The airport millions: food for thought (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

The airport millions: food for thought

8:45am Sunday 16th September 2007

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Friend of mine came up with a great retrospective idea the other day.

"Bradford Council should have got together with a consortium and bought Leeds-Bradford Airport. Think of the income that place will make!"

Too late for that. But I am thinking of the £52m that the Keepers of Chateau Despair (City Hall) got for their - our - share of the sale.

To be more accurate, I am thinking of only a fraction of the total amount. Others can argue the toss about how best to spend/invest the millions.

Personally, I think it would be good move, beneficial to both the public and the inmates of the Chateau, if the Keepers spent a few thousand expanding and improving the restaurant on the top floor.

It's woefully understaffed in cramped quarters. Yet the grub served up five days a week is good quality and very economical. Pensioners and others use the place regularly because it offers such good value. I use it because hot meals at midday are preferential to sandwiches. Bedsides, I need my greens. The regular staff are friendly and patient too.

But the place is in urgent need of a facelift. Plenty of dosh has been spent improving the downstairs reception area, but nothing on the part that supplies the fuel for the Chateau's human engine.

Dear Keepers: please rectify, and look after the staff who labour there and provide the rest of us with such a tangible and valuable service.