As the cranes tower over many parts of Leeds and Bradford, do you want a say in how the cities will change? How do we keep the best of the existing buildings but make sure that West Yorkshire is ready for the challenges of the 21st century? The meeting 'Building Britain – Bradford & Leeds, A Tale of Two Cities' is part of Architecture Week and complements the BBC One TV series How We Built Britain. The meeting is free but tickets must be booked in advance (see details below). | "How our towns and cities look and how they work are vitally important questions for everyone." | | David Smith |
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and BBC Radio Leeds are organising the public debate at The Venue, Leeds College of Music, on Thursday 21 June 2007 at 6pm. A panel of experts will face audience questions about current building and development, and will debate the cities' future challenges. The meeting will be chaired by BBC Radio Leeds' Liz Green and the panel includes:
Barra MacRuairí – Head of Renaissance Towns & Cities, Yorkshire Forward
John Thorp – Leeds Civic Architect
Maud Marshall – Chief Executive, Bradford Centre Regeneration
Dr Paul Chatterton – Dept of Geography, University of Leeds
Martin Wainwright – Journalist Highlights of the debate will then be broadcast on Liz Green’s show on BBC Radio Leeds (92.4FM and on this website) on Friday 22 June between 12 and 2pm. David Smith Chair of RIBA Yorkshire says: “How our towns and cities look and how they work are vitally important questions for everyone. This radio debate and the associated TV programmes will give everyone an opportunity to get involved." On BBC One, David Dimbleby's How We Built Britain (9pm Sundays) traces the history of Britain through its architectural heritage from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. A local dimension is added to the debate On Monday 18 June, when Linda Barker will examine the different approaches to regeneration and development in the cities of Bradford and Leeds. The TV programme will be broadcast on BBC One AT 22.35pm. To be part of the audience at the debate: contact RIBA at riba.yorkshire@inst.riba.org or Tel 0113 2378480 to book tickets. Attendance is free but tickets must be booked in advance. | 
