Centres to close as city faces £30m cuts

BRADFORD is braced for its biggest round of cuts in a generation after the city council unveiled more than £30m of savings measures for the coming year.

In addition to the closure of five of the area’s 31 libraries, Bradford City Council also announced plans yesterday to shut one family centre, one swimming pool, one community centre and all 11 of its care homes amid a raft of cuts over the coming months.

A consultation has been held for a scheme to build five new care homes for the city’s elderly and disabled population.

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The council’s ruling executive yesterday said it also planned to shut the Albion family centre, Manningham Pool, and Holden Hall in Oakworth to cut costs as a result of the reduced Government grant it will receive this year.

Leader Ian Greenwood said these had been “enormously difficult” decisions but that the authority had done its best to protect the city’s most vulnerable people.

However, cuts include the removal of the council’s £250,000-a-year subsidy for meals on wheels, meaning users will see the price they pay per meal almost double from £3 to £5.64.

Fees at many facilities will be raised and opening hours cut, while parking charges will be introduced for the first time in Shipley, Ilkley, Keighley and Bingley.

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