Campaign grows to save Silsden Town Hall from closure

Dozens of consultation forms opposing the move have also been submitted to Bradford Council.

And the Friends of Silsden Town Hall, which instigated the campaign with a packed public meeting, has been lobbying ward councillors and senior council members.

Friends chairman, Ray Colling, said: "The standing-room-only public meeting was testament to the feeling amongst Silsden residents who unanimously supported the campaign to keep the building open.

"The town hall – which will also now include the library, to be staffed by volunteers from April 1 – currently has about 30,000 people a year passing through its doors.

"Playing such a vital part in community life, why on earth would anyone want to even consider closing it?

"There is an extensive range of community events and activities for Silsden's older citizens and children, with a multitude of clubs, including many in school holiday periods.

"The Friends have identified means to help reduce the costs of running the hall and want to work together with Bradford Council to secure its future.

"We feel that the building could become a feather in the council's cap."

The premises, in Kirkgate, are among seven halls across the district which cash-strapped Bradford Council wants community groups to take on.

City Hall bosses have warned that if no-one comes forward, the buildings will be closed.

The proposal has generated the biggest response so far in the Council's public consultation on its latest round of cost-cutting measures, according to a new report, with more than 160 comments and two petitions.

The report reveals a total of 127 people have written in about plans for parks – in particular, a proposal to hand over the maintenance of bowling greens to clubs.

And 90 people have sent in comments about plans to close all but one of the district's public toilets, including those in Haworth.

On council tax, the report says some people felt bills should not be raised by the proposed 4.99 per cent, while others thought increases were necessary.

Bradford Council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe said the authority had already taken £250 million out of the annual budget because of “deep Government cuts”.

She added: “This is a huge amount. We are forced to find another £82m between now and 2020 but we have fewer options with each passing year of the Government’s austerity programme.

“In spite of this, we remain committed to maintaining high quality services while also fulfilling our duty to look after our most vulnerable residents with this shrinking pot of money.”

Councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the opposition Conservatives, said it was clear people were having their say on the services they had a direct interest in, but said the Council should do more work explaining the bigger picture to people.

He added: “Fifty-five per cent of Bradford Council’s budget is being spent on either looking after older people and the disabled or looking after children, and that’s the challenge we face.”

The public consultation closes on February 12. People can have their say at bradford.gov.uk.

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