A CYCLING hub allowing disabled children to ride adapted bikes and former prisoners to volunteer inside is facing closure.

Directors at Capital of Cycling, in Hall Ings, Bradford, claim their immediate landlord, NCP, has contacted them to explain their are “significant risks” associated with some of the retail buildings they own and the company must pay £65,000 to bring it up to scratch.

The shop runs bike maintenance workshops with youngsters and former prisoners have volunteered at the location, which is a coalition between a number of charities, including Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure, Skippko Arts and Margaret Carey Foundation.

David Robison, co-director of Capital of Cycling, says NCP do not want to pay the money and the group has been asked to vacate the premises by April 7.

They are now urging supporters and residents to support them by writing to their MP or councillor and urge them to step in.

He said: “The timing could not have been worse. Apart from having to abandon a number of projects, we are really going to struggle to get bikes and facilities out of this building by the date set.

“A lot of valuable work will simply have to go to the tip.

“Although there may be other venues we could relocate some activities to, it will be fragmented and diminished and the strategic importance of the location as a marker of intent for Bradford cannot be overstated.

“But it’s our disabled riders, Bradford families, youth groups and so on who will be the losers for now.”

Anthony Thomson, a community development manager at the shop, said they were all under the impression they would be able to stay for “two or three years” when they first moved in last summer, and the decision to close down the shop will leave another gaping hole in Bradford city centre.

He added: “We were hoping this would be an opportunity to develop a long-term city centre premises.”

A spokesperson for NCP said: “Due to lease restrictions we are unable to rent these units long term, and in conjunction with required capital expenditure needed we will no longer be offering these premises as retail units.

“We have been delighted to support the Capital of Cycling for the past 12 months offering them the space rent free to help their work throughout the community and we are very sorry we are not able to continue doing so.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “Since we became aware of the NCP’s position regarding the future of the group we’ve been in contact with both the NCP and the cycling group to see if an agreeable solution could be found however we cannot dictate to the NCP how to run their car park.

“We’re keen to see the Capital of Cycling stay in the city centre and at their current location if an agreement can be made, but as negotiations with the NCP continue we are also looking at what other venues may be suitable so can retain a presence in the city centre and we will continue to discuss the issue with the Capital of Cycling team as a matter of urgency so they can continue their fantastic work.”

“We’ve been delighted to support the Capital of Cycling team at that location and have worked closely with them on a number of projects. Bradford is quickly gaining a fantastic reputation as a district of cycling and that’s in no small part down to the hard work of the volunteers behind the Capital of Cycling and the other cycling groups across the district.”