Millions spent in Bradford after assets stripped in Silsden

A proposed new £15 million market in Bradford is a kick in the teeth for Silsden people losing land and buildings, claims a councillor.

Adrian Naylor said cash-strapped Bradford Council was spending millions on the city centre while outlying towns and villages were losing their assets.

He spoke after Bradford announced plans to replace the existing Oastler Centre with a new market in Darley Street, and use the old site for housing.

Cllr Naylor, who sits on both Bradford and Silsden councils, said City Hall had in recent years made six-figure sums selling Silsden’s assets.

 

 

He said these included the former library, council offices and public toilets, and strips of land that developers could use to access land-locked housing sites.

Cllr Naylor said: “The new £15 million market, while welcome news for Bradford, is not going to be welcomed by people living in outlying areas that are not seeing investment taking place.

“The market in the centre of Bradford will not attract anyone from the outer elements of the district. One of the concerns voiced by residents are that assets are being stripped in outlying areas of the district.”

Cllr Naylor said public buildings in Silsden were being closed and sold, despite the council forecasting that the town would grow by 50 per cent in coming years.