Council responds to claim it 'failed' the people of Holme Wood

The claim was made at a meeting of the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee on Thursday when members were discussing a plan for a new retail development in Holme Wood. Members referred to the Holme Wood and Tong Neighbourhood plan – a regeneration plan drawn up for the area in 2012 that was never followed through.

Members heard that although the ambitious plan went before the Council’s Executive in 2012 – the document never went through the further stages needed to progress to a fully recognised plan.

Chair of the Committee Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) said: “Clearly when the plan went before the Executive there was the intention for it to become something quite important for the area.

“My personal comment is that our officers have failed the people of Holme Wood by not getting this document to its correct position.

“It has been a total failure of officers over the years.”

Claim that ‘People of Holme Wood have been failed’ - eight years on from regeneration plan being drawn up

In response to the claims, a Council spokesman said: “Whilst progress on the implementation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan has been affected by reductions in capital and revenue, its actions remain hugely important and the Council will prioritise them across our teams and key partners to make both physical and social infrastructure improvements within the area.

“We will also continue to work with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on prioritising major roads projects for both Tong Street, which has recently been granted funding to progess to the next stage, and the South East Bradford Link Road to unlock regeneration, environmental and sustainable transport benefits for Holme Wood and with housing partners on developing homes.

“The Council is also committed to supporting important grass roots work in Holme Wood led by partners such as Friends of Holme Wood, Build a Girl and the Valley Project.

“Significant investment in the TFD Centre at the heart of Holme Wood to establish it as an all-age prevention and early help hub will be recommended to the next meeting of Council’s Executive.

“A group of partners was brought together last year to look at revitalising joint work in the area and particularly to consider how to make progress on the social and economic outcomes needed.

“The Bradford Institute for Health Research led Act Early in Holme Wood project came out of this and, despite some delays caused by the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic, significant resources have been drawn into the project which, alongside funding from sources such as Well Bradford, mean that new ideas on work to improve the area and outcomes for residents can be generated.”