Councillor questions Odeon demolition (Bradford Liberal Democrats)

Bradford Liberal Democrats <info@bradfordlibdems.org.uk>

Councillor questions Odeon demolition

December 1, 2008 2:49 PM

Odeon Bradfod Cllr David Ward has tabled a series of questions to he Leader about the way the council is handling the application to demolish the Odeon.

Cllr Ward said,

" The application to demolish the Odeon must be determined in a totally open and transparent way . Yet already there have been problems with objectors not being able to register their views on line; the developers were allowed to address the Regulatory and Appeals Committee but BORG have not yet been allowed to do so.

I have also asked the leader to comment on a report which put the full cost of making the building sound at just over £1m, the length of time that the site will be left derelict and the continued flooding from a broken pipe inside the building.

I hope to get some answers when the council meets on Tuesday."

The full text of the questions is below.

1) Will the Leader comment on the Arcadis report which puts the full cost of implementing the Ramboll Whitbybird recommendations to reinstate the Odeon building to a sound structure and fabric at £1,055,000?

2 ) In view of the current unreliability of the Council's Access to Planning system which has been rejecting the acceptance of on line objections to the Langtree/YF Odeon applications and the number of people who do not have computer access, will the Leader confirm that the Council will fulfil their commitment that everyone shall have their say by instructing that a public press notice should be issued specifically to tell people that objections or approvals can be submitted by letter and that the final date previously detailed for submitting them no longer applies as they will be accepted up to the decision date which is expected to be in January 2009?

3) As two representatives of Langtree were allowed to address the Regulatory & Appeals Committee on 29 October and give their information regarding the joint Langtree/Yorkshire Forward applications to demolish the Odeon and build New Victoria Place, will the Leader make sure that the same courtesy is extended to the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group in advance of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee decision meeting?

4) Eighty years ago the original New Victoria Theatre was built and fully fitted out by 500 Bradford craftsmen in twelve months. Is it therefore acceptable to the Leader of the Council that if planning permission is given, we will have another building site in the centre of Bradford until the proposed completion date of New Victoria Place in 2015?

5) The current edition of the Odeon Observer highlights the cut pipes which continue to allow water to cascade inside the Odeon building, which is undoubtedly affecting its external appearance. As the building is expected to be with us until at least 2010, will the Leader of the Council make sure that this flooding is not permitted to continue as it cultivates a negative impression of Bradford for visitors to the Alhambra Theatre and the National Media Museum?