The appointment of an environmental health officer dedicated to helping to clean up the Leeds Road area should be widely welcomed across the city.

Leeds Road is one of the main arterial routes into the centre of Bradford and it is extremely important in creating a first impression of the place. At the moment, that impression is not a good one.

It is disappointing, for a start, that motorists on such an important route are forced to wend their way through traffic-clogged sections of a road lined with shops, whereas most cities of a comparable size would have a dual-carriageway clearway running into them.

It must be a surprise for first-time visitors to find that the dual-carriageway from Leeds runs out at Thornbury roundabout, downgrading the traffic link between the two cities.

Adding insult to injury is the sorry state of the highway along which they are forced to travel. It would be wrong to generalise, as clearly some businesses have made an effort, but for the most part the road looks scruffy, untidy, dishevelled and generally down at heel.

So the appointment of Nasrina Malik is a useful step forward in trying to clear up the mess. Hopefully she will be able to help to attract financial aid for some businesses to improve their frontages and general appearance.

Also, the Council needs to put substantial resources into clearing pockets of derelict land which have been used as tips, getting rid of shabby posters and improving the street furniture, pavements and road surfaces in a bid to boost the pride of the people who live in the area.