January 1998

May Day '98 Plans launched at public meeting (28/1/98)

COPS COUGH UP FOR "KIDNAP" CAPER (22/1/98)

McRubbish! (10/1/98)

Gongs for the Boys (1/1/98)

May Day '98 Plans launched at public meeting

Plans for this year's May Day celebrations in Bradford kicked off last night at a public planning meeting. A gathering of people from interested organisations and community groups drew up initial plans, which include: the traditional May Day parade, an afternoon of free music, events and stalls in Centenary Square, a national football tournament, a specially commissioned play, a series of public talks and meetings, gigs, a film festival and local exhibitions. An open invitation was issued to all community based groups to add their own events to the proceedings.

This year will also see a national 4-day conference open to all people interested in the libertarian and socialist tradition. The conference will investigate current and future ideas and activities for social change and justice in an open and critical way.

See previous posting

COPS COUGH UP FOR "KIDNAP" CAPER

West Yorkshire Police this week paid £24,000 compensation to 16 people for unlawful arrest and imprisonment. The 16 were amongst 50 arrested following a demonstration at the notorious Swales Moor Mink farm, near Halifax, in October 1991.

Peter Braham told KDIS that about 100 people turned up for the demonstration and mass trespass called by the national Animal Protection Foundation.

"The farmers there were very violent and threatening. They just went ballistic. One farmer jumped on a tractor and drove at us. But it was one of the other farmers that got hit and broke his leg."

Full story

McRubbish!

Big Mac, Big Rubbish!

The new drive-in McDonalds in Forster Square is making a Big Mark on the Bradford landscape. Piles of McRubbish litter Valley Road. Discarded polystyrene containers, paper bags and drinks cartons, all bearing the distinctive colourful McLogo, create an eyesore along Bradfords newest Retail development.

When contacted by KDIS following complaints from shoppers, the Drive-In store manager, who refused to give his name, said:

"I'm not going to comment on any rubbish anywhere." He tried to divert KDIS to McDonalds PR department, insisting "I'm not prepared to help at all".

McDonalds are currently planning to open further outlets in the district, including Shipley centre. They are also still trying to recover from the embarrassment of their mammoth McLibel trial.

Update - 13 January 1998

McDonalds are planning to meet Bolton ward Lib-Dem councillor Alan Hillary following complaints of dumped rubbish at their Five Lane Ends Drive-In store. Local residents have been complaining since the site opened last year about nuisance traffic, noise and rubbish.

 McSpotlight

Gongs for the Boys

. David Johns and John Watson, prominent members of Bradfords Establishment, have been given gongs by government patronage for doing highly paid jobs.

Former Tory MP John Watson was given the OBE by Tony Blair in the new years honours list, for acting as Chief Executive of the City Challenge, which oversaw millions of pounds of public money directed into Holme Wood. City Challenge ended in March last year. Watson is now President of the Chamber of Commerce.

Professor David Johns gets the CBE "for services to the academic world". He is vice Chancellor of Bradford University, a post for which he was given a massive pay boost last year to £105,000 - the equivalent of the newly imposed tuition fees of 105 of his students.

Johns & Watson sit on the boards of many of the secretive quangos which run Bradford, such as Bradford Congress, Bradford TEC and Bradford Breakthrough.

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