2002: David Cubitt starts Manningham Means Business 2002/2003: Gathering support 2003: Funding awarded for Manningham Lane improvements Autumn 2003: Work begins Winter 2003/2004: Paint it blue 2004 onwards: Work continues

2002: David Cubitt starts Manningham Means Business Manningham businessman David Cubitt (Managing Director of financial advisers Beaumont Robinson in Clifton Villas) decided he needed to stand up, gather the support of like-minded Manningham business people and help to get things improved in Manningham. "One day a couple of years ago I got a bit sick of the state of the area around us. I decided to phone up a few business neighbours to see if together we could do something about it. So off we trotted to the council" recalls David. "It was like opening up a tatty old chest to find it full of treasure." He continues: "Honestly. I couldn't believe the amount of effort people in various agencies were putting in to get all sorts of things done. We were welcomed with open arms. Since then we've received non-stop cooperation from the Council, Bradford Vision and Yorkshire Forward to name but three." 2002/2003: Gathering support Knocking on doors, leafleting and a series of public meetings, gathered support for the simple idea of Manningham businesses helping to improve Manningham. Over 100 businesses joined the organisation and it became a limited company. It was decided the initial focus would be to improve the way Manningham Lane looks. 2003: Funding awarded for Manningham Lane improvements We bid to Yorkshire Forward to help fund improvements to Manningham Lane. They awarded us £200,000 which was matched by a further £200,000 from Bradford City Council to fund their part of the improvement. Autumn 2003: Work begins Saira Ali and Nick Ackroyd from the City Council Landscape Design Unit start work on surveying the Lane and gathering opinions. Their planning work now forms Saira's Design Guide, which all improvement works will follow. Winter 2003/2004: Paint it blue Some initial quick wins were actioned: 90 lamp posts followed by pedestrian guard railings, painted the blue colour in Saira's Design Guide; 75 blue litter bins installed; increased litter collections; volunteer litter picking days. Spring 2004: Work continues A start had been made and much planned work continues on the Lane in 2004. This work is well on the way and Manningham Means Business is now helping others across Manningham to achieve our aim to make Manningham pleasant and prosperous for everyone.