Dirk vennix is not putting all his wage into a machine at the end of the month then struggling. Gambling is not enjoyable! Leeds, bradfords' thriving neighbour, bookies are opening their at a faster rate than here. Ideally, bookies should be a members only product, like casinos, then you can blacklist your self. It should be made harder for the vulnerable not easier! This is the nice version of my view
I don't visit bookmakers myself, but if a nationwide chain feel the need to open another shop there must be some demand.
I don't see why their aim to make money is any different from M&S, Debenhams or the Alhambra. At least these shops are contributing a fairly hefty amount of tax to our empty coffers.
Perhaps David Green should be explaining why it's only bookmakers that want to open rather than the explosion of trade we were promised when City Park opened.
theoutsider
says...
1:13pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Or a some inappropriate foreign cloth house or takeaway flouting the health inspector or pound shop or the standard issue boarded up Bratfud City shop front complete with For Sale sign.
Ladies and Gents of Bratfud the choice is yours. I know what my money is on...
theoutsider
says...
1:27pm Tue 10 Jul 12
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
chris & pauline
says...
1:39pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Mutha.Slimer
says...
1:44pm Tue 10 Jul 12
badford wrote:The above comment was probably said toungue in cheek, but seriously its not a bad idea, I have lost count the number of bookies in Bradford now but one thing I do know is they are always full and always full of people spending tens of thousands of pounds through thje gaming machines, only problem with this I suppose is that its all dirty pimp/drug money( easy way to clean).
Turn westfield into las vegas
basil fawlty
says...
2:04pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Clowny wrote:City park has only been open a short while so it is unreasonable to start concluding that it hasnt/wont bring in investment.
It’s the same old story. Every time a bookies opens, we’re told the city has too many but action never happens. Maybe this time it will but I won’t hold my breath. Broadway for one, should never have been allowed to have so many bookies and arcades as they’ve spread like a cancer taking more and more units in the area and retail numbers have fallen. Retailers don’t want to trade on the same streets as bookies, retailers want to trade next door to other retailers. It’s better to have an empty shop that’s available to come back into retail use than a bookies that once open will put off or drive away nearby retailers. We were told the City Park would bring in investment, yet it’s the same story as last year, the year before that, the year before that and so on, more retailers closing down, more bookies moving in and to top it off the same old pretend regeneration of trying to force more hotels and apartments on a city that doesn’t need them.
And exactly who is forcing new hotels and apartments on the city?
haterugbysometimes
says...
2:28pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67
says...
2:35pm Tue 10 Jul 12
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
Clowny
says...
3:17pm Tue 10 Jul 12
basil fawlty wrote:The park has been open 7-8 months (that is fully working with the fountains running) and we've only lost businesses in that time, the events held so far this year (other than the opening & the Olympic torch which are one off events) have for the most part been carbon copies of previous years and have been empty or cancelled when it has rained which proves they weren’t strong enough events in their own right. With the poor summer we’re having it could be summer 2013 before the park is properly utilised. It makes you wonder why they didn’t plan in at least some surrounding sheltered areas. Also why wasn’t a permanent stage put in, there must be a large cost of keep putting up stages and taking them down?
Clowny wrote:City park has only been open a short while so it is unreasonable to start concluding that it hasnt/wont bring in investment.
It’s the same old story. Every time a bookies opens, we’re told the city has too many but action never happens. Maybe this time it will but I won’t hold my breath. Broadway for one, should never have been allowed to have so many bookies and arcades as they’ve spread like a cancer taking more and more units in the area and retail numbers have fallen. Retailers don’t want to trade on the same streets as bookies, retailers want to trade next door to other retailers. It’s better to have an empty shop that’s available to come back into retail use than a bookies that once open will put off or drive away nearby retailers. We were told the City Park would bring in investment, yet it’s the same story as last year, the year before that, the year before that and so on, more retailers closing down, more bookies moving in and to top it off the same old pretend regeneration of trying to force more hotels and apartments on a city that doesn’t need them.
And exactly who is forcing new hotels and apartments on the city?
How long is reasonable, 1 year, 3, 5 or 10?
The Chuckle Brothers, Barra and Tony want the Odeon bulldozed to be replaced by another hotel with accompanying flats. There's another 700 flats to be built on Manchester Road too.
Same old (and proven already as failed) regeneration plans.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
3:26pm Tue 10 Jul 12
As regards the topic, you reap what you sow Bradford Council, you reap what you sow. And you have sown some right sh**
Yorkshire Lass
says...
3:29pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:Trying? This has been happening steadily over the last ten years and it has now hit rock bottom. If the Council cannot do anything about the bookies, etc, filling the city centre up then why do we vote for MPs? Surely the elected Bradford MPs can raise all this City Centre regeneration into something worthwhile, like........
