Town centres like those in Bingley and Shipley have huge potential - Anna Dixon
I am very fortunate to represent the beautiful villages across the Shipley constituency, including Baildon, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Wilsden, Harden, Cullingworth and Eldwick. These communities are thriving because they have village halls; churches, like Wesleys in Baildon; post offices, like the community post office run by volunteers in Wilsden; pubs, like the Malt Shovel in Menston; local Co-operative supermarkets; and many independent cafés and shops.
Bingley is a historical market town. It has a thriving arts centre that has recently benefited from upgrades after receiving grassroots arts funding. Bingley’s anchor business is the famous Damart factory, which makes thermal underwear. It hosts community events, and has hosted a fantastic exhibition for Bradford 2025.
There are new charitable enterprises, such as the Brick Bank café, and independent shops, such as Luscombe’s, Hedgehog Organics and Eldwick Creamery, as well as cafés such as the Craft House, the Loft and the Lounge.
At the heart of the town is Bingley pool, which sadly remains closed due to the devastating cuts that the Tories made, over 14 years, to local councils such as Bradford Council, and due to the previous Conservative Government’s false promises of levelling-up funding, which never materialised.
By contrast, this Government has committed millions through the pride in place programme, and is rebalancing the amount of money for councils like Bradford. It is giving more power and money to local communities.
Let me turn to Shipley town centre. While there are some brilliant businesses there, it was really neglected under the Tories; there were vacant shops and many charity shops, banks closed, crime was up, and shoplifters were free to commit crime with no consequences.
I congratulate Bradford Council on delivering a fantastic upgrade to the market square, and I also congratulate the Labour Government on increasing neighbourhood policing, which led to a summer crackdown on street drinking and new powers to crack down on retail crime.
Unlike other areas we have heard about today, we are seeing new pubs opening, such as Reconnection in Shipley.
There is huge potential in Shipley to increase footfall. It is well connected to Leeds and Bradford by train, and now that the Labour Government is getting the trains back into public ownership, we will see improved services and better affordability.
It is vital that we build more housing on brownfield sites, such as the riverside in Saltaire and the old Ian Clough Hall in Baildon, so that more people live near and on our high streets.
We should also convert excess commercial, retail and office spaces into much-needed social and affordable homes. Homes England funding and planning reforms will unlock those sites, stimulate growth on our high streets, and reverse the situation that we faced under the Tory Government, when so few homes were built.
To sum up, places and town centres like those in Bingley and Shipley have huge potential. After 14 years of neglect and decline under the Tories, this Government is supporting our high streets, so that they can thrive once again.
An abridged version of a speech delivered by Anna Dixon, Labour MP for Shipley, in Parliament.