Plan to add touch of Paris to parade

Its members have drawn up a scheme that could cost up to £70,000 and are waiting to hear this month whether their bid for £40,000 of lottery funds to improve the 34-year-old parade has been successful.

The association has spent the last 12 months investigating ownership of the village centre's frontage - which boasts 12 shops - and obtaining permission for the plans known as Project 2000.

Chairman John Yeadon said: "We wanted to do something for the millennium and the feeling was that people wanted to have something of some substance.

"At the moment it has an uneven surface, is getting grotty and looking terrible. What we have in mind would turn it into something more approaching Paris in the middle of Yorkshire, though without the sun!

"We have got written permission but no money from the freeholder, Mr Alan Mattey, of London and we have had someone from Bradford Council's transport department out several times to cost the plans.

"What we want to see are coloured flags, special lights and bollards to stop lorries driving on to the walkway and causing a lot of damage.

"We promoted it for the first time on Saturday at the Town Hall and everyone thought it was a good idea. Hopefully it will make it more pleasant for people to shop here and might attract people who shop elsewhere.

"If we get the money we hope to finish it in time for the millennium and celebrate with a party on the flags.

"But if the worst comes to the worst we shall just have to tarmac it."

It is thought it will cost £40,000 to flag the area and the association, which has 158 members, is hoping to raise £10,000 to buy tubs of flowers and provide extras such as seats.

The scheme may also act as a springboard for improving the exterior of both the nearby Throstles Nest pub and St Michael & All Angels Church.

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