SIR – I was astounded to read the regeneration achievements set out within Bradford’s Conservative Group manifesto (T&A April 21), which probably contained more hot air than the 30 blue balloons the party released into the sky.

The manifesto states: “At our insistence, the Bradford City Regeneration company has been disbanded and replaced with a more accountable regeneration board with a clear plan for action.”

While many local residents were undeniably thankful to see the back of the Maud Marshall era of the city’s regeneration, the fact remains that Councillor Kris Hopkins – the leader of our Council and of the Conservative Group – was a member of the former BCR board.

To see his own party manifesto now lamenting BCR’s woeful lack of accountability or action plan simply goes beyond all boundaries of irony.

With still no sign of an apology to the Bradford electorate for the long-standing mess of the city centre we’ve all had to suffer since 2005, or for the millions of pounds of tax payer’s money that was ultimately squandered by BCR, it seems that a fair portion of this unaccountability lies with Councillor Hopkins himself.

Mark Nicholson (Independent Candidate for Clayton and Fairweather Green), Clayfield Drive, Bradford