Bradford Council are planning to redevelop a neglected site as a possible new sports venue – it has been revealed.
The Council has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they are in the early stages of planning for a new facility at the sports site at Scotchman Road in Heaton.
The news comes just weeks after the Reform led Council said it was scrapping plans for a new pool and leisure centre at a vacant site on Squire Lane, saying the authority could not afford it.
But a top Reform Councillor has said the Scotchman Road development is in its infancy – and that the Council will only lead on the project if it believes it to be viable.
The LDRS had contacted the Council about the site after a petition calling for investment in Scotchman Road reached 1,000 signatures.
Started by Green Party campaigner Hamza Rehman, the petition points out that the Scotchman Road site was once a vital recreation and community space, but had since fallen into disrepair, with the astroturf in particular proving a sorry sight.
Mr Rehman said: “This was a space where people came together, where kids played and friendships were made. Nobody who grew up around here wants to see it like this.
“Over 1,000 people have signed this petition because they know what this facility meant to this community and what it could mean again. Bradford Council has a chance to turn a growing problem into something positive. We are asking them to take it.
“This community deserves better. We shouldn’t have to watch facilities disappear while nothing is done to replace them.”
The petition reads: “Like many others who cherished this facility, I am deeply saddened by its current state of neglect. This once vibrant site has now become a magnet for antisocial behaviour, turning a place that once nurtured community spirit into a hotbed of vandalism, drug use, and illegal dumping.
“The deterioration of the Scotchman Road astro turf is not just an aesthetic issue; it is a matter of public safety.
“The decline of this facility has caused distress among local residents, many of whom are increasingly concerned about the safety of their families and the wellbeing of our community.
“The current situation is unacceptable, and urgent action is required to restore this space to its former glory.”
The petition has now been presented to Bradford Council.
Mr Rehman said the need to repair the Scotchman Road site was even greater now the Council had scrapped plans for a pool at Squire Lane – which were first proposed over a decade ago.
That decision, made last month by the new Reform leadership, will mean Bradford West is left without a Council run swimming pool.
The Council will also lose out on £20m that the Government had pledged towards the scheme, and will have to write off over £5m it had already spent on the proposals.
The decision was made by the Executive, and backed up by the majority of the Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee earlier this month.
The Squire Lane centre would have cost around £32m – meaning the Council would have to borrow £12m to top up the £20m Government grant.
Defending that decision, Bradford Council Leader Stephen Place said: “We didn’t take it lightly.
“We have to take fiscal responsibility and fiscal common sense.
“Bradford simply cannot afford this facility.”
Referring to the current leisure offer in his area, Mr Rehman said: “Access to leisure facilities in this part of Bradford is already limited, and cancelling Squire Lane has made that even worse.
“Bradford Council has now walked away from one of the most significant investments in sport and leisure for Bradford West and that will not come again.
“Restoring the Scotchman Road astro turf is a chance to show that this community still matters.”
When asked about plans for the site, Councillor Ian Walker, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities said: “We are currently working with funding partners on a potential redevelopment of the former Scotchman Road site as a sports venue.
“The process is in its infancy, and initial surveys are yet to be concluded. We will consult with local groups if the project is viable.
“If it is not viable, we will look to work with local communities on a potential community lead project.”
