A few weeks ago we asked how you would like Bradford to celebrate the Millennium. The response was a very healthy one, shooting down the views of those sceptics who predicted a wave of apathy.

As our survey shows, there is in fact overwhelming support for marking the Millennium in style, with the public strongly in favour of a major celebration in the city centre and street parties. There is even strong backing for a carnival.

The survey sends a clear message to everyone in the district that Bradford wants a Millennium to remember. The response to that needs to be vigorous and prompt. If we are to have the sort of celebrations that the public are clearly expecting, the organisation needs to be set up and start work. This is particularly important if the idea of a permanent memorial of some sort, favoured by many of those surveyed, is to go ahead. Such things do not organise themselves.

It is interesting that only nine per cent of those who responded to the survey said they had already booked their celebration. There seems to be a high degree of wait-and-see.

That statistic must tell the district's civic leaders, hoteliers and restaurateurs that people are still looking for things to do on the night. It offers a big opportunity for the district's commercial sector to make capital out of this apparent vacuum. Even though many hotels and restaurants will face difficulties persuading their staff to work, and will have to pay them premium rates, they should not be put off from rising to the occasion and the opportunities it offers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.