THE sale of Bradford Council assets including Shipley's disused public toilets and an old library and offices in Silsden has been delayed.

Auctioneers Pugh & Co had listed the market place toilets, the derelict library in Wesley Place and an adjoining council office for a sale on April 19.

But the lots, which were listed without guide prices, have now been pulled from the listing for that day.

Craven Councillor Adrian Naylor (Independent), said council officers had told him the cancellation was due to a failure to prepare the properties for sale.

"I don't think it's conspiracy - it was just that the legal packs would not be ready in time for April 19.

"There is still a desire to sell the properties off and they should go to the next auction in June, unless something changes in the meantime.

"They have to sell things like these to pay for the black hole that is the City Hall refurbishment."

Councillor Val Slater, the authority's executive member for planning, transportation and highways, said the auctioneers would decide when the buildings would be auctioned.

"They are still on the list to be auctioned. If they are not going on this auction, they will be going on to the next list as far as I know.

"I think because the properties in Silsden have been empty for three years or more might need a little bit of work doing to them before they go on to the final auction list. I don’t know about the public toilets," she said.

"The main thing is to get maximum money for these properties from the auction."

In Shipley, ward Councillor Martin Love (Green), said: "Presumably they want to offload the toilets to stop people like me going on about them, to get some cash and to stop paying business rates on them.

"Whatever it ends up being used for it will have to get planning permission. I'd imagine it will be turned into a small retail kiosk or two.

Shipley town centre partnership committee member Stuart Illingworth added: "It is very disappointing that they've [the council] got to the point of selling them off.

"It's a crying shame that there are no public toilets in the town centre or railway station.

"In terms of its location, it would need to be some kind of retail and it will be really interesting to see what happens.

"Obviously the council want to get rid of it as to them it's an asset which is costing them money."

l Councillors Naylor and Love are standing in next month's council elections.