A GROUP is helping to breathe new life into an area with “spectacular” views of the city, but which has been the target of fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour in recent years. The Friends of Scaly Hills began meeting back in 2019 and since then have worked hard to improve paths and steps running across large green space, which stretches from Wibsey Bank, just off Manchester Road, to Brownroyd Hill Road, near St Enoch’s Road. Their plans for 2020 were put on hold because of the pandemic, but instead they have progressed with the improvements to the paths and will relaunch other activities this summer.
FURTHER calls have been made for Santander to rethink its decision to close the Wibsey branch – the last bank in the Bradford South constituency. The banking giant announced its plans to close 111 branches across the country back in March and said it was in response to the ongoing shift by customers towards mobile and online banking. The Bingley Main Street branch is also due to close. Judith Cummins, Labour MP for Bradford South, said banking provision in the constituency has been “totally wiped out”. “People will have to travel over three miles to get to a bank,” she said, adding that the bank has “failed to take into account the social costs to the local area of removing this vital facility”.