Memorials moved as City Park begins to take shape

WORK has begun in Bradford to relocate several city centre memorials out of the City Park area.

Twenty memorials were discovered within the park boundary and the council has held discussions with various organisations and individuals involved over the move.

Many will be located in a new area in Norfolk Gardens, some will remain in their current position and others are being situated in parks across the district, at the wish of the families or organisations concerned.

The Bradford City Fire Memorial in the centre of the City Park is not being relocated but will be enhanced by the works, says Bradford Council.

Construction is scheduled around the 25-year anniversary of the Bradford City Fire on May 11.

Coun Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “The council has worked hard to reach all the families and organisations related to each of the memorials and has adapted the City Park design to accommodate their wishes or worked with our Parks and Landscapes Service to locate the memorials in parks across the district.

“It has been fascinating researching the history of each of the memorials and I would like to thank everybody who has supported us in reaching all the parties involved.”

Memorials within the City Park boundary include those to Bradford policewoman PC Sharon Beshenivsky and have-a-go-hero Tasawar Hussain.

The father-of-two was shot dead while chasing armed men who had robbed a Bradford travel agent in January 2003.

The City Park, which is due to be completed in summer 2011, has been developed from the 2003 masterplan for the city centre which used Bradford’s natural features as a key element of the future design of the city.

The Bradford district includes some of the best parks in Britain, as well as renowned natural landscapes such as Ilkley Moor and Bronte Country, which inspired the ‘park in the city’ concept.

Coun Naylor said: “The City Park is a transformational project driving forward the new vision for Bradford. These memorials provide a link to the history of Bradford and it’s vital that the City Park can reflect both the future and the history of the city and district.”