Bradford is to bid for £17 million of Lottery cash to help fund part of the ambitious city centre redevelopment.

An application to the National Lottery's Big Lottery Fund will be made in May to cover the city park project which includes water features such as the mirror pool and the reinstatement of part of Bradford Beck which, along with landscaping, is expected to cost up to £25 million.

And once again people are to be asked their views about the scheme near City Hall after a major re-think of the plans following an initial public consultation last year.

Instead of a large lake - suggested in Will Alsop's 2003 masterplan - planners now want a shallow pool a third of the size, which could be drained to create space for staging events.

They say its scaling-down would make it safer and more manageable and is a direct response to public reaction.

The Council's executive member for regeneration, Councillor Andrew Mallinson, said: "The idea of a city park featuring a mirror pool has been developed after taking on board concerns expressed by the public for a lake outside City Hall, which was originally earmarked in the masterplan.

"I am pleased that people took the time to visit the exhibitions to look at these proposals.

"The proposals for the city park will be subject to further public consultation as I believe that it is really important the final proposals for creating this superb public realm in the heart of the city reflect what the people of Bradford want for their city"

The city park is part of the Bowl quarter - one of four city-centre segments, called neighbourhood development frameworks in the ambitious regeneration plans.

It involves four office developments and a residential scheme.

All four neighbourhood development frameworks have been put out for consultation and are set to be accepted as evidence for a city centre area action plan.

A report will go to Bradford Council's decision-making executive next Tuesday setting out the comments received during the consultation for the Bowl quarter, which took place last November. Out of the 147 written responses to the Bowl plan, 33 made specific reference to the city park or mirror pool, reflecting a range of opinions.

Senior councillors will also be asked to recommend further consultation.

The executive member for environment and culture, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "I would encourage people to have their say on the city park proposals as they are very important for the city centre and the people who live, work and play in Bradford should have their views heard."

In the report to the executive, Christopher Hughes, head of plans and performance at the Council, says of the mirror pool: "The public either like it or loathe it.

"Many are concerned about its management and maintenance and the relocation of the existing memorials in Centenary Square."

Mr Hughes adds: "This project is a direct re-evaluation of, arguably, the most iconic and challenging proposal of the masterplan.

"It is also a fundamental element of the Waterways of Bradford Living Landmarks' project submitted by the Council to the National Lottery's Big Lottery Fund."

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration which is spearheading the city centre redevelopment, said: "The report to Bradford Council's ruling executive is a tremendously significant development in Bradford's regeneration.

"The city park will feature a mirror pool which can be easily transformed into a performance space to stage a wealth of public events including concerts and theatrical shows."

e-mail: jo.winrow@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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