Campaigners win pledge to reconsider Bradford's Victoria Hall closure

Campaigners want to take over the running of Victoria Hall

A council has pledged to reconsider closing a community hall after campaigners took another step in their fight to stop it being sold.

Activists had already delayed the closure of Bradford's Victoria Hall until the end of March while they finalised community takeover plans.

They have now won a pledge for a rethink on the issue by the local authority after handing in a petition.

Campaigners said the latest decision bought them more time.

Currently, a nursery, swimming pool and several community groups, including youth services, operate from the 1870s hall in Queensbury.

The Queensbury Community Programme (QCP) group, which wants to take over the running of the site, said the council had initially planned to shut the building at the start of 2024.

'Significant investment'

Bradford is just one of several Yorkshire councils which has detailed plans to sell off public buildings as they try to plug big holes in their budgets.

Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday night, Alex Ross-Shaw, the council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said the Grade II listed building now required "significant capital investment", including a new boiler.

The council said the building needed significant investment

He said: "Sadly, the financial situation for councils across the country means we cannot continue to subsidise the building to a tune of £60,000 a year indefinitely until a solution is found

"But I have made clear at the start of this process that every opportunity will be made to find a sustainable community-run solution and future for Victoria Hall."

The latest victory means campaigners have more time to work on their community asset bid but the group said it needed another year to be able to bring together the plan.

Campaigner Robert Hargreaves said by the council signing the community transfer asset, it would mean the authority had "no financial burden" for it.

He said if the building closed hundreds of young people would be left without a youth service.

"A youth service which helps tackle mental health issues, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse. How much does that cost in the long run? It's a lot more than £60,000."

He added: said: "There's a lot of heritage and a lot of our local history in the building .

"It's embedded in everything that Queensbury does, it's the focal point of everything that happens in Queensbury really."