I'm going to go slightly off topic here, but bar with me there is a point here.
The councils argument here is that there are to many bookies and its going to put people off, now I would agree with this, 10 in t he city centre is way too many. And its not a planning issue as the council accepts within the planning law these businesses can trade, again the issue is three are too many and its going to put people off from visiting and give the centre a bad image.
All very well and good, but then why is there a youth rehabilitation centre at the bottom of Darley street. After a few visits to the town centre i kept noticing a group of learly looking youths outside this one building, eventually my curiosity got the better of me and on one trip I peered in and was shocked to see a notice on the door which read something along the line has offender rehabilitation.
Ex cons being rehabilitated right in the middle of the city centre shopping zone.
Honestly if i didn’t know any better it think somebody was deliberately trying to run the city centre into the ground.
shops, with Parliament. Isn't that what they get paid to do.
jayho67
says...
3:39pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:I doubt work has any attraction to him, I think he'd rather pop down to the bookies in a taxi with his dad than do a hard days work driving one.
He should have the decency to work and claim JSA shouldn't he jay-ho? He could use both his names, john brown and then maybe brown john, nip off sign on and then back to work in his dad's shop or a shift in his taxi. Don't start on the JSA/Chav shi* again. It demeans your argument and opens up a whole new angle which is never helpful.
As regards the topic, you reap what you sow Bradford Council, you reap what you sow. And you have sown some right sh**
and as for your comment "Don't start on the JSA/Chav shi* again" I think youre confusing me for someone else, I have no idea what you are referring to.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
4:50pm Tue 10 Jul 12
mad matt wrote:Same as all companies. Capitalism itself is based upon greed, which is why the country is in such an economic mess.
It's about time something was done to stop this viral infection of businesses whose sole aim is the get as much turnover as possible from the very people who can't afford it.
It's pure commercial greed and nothing else!
flithergirl
says...
4:52pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
4:55pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
5:00pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Yorkshire Lass wrote:More than 10 years. You can trace the rot right back to Eric Pickles.
jayho67 wrote:Trying? This has been happening steadily over the last ten years and it has now hit rock bottom. If the Council cannot do anything about the bookies, etc, filling the city centre up then why do we vote for MPs? Surely the elected Bradford MPs can raise all this City Centre regeneration into something worthwhile, like........
I'm going to go slightly off topic here, but bar with me there is a point here.
The councils argument here is that there are to many bookies and its going to put people off, now I would agree with this, 10 in t he city centre is way too many. And its not a planning issue as the council accepts within the planning law these businesses can trade, again the issue is three are too many and its going to put people off from visiting and give the centre a bad image.
All very well and good, but then why is there a youth rehabilitation centre at the bottom of Darley street. After a few visits to the town centre i kept noticing a group of learly looking youths outside this one building, eventually my curiosity got the better of me and on one trip I peered in and was shocked to see a notice on the door which read something along the line has offender rehabilitation.
Ex cons being rehabilitated right in the middle of the city centre shopping zone.
Honestly if i didn’t know any better it think somebody was deliberately trying to run the city centre into the ground.
shops, with Parliament. Isn't that what they get paid to do.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
5:09pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67
says...
5:38pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits?
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab.
Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself.
If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you.
Excuses need to stop!
jayho67
says...
5:43pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:because the will just get even poorer, betting is a mugs game and only the bookies win.
If Ascot is good enough for Royalty, why not betting shops for the growing number of desperately poor?
If you are poor I suggest you find entertainment that does not involve spending money when you wont get the equivelant money back. Thats basic fiscal management.
jayho67
says...
5:53pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Just to add to my previous point, the Iraqi refugee in an earlier t&a story entered the UK in 2005 and managed to buy and run a car wash business and although he did not obtain relevant permmision to trade he was able to manage and a run the business as a going concern.
If Ascot is good enough for Royalty, why not betting shops for the growing number of desperately poor?
I suspect some people would have issues with doing certain jobs but as we all know that approach resulted in many migrant workers ocming to the UK and Bradford to work in the mills, drive buses, taxis and run off licences.
Perhaps its time for some to swallow their pride and take any job they can so that those are working dont have to bear the hig tax burden of their benefit lifetsyle choice.
jayho67
says...
5:59pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Actually on reading my last post it could be misconstrued, to clarif the attitude of not wanting to do certain jobs bcause of false pride applies to all communities as I know their are also children of migrants who turn down work because they feel its beneath them. Whilst America is not perfect you do not see this attitude in America because you either work and pay your way or you sleep in the street, simple. Now I dont condone such an approach but we do need a middle ground to stop people turning down offers of work.
If Ascot is good enough for Royalty, why not betting shops for the growing number of desperately poor?
Pablo
says...
