THE future of a community hall threatened with closure as part of Bradford Council cuts will be discussed at a public consultation.

Ian Clough Hall in Baildon, which opened in 1971, is under threat as part of Bradford Council’s £82 million worth of budget cuts over the next four years.

Halls in Denholme, Harden, Oakworth, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Silsden are also being hit under the plans.

The Council aims to hand ownership of the buildings over to community groups, but Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe has given a stark warning that if no-one comes forward, “they will close”.

Now any potential groups interested in taking on the running of Ian Clough Hall have been urged to attend a drop-in public consultation event at the Hall Cliffe site on Wednesday, January 18, between 5pm and 8pm.

The site, which also includes Baildon Library, features a main hall and two meeting rooms. It holds functions, fitness classes and events with members of the local community.

The hall is named after Ian Clough, a Baildon-born mountaineer who was killed on an expedition to climb the south face of the Himalayan massif Annapurna in 1970.

Gill Dixon, Baildon Town Council chairman, said: “I hope that we will gather information and identify a range of options for Ian Clough Hall.

“Bradford Council has signed a Service Level Agreement with Baildon Town Council to jointly provide the library service in Baildon until April 2020. This includes a clear statement of heads of terms for lease of the current library building until 2020.

“In our view, any discussions about the future of the hall must take place in the context of this legal agreement which runs until 2020. This is a complex issue, with many options to consider..”

Councillor Debbie Davies (Con, Baildon) said: “It would be a great loss to Baildon if we did lose it.

“It can’t carry on how it is. It is losing money. It’s right that it should be looked at. This is a great opportunity for people to have their say.”

Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and culture said: “We are consulting on the proposal to transfer the hall to a community group from 2018/19. Officers will be available to answer questions from users of the building and members of the public and there will be a chance for people to discuss the way forward.

“There is a duty on the council to consult when it is proposing to make changes to its services.”

Similar public consultation events have taken place over the last few weeks at Denholme Mechanics Institute, Holden Hall, Kirkland’s Community Centre, Harden Memorial Hall and Silsden Town Hall.