SIR – Bob Watson’s letter (Letters, August 13) regarding Bradford One, begins by commenting on the relative viability of the two bids, perhaps not being fully aware that both propose to develop a mid-range concert venue for the city.

Mr Watson suggests that “there are questions to be asked about the Bradford One bid” and specifically the grant that we were awarded.

Bradford One applied to the Social Investment Business (SIB) for funds to support the feasibility study we were required to prepare as part of our Expression of Interest to Bradford Council.

After careful assessment of our detailed application, and as part of a competitive process, SIB made this funding available to Bradford One from funds provided to it from central government specifically for the purpose of supporting social enterprises in exploring community ownership of public assets.

This funding was not available to Bradford Live as they were then constituted as a private company.

To date we have received and spent £60,000 of that allocation to fund the work required by Bradford Council.

This has included the extensive market research that Bradford Council asked us to carry out, expert help in developing our business plan and input from a range of professionals including architects, quantity surveyors and property specialists.

Before we received any of this funding we had to provide quotes from suppliers and evidence of expenditure in the form of invoices paid.

Gideon Seymour, chairman, Bradford One