OPPOSITION politicians have criticised the £200,000 price tag of about 50 new signs and maps going up around central Bradford to boost tourism.

The signs, being installed in streets and car parks around the city centre, aim to help visitors navigate the area and also give information about major attractions like the Alhambra Theatre and the National Media Museum.

The scheme is being jointly funded by Bradford Council and the Government's Regional Growth Fund, as part of longer-term work to improve the public areas in the city centre.

Nigel Rice, project delivery manager at Bradford Council, said: "It is important that visitors and residents are able to find their way around the city centre.

"Research has shown that people are more likely to stay longer and return to an area if they can find their way around a destination with confidence."

He said the boards could be updated as necessary and also contained QR codes to allow people with smart phones to find out more information online.

So far, 20 traditional fingerposts have been put up around the city and nine maps installed, mainly in car parks.

Now a further 22 map and information boards are being built into pavements over the next few weeks.

Conservative group leader, Councillor Simon Cooke, said the cost worked out at around £4,000 a sign.

He said: "It's all good stuff but £200,000 does seem an awful lot of money for some signs in the city centre.

"I'm all in favour of QR codes and all the other things but we probably have to ask seriously, given everything that was said last month at the budget meeting, whether actually this is just an indication of things getting a little out of control."

Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, said: "It sits along the £10,000 for lighting up the town hall at the same time as we cut care to elderly people and take money out of schools.

"While individually they might all be nice things to have, anybody who has a budget, like a household budget, understands that when times are hard, sometimes some of the nice things have to go."

But Labour's executive member responsible for tourism, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, defended the spending.

She said: "Bradford was awarded Regional Growth Fund as a one-off grant to support our city centre regeneration, providing a 50/50 match for council investment.

"Had we not spent the money on signage we wouldn't be allowed to spend it on any other council services, sadly national legislation prevents council finance from being that flexible."