Demolish old sites and retain greenbelt (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Demolish old sites and retain greenbelt

8:48am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Readers' letters By Telegraph & Argus

SIR – The issue of long-term derelict buildings in Bradford was raised by Paul Mackie in your business supplement (Bradford Means Business, T&A, February 8).

These monoliths to the past which by and large have outlived their usefulness and have little or no prospect of being re-used before someone seriously vandalises them, or even worse, sets fire to them as has already happened.

As he says many are listed buildings, but do not merit such inflated status. They need to be de-listed and demolished, including the old Conditioning House on Canal Road, Drummonds Mill on Lumb Lane and a host of Mills in Goitside on Thornton Road, to mention but a few.

These cleared sites would include a mix of family housing, affordable housing and open space in locations close to shops and public transport, etc.

Added up, the land would take pressure off the development of green fields and be in locations which are far more sustainable.

Philip Coote, Rooley Crescent, Bradford