BRADFORD (Park Avenue) could soon be taking on a 35 year lease on its Horsfall Stadium home.

Bradford Council owns the site, off Halifax Road, but has recently issued a public notice to say it is planning to dispose of the land.

It has confirmed this will include transferring it to the club on a 35 year lease.

The idea of transferring the site to the club’s ownership on a long term lease has been discussed by Bradford (Park Avenue) and Council representatives for some time.

And Bradford Council has now confirmed that it is planning to dispose of the site.

The legally required public notice allows people to view the proposals and comment on them before the public asset is transferred. In this case, people can comment on the disposal until June 21.

The Council has also confirmed that once the transfer goes ahead it will retain public access to the community use on the site, including athletics facilities.

In recent years there had been rumours that the club may move from the site - including a potential move to groundshare with Bradford Bulls at Odsal.

But last year the club’s major benefactor Gareth Roberts revealed that not only would Avenue remain at their Horsfall base, but that it was also working with the Council to have the site transferred over to the club.

It would give the club more control over the stadium’s future, as well as make it easier to invest in the site.

Last year the club was granted permission to build classrooms at the site as part of a football academy that would offer BTEC sports diplomas.

The plans also included a new club shop, new perimeter security fencing and a new spectator barrier.

It was part of the club’s grand plans for the site and secure the future of the club and in the application the club said: “Our facilities are vastly under-used, and by developing Horsfall we believe we can provide Bradford with a valuable community asset”

After issuing the public notice for the Horsfall transfer, a spokesman for Bradford Council said: “Bradford Council has been working with Bradford Park Avenue Football Club for some time towards the club taking on a 35 year lease for the site.

“The Council will retain the public access for athletics and community use that is currently available on the site.”

The transfer would be the latest instance of Bradford Council handing over publicly owned assets or facilities to community groups or organisations.

A number of libraries have been handed over to volunteer groups to secure their future as local government cuts squeeze Council finances.

And the Manor House Museum in Ilkley went from being a Council run facility to being run by a charity group Friends of the Manor House.

Work is also underway to transfer facilities such as Bingley Swimming Pool, which has been threatened with closure, to community led groups to keep them running.