BBC Newsround poll for City of Culture 2025
 The Bradford district is currently one of four shortlisted places in the running to be the next UK City of Culture 2025 and BBC children's programme Newsround is running an online poll asking who people think should win.
Please show your support and vote for the Bradford district’s bid here.
You need to vote by 27 March for your vote to count.
To find out more about the Bradford 2025 bid visit www.bradford2025.co.uk
If you're active on social media, you can also get involved by sharing Bradford 2025 tweets and posts and using the hashtags: #CityOfCulture2025 and #Bradford2025.
Bradford Celebrates 10 years of City Park
 This week marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of Bradford’s City Park
To mark the occasion we’ve put together a short video of some of its best moments.
The multi-award winning public space opened in the heart of Bradford city centre on 24 March 2012 with the spectacular Mirror Pool which is animated by fountains and lights.
Over the past 10 years, the space has attracted millions of visitors and won eight awards for its design and regeneration. Awards include a British Construction Industry (BCI) Regeneration Award, 2012 Making a Difference in Yorkshire and Humber Award and 2013 RTPI Yorkshire's Planning Excellence Award.
The space has seen light festivals, music, theatre, food and street entertainment.
2022 will see the return of community favourites including the family film festival. There will also be the return of some memorial events in person after being hosted online for the last two years.
New laws for using mobile phones whilst driving
New laws came into force this week which drivers need to be aware of about using mobile phones while driving.
Everyone should already know that it’s illegal to use a hand-held device to make phone calls and send messages, except in an emergency, whilst driving, but from today ‘using’ a hand-held device will be expanded to cover:
- Illuminating the screen
- Checking the time
- Checking notifications
- Unlocking the device
- Making, receiving or rejecting a telephone or internet-based call
- Sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content
- Sending , receiving or uploading a photo or video
- Utilising camera, video or sound recording
- Drafting any text
- Accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages
- Accessing an app
- Accessing the internet
There is a great video explaining the changes - Changes to Using Mobile Phone While Driving Law | West Yorkshire Police
£10K trees grant through Trees for Streets
 We are to receive a £10,000 grant to plant 40 trees across the district, thanks to Trees for Streets and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
We joined the Trees for Streets initiative last July. The national scheme, run by urban tree charity Trees for Cities, aims to plant thousands of extra trees on streets in urban areas through the sponsorship of residents and community groups, supplementing council tree planting budgets.
Trees for Streets works through people using an online platform to sponsor a tree being planted in their neighbourhood, enabling them to select a location, making a donation and the request being sent to the council to assess the location and, if suitable, plant the tree the following winter.
More events as part of our Spring Back 2022 campaign
 We've three more events this weekend as part of our Spring Back 2022 campaign which aims encourage people to rediscover their local high streets.
K-Town Shopper weekend 26 & 27 March
Keighley town centre will take a step back in time as it is transformed for a unique event this weekend (26 and 27 March).
The K-Town Shopper weekend, organised in collabortation with Keighley Creative, will provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic retro shopping experience, as the streets are brought to life by local artists through a fun and entertaining arts trail, outdoor galleries, street performers and an ‘Alternative Department Store’.
Ilkley Family Takeover 26 March
The Ilkley Family Takeover event which takes place in Ilkley town centre between 10am and 8pm will have puzzles and games in the form of giant Jenga and giant jigsaws, face-painting, sword fighting demonstrations as well as performances from the comedy waiters and much more.
The Party People Project, a Bradford district-based learning disability led collective, will keeping the party vibe going with a live two hour DJ set.
Tea, coffee and scrumptious cakes will be served up by Ilkley community café Outside The Box, which as well as serving delicious treats also supports adults and young people with learning disabilities.
Artist Pete Olding will also lead a team of artists to create temporary artworks on the streets of Ilkley town centre as part of the event. The team will paint ‘live’ in the street while engaging people with the process. Images will be figurative, vibrant and colourful and incorporate poems created in workshops held locally.