5:59pm Tue 10 Jul 12
theoutsider wrote:Am I alone in not being able to take David Green seriously? Perhaps it's something to do with those damned earrings? Why don't his colleagues tell him how it detracts from the position he holds?
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
theoutsider
says...
7:23pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:jayho67 no business of yours what I do with my JSA, but for your info yes I regularly lump it on the 3:15 !
theoutsider wrote: Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million. So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls. Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it. With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state. People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
theoutsider
says...
7:47pm Tue 10 Jul 12
Pablo wrote:No your not pal definitely not, totally inappropriate image for a Civic Leader, but a couple earrings are probably the least of Bratfud Councils problems. Maybe he could pawn them to make a dint in repaying Tax payers for that £30mil W'atter Park scandal !
theoutsider wrote: Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million. So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls. Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.Am I alone in not being able to take David Green seriously? Perhaps it's something to do with those damned earrings? Why don't his colleagues tell him how it detracts from the position he holds?
davidh66
says...
8:10pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67
says...
8:10pm Tue 10 Jul 12
theoutsider wrote:that comes as no surprise to me, like ive said before
jayho67 wrote:jayho67 no business of yours what I do with my JSA, but for your info yes I regularly lump it on the 3:15 !
theoutsider wrote: Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million. So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls. Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it. With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state. People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
"chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state"
And hows you job hunting going, apply for much today? I believe the JSA deal is you get £70 every two weeks in return for you actively seeking work, have you been actively seeking work, in amongst your trips down to the bookies ofcourse.
undercliffebantam
says...
8:53pm Tue 10 Jul 12
The growing number of Payday loan outlets should be brought to a halt too.
A plethora of bookies, cash for gold, pawnbrokers and payday outlets is about all the city centre can attract!
And Poundshops
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
10:30pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:WTF? I never mentioned migrants or work.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Actually on reading my last post it could be misconstrued, to clarif the attitude of not wanting to do certain jobs bcause of false pride applies to all communities as I know their are also children of migrants who turn down work because they feel its beneath them. Whilst America is not perfect you do not see this attitude in America because you either work and pay your way or you sleep in the street, simple. Now I dont condone such an approach but we do need a middle ground to stop people turning down offers of work.
If Ascot is good enough for Royalty, why not betting shops for the growing number of desperately poor?
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
10:35pm Tue 10 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:Please go and f uck yourself, you smug little tory git. now stfu and f uck off.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits?
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab.
Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself.
If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you.
Excuses need to stop!
BD16
says...
10:37pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:You have not considered working for a long time either. Just how long is it since you last worked?
jayho67 wrote:WTF? I never mentioned migrants or work.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Actually on reading my last post it could be misconstrued, to clarif the attitude of not wanting to do certain jobs bcause of false pride applies to all communities as I know their are also children of migrants who turn down work because they feel its beneath them. Whilst America is not perfect you do not see this attitude in America because you either work and pay your way or you sleep in the street, simple. Now I dont condone such an approach but we do need a middle ground to stop people turning down offers of work.
If Ascot is good enough for Royalty, why not betting shops for the growing number of desperately poor?
Get back to work
says...
11:24pm Tue 10 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Why do you assume every one that works and pays money into the system ( the same system you bleed dry ) is a tory...? and were you much happier claiming your benefits ( which is way to much by the way ) under labour ?
jayho67 wrote:Please go and f uck yourself, you smug little tory git. now stfu and f uck off.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits?
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab.
Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself.
If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you.
Excuses need to stop!
arhmen aleg
says...
2:59am Wed 11 Jul 12
take another spliff reasonable and calm down calm down calm down.
think of the three scousers and
Calm down calm down calm down
And have another spliff.
jayho67
says...
7:14am Wed 11 Jul 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Now, now, thats not very reasonable is it?
jayho67 wrote:Please go and f uck yourself, you smug little tory git. now stfu and f uck off.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits?
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab.
Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself.
If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you.
Excuses need to stop!
Im not a tory or Labour man, neither party is attractive to me.
However I am pleased that the Conservatives have got something right in terms of cutting the harmful culture of benefit dependance, hopefully they will keep going until people like yourself are not comfortable solely on benefits and feel enough incentive or pressure to go out and earn an wage so that those of us who pay tax dont have to carry the burden and cost of your lifestyle choice.
I barely have enough left over from my income to put aside for a pension, let alone pay for you to be able to sit at home with an internet connection and abuse me from the comfort of your home.
Clarky11
says...
8:49pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Andy2010
says...
