SIR - Councillor David Robinson makes a valid point in welcoming the potential return of a £250,000 Bradford Bulls loan, suggesting that the cash be used to support municipal bowling greens (Letters, March 9).
Behind this lies an important issue in the use of public funds. Bradford Bulls, just like Bradford City or any other professional sport, is just a commercial entertainment business which exists to make a profit. If it’s good at its business, it will thrive and make money for its stakeholders. If it’s bad at its business, it goes bust and should quit. That’s what business is about.
It is no business of Bradford Council to be subsidising shaky commercial enterprises with scarce public funds, most of which are collected from a majority of taxpayers who haven’t the slightest interest in those businesses – check the crowd-figures for proof.
Whether any such liberated money is then spent on bowling greens, public toilets or even on councillors’ profligate expenses is for the elected body to decide, but let’s keep public funds for public benefit, not for subsidising incompetent businesses.
Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon
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