It is extremely disappointing that the opening of Bradford’s flagship City Park has been delayed by two months.

Businesses and residents have put up with a building site in the heart of the city for almost two years now, and were expecting the end to be in sight with some sort of official opening next month.

Instead, we are now told it will be November, with part of the work potentially slipping into next year before the £24.4m scheme is completed.

There are a number of understandable reasons why the scheme has been delayed, including design adjustments and weather conditions. The Council has also suggested unforeseen events like the EDL march also played their part.

The problem is, though, that so much hope and expectation has been invested in the City Park project.

While no one is suggesting it will be the answer to all Bradford’s problems, once completed it will certainly transform the visual appearance of this part of the city.

And any delay simply adds grist to those who believe the scheme to be a waste of money.

You can almost hear the knives being sharpened.

But there is little that can be done other than to make the best of it and hope there are no further delays.

The Council must do everything in its power to meet the new target for completion.

And while the idea of a gradual opening rather than a big event is understandable while, as Coun David Green puts it, there may still be tweaks to be made, there must surely be an argument for planning a big celebration event to mark its completion.