IAN Clough Hall in Baildon is to be closed and demolished by Bradford Council.

The community building which houses the library is to be closed because of high maintenance costs.

Bradford Council issued the following statement: "A decision has been made to close Ian Clough Hall on 31 March 2020. The site has been marked for closure for some time due to falling use and poor general condition.

"Ian Clough Hall and the Library are to be demolished and the site marketed for sale along with the land adjacent, with the proviso that any replacement facility will provide public parking facilities. Alternative locations for a library in Baildon are being considered.

"We are looking forward to working in partnership with Baildon Town Council to work towards a community facility being provided in any redevelopment which we hope will be a boost for Baildon and its residents in the long-term."

A regeneration partnership between Bradford Council and Baildon Town Council has been agreed which will "oversee an ambitious proposal to redevelop a prominent site in the centre of Baildon village". As landowner, Bradford Council will be the lead partner and will be the ultimate decision-maker.

The hall on Hallcliffe is currently used by the Home Farm Trust theatre group during the day and community groups in the evening, Baildon's public library and the Baildon Town Council office.

The Ian Clough Hall building was opened in 1971 and designated as a memorial to the Baildon mountaineer killed on Anapurna. Baildon Town Council plans to ensure a new memorial is designated following the demolition of the exisiting building.

Back in March it was announced that Bradford Council was seeking a “commercial or residential development” on the site.

The wider site, which currently includes a pay and display public car park and a recycling point, is proposed to include new older-persons' residential units, new community facilities and a space for a public library. Public and private car parking will also be included in the proposed scheme.

On October 14, Baildon Town Council's full council meeting will consider a recommendation to continue providing library services after March 31, 2020, from alternative premises. It is expected that a "community managed library" will replace the existing facilities. The library is currently part-managed by Baildon Town Council under a contract with Bradford Council.

All libraries in the Bradford District are currently subject to a major review, which will report before Christmas 2019 and will then inform the budget decisions to be made by Bradford Council in the early New Year. Final decision rests with Bradford Council.

The town council said in a statement that until the new buildings on the Ian Clough Hall site are ready, which is expected to be in approximately three years' time, alternative accommodation will be found for the public library and town council office. A thorough options appraisal is being conducted to find the most suitable venues.

Subject to a lease being finalised, Baildon Town Council is also taking over the management of the former Baildon Children's Centre building, which is located next to Sandal Primary School on West Lane. The Children's Centre, which is currently underused, will provide replacement office space for Baildon Town Council, a meeting room and a large activity room, with kitchen and toilets.

Baildon Town Council intends to return its main office to the Ian Clough Hall site when the new buildings are complete.

Councillor Joe Ashton, Chair of Baildon Town Council, said: "Love or loathe the architecture, Ian Clough Hall is an iconic part of Baildon and is held in great affection by many people, including me.

"However, Bradford Council has reached the conclusion that the existing building has now reached the end of its economic life. For this reason and after much investigation and deliberation, Baildon Town Council has decided to support Bradford Council in redeveloping the whole site, rather than keeping the existing building open at considerable cost."