As the evening draws in a huge magical lantern puppet in the shape of the Ilkley’s legendry giant Rombald, will take to the streets for two performances.
Spring in to Wibsey 26 March
A spring celebration is being held on Wibsey Fairground (corner of Tennyson Road and Fair Road).
The community event will have a special guest appearance by a four metre dinosaur and dino-babies to interact with.
The “Spring into Wibsey” event will run from 11am until 4pm, with a Jurassic tent full of fossils, dinosaur facts and activities – and the dinosaur will be there until 3.30 pm.
Attractions for all ages will include craft and gift stalls, free bouncy castle\soft play area, face painting, music from local band No Fluke, advice and information stalls as well as a fire engine and police car.
Wibsey micro-pub The Hooper will have a pop-up bar in collaboration with Bingley’s Goose Eye Brewery and street food will courtesy of Wibsey’s Urban Food Shed.
Reminder that BBQs, fires and fireworks are not allowed on our moorland
 Although it might be tempting in this lovely warm weather - barbeques are not allowed on our moorland, to help prevent devastating wildfires.
Colleagues from our Countryside and Rights of Way team have been out on Ilkley Moor putting up signs to remind people.
If you see someone lighting a BBQ or fire on our moorland please call 999 and ask for the fire service.
The PSPO banning BBQs and fires etc on moorland in the Bradford district, which has to be renewed every three years, expires in June 2022 and a consultation to extend it has been launched.
Please have your say here.
Please #BeMoorAware and protect our moorland from wildfires.
Bradford to be named a City of Learning
The district’s residents will have improved access to learning thanks to Bradford being the first northern place to be named a City of Learning following a competitive process.
Bradford joins six other UK trailblazers taking part in a game-changing new approach to training, skills development and recruitment.
The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) has accepted the district onto its Cities of Learning programme, which aims to widen access to learning for all while having a particular focus on preparing young people for work.
Food Hall Operator sought for Darley Street Market
 We're looking for an operating partner to manage our new food hall as part of the multi-million pound Darley Street Market scheme in the city centre which is currently under construction.
The multi-level market and food hall, as well as an outdoor square for concerts and events, will occupy a prominent and large site on Darley Street.
Located on the upper level of the market, the food hall will have a wide variety of dine-in and takeaway food from local street and restaurant traders.
There'll be 11 high quality food kiosks offering a selection of world foods, two bars, a stage for day and night time entertainment along with seating for around 500 customers both indoors and on the external balcony area overlooking the market square and large outdoor screen.
We are working with specialist foodservice consultancy Coverpoint to identify and secure an operating partner who will act as the master tenant of the space.
Children to benefit from free activities and meals this Easter
Thousands of children across the Bradford district will get to enjoy free fun activities and healthy meals over the upcoming Easter school holidays through a holiday club scheme organised by us.
We have again linked up with voluntary and community organisations to give eligible children access to healthy food and enriching, fun activities during the Easter break. Any child receiving benefits-related free school meals is eligible for the programme.
More than 80 organisations have received grant funding from us to run holiday clubs during the Easter period. They will be putting on a wide range of activities, such as art, sport, outdoor adventure and music at numerous venues across the district. There are activities designed for young people in primary, secondary and special schools.
The Easter of Fun project follows similar schemes that ran successfully over the Christmas and summer holidays last year and were enjoyed by more than 40,000 children and young people. Funding has come from the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF).
Bradford district plans to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
 An exciting variety of events will bring the communities of Bradford district together to celebrate HM the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and there are some brilliant opportunities to get involved.
The Platinum Jubilee marks 70 years since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Celebrations are being planned all over the country and we are encouraging everyone to think about how they can get involved. So whether it’s a traditional street party evoking memories of those held for the coronation or Silver Jubilee, making your own bunting, or doing something more modern, everyone can get involved in some way.
We have a small grants fund to support local communities to organise events and decorate the district. More information can be found on here.
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