SIR – At the recent meeting of the Baildon Parish Council, where it voted to support the local group BRAiD (Baildon Residents Against Inappropriate Development) who are opposing the development of a so-called ‘high-tech’ centre at Buck Lane, Baildon, an official of Bradford’s Planning Department stated that this proposed venture was one that the private sector was unwilling to undertake.

This speculative venture by Bradford Council will cost £2.5 million plus VAT of public money for just levelling the site, installing an access road and traffic lights.No premises will be constructed at this phase of the development.

With the serious cuts on the way in the Council’s services which will really hurt a great number of people, is this the right time to be gambling with the ratepayers’ money in such a speculative venture?

After all, the fiasco of having the centre of Bradford demolished without guarantees of takers, which deprived the city of rates from this area for a number of years, does not give Bradford’s officials a glowing track record and caution should be the watchword.

B Stone, Grange Park, Baildon