Tackling crime, improving education and promoting a positive image of Bradford were made top priorities at a debate on the district's future.

Other issues thrashed out at the high-profile event aimed at launching the 20/20 Vision for Bradford campaign included employment training, ways of using empty buildings and fostering community spirit.

The public debate was held yesterday at the Stakis Hotel in Bradford with the aim of shaping a strategy for the district up to 2020 and beyond.

More than 300 guests drawn from community and business organisations were invited to the event, which was chaired by newsreader and broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald.

Delegates were divided into groups, with each table asked to devise and submit a question.

In all, eight questions were discussed, with the panel agreeing that it was vital for Bradford to promote a positive image in the national media.

Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: "There's a downbeat humour in Bradford that believes you should always bring people down rather than up. It's great as humour but lousy in terms of image."

He said many national newspapers routinely came to Bradford when they wanted to demonstrate run-down inner cities or racial division. But he said Bradford should follow the example of Glasgow, which had transformed its image from being a dangerous place to live to a city of culture.

Pam Hardisty, of the C2M project, said: "Our unique qualities of being a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-faith city need to be our selling point."

One of the questions which stimulated debate was asked by St Joseph's College pupil Karen Cowlishaw who wanted to know whether the large number of empty buildings in Bradford could be opened up for community use or turned into hostels.

Businessman John Pennington said many of the buildings were owned by property speculators who lived away from Bradford or even abroad. He urged the Government to introduce a tax on empty buildings.

Karen's brother Baz Cowlishaw, who works for the homelessness charity Nightstop, asked what steps could be taken to tackle crime and the fear of crime.

Coun Greenwood said he believed more than half of all crimes were drug-related but stressed that anti-social behaviour still had to be regarded as part of the community.

Tim Parr, of Keighley Business Forum, said schools in Bradford needed extra investment because of the high number of pupils from non-English speaking backgrounds.

And Adeeba Malik, of QED and Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, said: "There's great scope for and a need for education and business to come together."

The discussion also focused on the need to break down barriers.

Pam Hardisty said: "We need to be actively creating places where people can meet together, not just leaving it to certain sections of the community. We are good at noticing what's different but we're not so good at noticing what we share."

T&A Opinion

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