A CHILDREN'S centre that has been blighted by vandalism since it shut last year faces an uncertain future.

Canterbury Youth Centre, also known as the Arc Centre, was closed in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Bradford Council says the building has been "blighted by vandalism" since then.

Shortly before Christmas, the Council was granted permission to demolish the building, which is based off Arum Street in the centre of the Canterbury Estate.

However, Bradford Council says the demolition notice was submitted to "keep all options open" for the site - and the preferred option is for a community group to take over the running of the building through a "community asset transfer."

Approving the demolition, planning officers at the Council said: "The building has been extensively vandalised and is not of any significant visual importance."

The application says that if the centre was to be demolished, the work could start as early as February.

The youth centre has been used by numerous groups, hosted community events and classes and acted as a meeting point in the estate.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the site there was an unattended fire involving a pile of rubbish burning in front of the centre.

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Outside sections of the building appeared to have been charred by recent fires, and the centre was daubed in graffiti.

Asked about the future of the centre in light of the application, a Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “No decision to demolish the building has been taken yet, we are keeping all options open including the possibility of a Community Asset Transfer.

"Since the building was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, it has been blighted by vandalism and if a Community Asset Transfer is not feasible and the building needs to be demolished on safety grounds, then this ‘Prior Notification’ to planning would mean that we’d be in a position to do this swiftly.”

Referring to the plans Councillor Talat Sajawal (Bradford Independent Group, Little Horton) said: "I would definitely not back any plans to demolish the Arc Centre.

"I have been working hard to get the centre back up and running, for the benefit of the local people.

"The centre is a key asset for the local people and the only way local residents will benefit from the centre is if it is fully functional.

"I want to see the Youth service back in the centre helping the local Youth, as well as parent and toddler groups, elderly groups and women's groups.

"This is what the centre was delivering before and that's what I want the centre to be delivering again."