A REGENERATION chief has defended a decision to spend £1 million of public cash demolishing the two derelict Keighley College buildings.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw said the expenditure by Bradford Council – at a time of multi-million pound budget cuts to vital services – was standard practice for council-owned land.

He said that expecting developers to pay the cost of demolition would create an “extra hurdle” to deter their interest.

Cllr Ross-Shaw, the council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, added: “It is really important that we move forward on this site and remove an eyesore in the town.”

He made the comments after the council this week revealed to the Keighley News that the cost of demolishing the former Keighley College building in North Street had been £572,138.

The cost of levelling the site – to make way for a planned £9 million ‘one-stop shop’ for public services – included the stripping out of asbestos.

The figure emerged after the council publicly announced it had set aside £430,000 from its contingency fund to cover the estimated costs of knocking down the remaining, smaller college building on Cavendish Street.

The council’s ruling Executive will next Tuesday decide whether to go ahead with the demolition.

Keighley MP John Grogan said he had raised with council chiefs the issue of costs, but was told no potential developer was likely to take on the risk and liability of demolition costs.

He said: “The challenge now will be to market the site aggressively and attract an investment which will enhance the town centre.

“Senior councillors and officers are confident that they can attract investment on to the site. I stressed that a private sector investor is what the town really needs.

“Obviously the spectre of the hole in the middle of town which Bradford endured for some years is not something we want to repeat in Keighley.”

Regeneration committee member Cllr Andrew Mallinson, who has long called for the college buildings to be demolished, said: “Ultimately this will be money well spent. Hopefully it will be recouped through the sale of the land.

“The Cavendish Street building went through an extensive marketing process and nobody came forward – the only way to make the site into a marketable position was to demolish it.”a key

But fellow district councillor Zafar Ali, whose Keighley Central ward includes the college buildings, called for the Cavendish Street building to be saved, andbecome a much-needed amenity for both young people and the elderly.

Cllr Khadim Hussain, another Keighley Central councillor, described demolition as the only choice, adding: “Obviously the council have gone through a proper tendering process and that’s the best price they can get for demolition.”

The £430,000 estimated cost of demolition includes all associated works including temporary road closures, fencing, scaffolding, as well as digging out the foundations once the building has been brought down. The site will then be top-soiled in preparation for marketing.

Cllr Ross-Shaw added: “We know that town’s businesses back this proposal as it will eradicate an eyesore and prepare a key site in Keighley town centre for further development.”