10:44am Fri 13 Jul 12
jayho67 wrote:Wouldnt bother. This workshy fool is simply an unemployed and quite frankly not very good troll who thinks the country owes him a living but cant get his head around that the workers of this country pay for scumbags like himself's internet connection not to mention the rest of it
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Now, now, thats not very reasonable is it? Im not a tory or Labour man, neither party is attractive to me. However I am pleased that the Conservatives have got something right in terms of cutting the harmful culture of benefit dependance, hopefully they will keep going until people like yourself are not comfortable solely on benefits and feel enough incentive or pressure to go out and earn an wage so that those of us who pay tax dont have to carry the burden and cost of your lifestyle choice. I barely have enough left over from my income to put aside for a pension, let alone pay for you to be able to sit at home with an internet connection and abuse me from the comfort of your home.jayho67 wrote:Please go and f uck yourself, you smug little tory git. now stfu and f uck off.a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits? The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab. Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself. If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you. Excuses need to stop!jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions? I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.theoutsider wrote: Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million. So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls. Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it. With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state. People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
4:47pm Fri 13 Jul 12
arhmen aleg wrote:Can't afford any at the moment, waiting for the next giro....
Why do these stories always provoke a full scale war between posters.
take another spliff reasonable and calm down calm down calm down.
think of the three scousers and
Calm down calm down calm down
And have another spliff.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
4:51pm Fri 13 Jul 12
arhmen aleg wrote:"Why do these stories always provoke a full scale war between posters."
Why do these stories always provoke a full scale war between posters.
take another spliff reasonable and calm down calm down calm down.
think of the three scousers and
Calm down calm down calm down
And have another spliff.
Because it brings out all the selfish, reactionary, rightwing, muppets, the "I pay my taxes" brigade, who think everything is the fault of society's most vulnerable, ie. the poor, sick and unemployed. They are far too short-sighted to realise that State Benefits are available to everyone who is in need, and don't stop to consider that one day that might mean themselves or their families, and far too self-centred to realise that State Benefits benefit the whole of Society.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
7:12pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Get back to work wrote:It is the Tories and their mega-rich chums who are bleeding this country dry, NOT the poor unemployed.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Why do you assume every one that works and pays money into the system ( the same system you bleed dry ) is a tory...? and were you much happier claiming your benefits ( which is way to much by the way ) under labour ?
jayho67 wrote:Please go and f uck yourself, you smug little tory git. now stfu and f uck off.
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:benefits needs to be drastically increased you say,and how or more importantly who do you think should pay for your increased benefits?
jayho67 wrote:What evidence do you have for your assumptions?
theoutsider wrote:Blighted life,speak for yourself, although I guess that one way for you to spend your JSA. As for those who are genuinely blighted by poverty in Bradford I can assure you that gambling away what little money you have will not make your problems go away - it really is a mugs game, maybe thats why theoutsider is so fond of it.
Can I suggest at the same time that David Green might have done a whole lot better for Bratfud if he taken the £30million he slewed up the wall on his nonsense W'atter Park and stuck it on the 3:15 at Kempton at least hard pressed Council Tax payers might have had a chance of seeing the race and half a sniff of something for their £30million.
So he's willing to take 'a punt' our money on the crackpot W'atter Park but theres something wrong with a few extra bookmakers wanting to bring a bit of light in to the blighted life of Bratfuds poor souls.
Pardon me Mr Green but can you see why Bratfud never needed a W'atter Park; is there not enough w'atter around or haven't you noticed.
With chronic under achievement in education, epidemic levels of alcohol abuse (according to the T&A) and a fondness for gambling its not hard to see why Bradford is in such a poor state.
People need to take ownership for solving their own problems instead of scrounging off state benefits and blowing it on drink and gambling addictions.
I live on State Benefits, but I can't even remember the last time I had a drink or visited a pub. And I do not gamble either, having only once backed a horse in my entire life, in the Epsom Derby 1981. There is no way a person on JSA can afford to drink or gamble! Just how far do you think £70 per week goes? The vast majority of it goes on bills, and a small amount for food if you're lucky. It's a disgrace the way the unemployed are treated in this country, and levels of Benefit are pitifully low and need to be drastically increased.
The system we have at the moment is already unaffordable and we have only got this far from borrowing and increasing the national debt, kicking the can down the road for our kids to pick up the tab.
Benefits are not menat to be a lifestyle choice, its a safety net to allow you to get by until you can find work - and since youre still here im guessing its working, now you need to do your part and ifnd work, and if no one will employ you, start your own business and work for yourself.
If people can sneak into this country without a single skill and no english and find work the next day, so can you.
Excuses need to stop!
And no, I wasn't any happier claiming the Benefits to which I am rightfully entitled under Labour, because it was they who introduced the New Deal scheme, a daytime prison for the unemployed, but now the Tories are in I feel much more relaxed about claiming the dole money the State owes me, as the Tory 'Work Programme' is just hot air and amounts to nothing.
Rambo says...
7:11am Tue 10 Jul 12