Society's wish-list for better city centre (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Society's wish-list for better city centre

6:21pm Friday 24th July 2009 in

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A far-reaching 14-point regeneration plan for the city over the next eight years has been published.

‘Common Sense Regeneration’, drawn up by Bradford Civic Society following public meetings earlier this year, includes proposals to: l Re-route the inner ring-road to encompass a larger city centre l Re-open the Bradford Canal linking Shipley and Forster Square but with fewer locks l Bring coherent changes to city centre buildings and pedestrian routes.

But three of the most radical proposals concern the vacant Westfield site, the Odeon and a cross-rail link.

The Civic Society says the Westfield site should be partly landscaped to form the new Park in the Heart – not the £24m scheme in Centenary Square – with a smaller retail shopping centre.

Instead of demolishing the Odeon, the building should be preserved and converted into a “world class” concert hall and conference centre.

And a feasibility study should be undertaken by a public and private sector partnership to look at developing a cross-rail link between the Interchange and Forster Square station linked to a new Manningham station.

In a foreword, Civic Society chairman Anthony Mann says: “In terms of regeneration, Bradford has had several attempts. What they did in the 1950s and ’60s might have been considered forward thinking at the time.

“We now know that the wholesale destruction of many parts of Bradford’s historic centre was misguided and tantamount to mindless vandalism.

“And so to the 21st century. Six years of a regeneration agency that tried in vain to propel its own agenda on our beloved city – an agenda that, to anyone who looks for real physical evidence, failed!”

Three thousand copies of the glossy illustrated pamphlet have been published. They have been sent to all 90 Bradford Metropolitan District councillors, local businesses and public and private outlets.

Councillor Adrian Naylor, who holds the portfolio for regeneration on the decision-making executive committee, said: “I have had a quick skim through and so I have had a flavour of the contents. I will sit down and look at everything.

“In terms of what’s there, someone has gone to a lot of time, trouble and effort to put this together. I am glad there are people other than myself who are passionate about Bradford; but I have to be pragmatic about what can be delivered.

“At the back of the book I notice that the Council is down to pay for quite a lot of this. In an ideal world that might be possible, but we are in a recession.”

The proposals for the Odeon, the Park in the Heart and the rail link are particularly at variance with plans in the pipeline.

Coun Naylor said there was unlikely to be scope to vary the schemes at this stage.

He said: “Things like the city park has already passed through planning and is out to tender, so in terms of the differences that’s probably too late.

“Everything that is funded – the new paving in Hustlergate, the Park in the Heart – will be delivered in the next few years.”

e-mail: jim.greenhalf @telegraphandargus.co.uk