It is perfectly understandable – and, indeed, laudable – for those who oppose the planned English Defence League (EDL) march in Bradford at the end of this month to want to show the world they reject that group’s message of fear, hatred and division.

Plans by a coalition of concerned groups to stage an event focusing on multi-cultural harmony, dubbed We Are Bradford, on the same day as the proposed march could set exactly the right tone. But surely Bradford city centre is the wrong place for it?

Ban or no ban, some members of the EDL are likely to come to Bradford to demonstrate on that day, and having both events in such close proximity would be inviting trouble.

Long before a ban was mooted, the EDL was calling on its members to flood in to Bradford while Unite Against Fascism – the anti-EDL campaign which even Prime Minister David Cameron has signed up to – was also asking its supporters to turn out en masse to oppose it.

Elements surrounding both groups have caused trouble in the past and they should be kept as far apart as possible.

It would be far better – and more responsible – if We Are Bradford and its supporters decided to stage its event out of the city centre, then everyone could get behind it and show the world all that is positive about the city. The best outcome for Bradford would be for the good people of this city – and those from elsewhere who come here to support them – to show the EDL nothing but their backs as they walk away to join a positive celebration of our district’s diversity and treat the EDL with the silent contempt they deserve.

The EDL members, meanwhile, would be left to shout their hate-filled slogans to no-one but themselves.