The Labour MP has hit out at the decision to abandon the proposed Squire Lane development, arguing that communities which have already experienced years of underinvestment are being denied a promised facility.
National governing body Swim England has also described the decision as a “huge missed opportunity”, highlighting concerns over the number of children in the area who are unable to swim.
Bradford Council’s Executive announced last month that it would go against the recommendation of officers and not proceed with the Squire Lane scheme.
The Reform-led administration said the council could not afford the additional borrowing required to complete the development, particularly with no guarantee that costs would not rise further.
Council leader Cllr Stephen Place told a recent Scrutiny Committee: “We didn’t take it lightly. We have to take fiscal responsibility and fiscal common sense. Bradford simply cannot afford this facility.”
However, Mr Hussain has challenged that argument following changes to local government funding which are expected to provide Bradford Council with an additional £273.1 million from central government.
He said: “Reform’s decision to scrap the new Squire Lane sports and leisure centre is shocking, but sadly not surprising.
“This is not simply something that has happened because there is no money. Bradford Council has recently received £273 million in funding from the Labour Government following years in which I and others campaigned hard for our district to receive a fairer settlement.
“Yet Reform has chosen to return £20 million of Government investment and write off another £5.4 million that has already been spent. That is a political choice, and Reform must take responsibility for it.”
Mr Hussain said he was particularly concerned about the impact on Girlington and surrounding inner-city communities.
“This is a diverse community which has suffered from underinvestment for far too long,” he said.
“Residents are entitled to ask why, when Bradford finally has additional resources available, it is their community that is once again being told it cannot have the investment it was promised.”
He said the proposed centre would have served more than 87,000 people and provided families and young people with access to facilities including a public swimming pool.
Responding to the criticism, Cllr Place said Labour had previously had the opportunity to deliver the scheme.
He said: “Imran Hussain and his party had a long time during which they could have built this development. They chose not to.
“This choice made by the administration executive was purely based on fiscal common sense.”
Cllr Place said completing the project would have required a further £11.9 million, potentially £12.9 million, in borrowing and left Bradford taxpayers facing an additional £1.2 million in annual costs.
He said this was not compatible with the administration’s approach to the council’s finances.
Meanwhile, Swim England has urged the council to reconsider the decision, pointing to low swimming ability among children in the area.
According to the national governing body, just 40 per cent of Year 6 pupils at Margaret McMillan Primary School, one of the schools closest to the proposed site, meet the national curriculum requirement of being able to swim at least 25 metres.
The national average is around 75 per cent.
A Swim England spokesperson said: “The decision not to proceed with the proposed pool at Squire Lane is a huge missed opportunity for local residents and the wider city.
“Bradford has a shortage of available swimming pools and too many children across Bradford currently leave school unable to swim.
“We would urge the council to reconsider this decision and to deliver the swimming pools the community needs so that everyone across Bradford can enjoy the many benefits of being active in the water.”
Swim England said it was keen to work with Bradford Council to increase opportunities for local communities to access swimming facilities.
