Communication over closure 'disrespectful to Queensbury'

On Tuesday evening Bradford Council discussed a petition calling for the authority to scrap its plans to close Victoria Hall in Queensbury.

More than 2,000 people had signed the petition in just a few weeks, and at the meeting, a top Councillor apologised to the Queensbury community for the poor communication regarding the planned closure.

Councillors heard that the group currently running the hall, Queensbury Community Programme (QCP) had been blindsided when they were handed an eviction notice and told that the Council, which owns the building, planned to close it in early January.

The Council has since put that date back to March.

QCP had been working on a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) – which would involve Bradford Council handing over the listed building to the group - for over five years.

But the meeting heard that this process seemingly ended when the Council issued the eviction notice, and revealed it planned to close the hall and sell it on.

Earlier this year the Authority revealed that it needed to make £68m in savings in the coming months. To balance the budget, the Council would likely need to consider job losses, the sale of assets and the closure of facilities.

The hall is used by numerous clubs and community groups and is home to Queensbury Pool, which has been shut since 2019.

Robert Hargreaves, a former Councillor for Queensbury, spoke on behalf of the petitioners.

He said: “Residents of Queensbury have been involved in a Community Asset Transfer for Victoria Hall since 2018 – five years of hard work and dedication.

“We need more time to work on the CAT. Three more months may not allow adequate time for this.”

He urged the Council to put off any closure for at least a year.

Councillor Like Majkowski (Ind, Queensbury) said the work by the people of Queensbury to keep the hall running was “inspiring.”

He said: “The Queensbury Community Project were never officially advised of the rejection of the CAT, they were just served an eviction notice.

“Transparency and honesty are matters that should be non-negotiable.

“We deserve the courtesy of being informed of decisions that shape the future of this cultural treasure. The lack of prior notification raises concerns about due process.

“There has been a lack of communication and transparency that the community deserves.

“The Council needs to allow QCP to work with elected members to help push this asset transfer over the line.”

Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Thanks to all those who took time to sign the petition, it is a clear expression of how much people care about this hall.

Councillor Alex Ross Shaw (Image: newsquest)

“I’m aware the news of the closure was a shock to many, and I understand the disappointment and anger in how it was communicated.

“We have apologised and I’m happy to repeat that apology.”

He added: “The Council can’t continue funding the building indefinitely.”

He told members the plan to close the pool at Victoria Hall was first announced in 2017. In 2019 the community group was told they would need to provide a viable business case for taking on the building within six months.

He said: “We have spent £140,000 to keep the building open, but it now requires a significant capital investment.

“The current financial situation for the Council means we can’t continue to subsidise the building to the tune of £60,000 a year.

“We are working hard to find a community-led solution.”

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservatives, described Victoria Hall as a “wonderful building, loved by the community". 

She said: “The community asset transfer was proceeding when whoever made the decision to stop it sent a closure notice.

“The poor communication was not good enough, and was disrespectful to the campaigners of Queensbury.”

Councillor Hazel Johnson (Lab, Queensbury) spoke about the history of the hall as an important hub for generations of Queensbury residents, before listing the various clubs and groups that use the facility.

She added: “It is not just a fabulous Grade II-listed building, it is a place where the community meets and people of all ages feel safe.

“Queensbury needs Victoria Hall, and it must be allowed to serve the Queensbury community.”

Referring to the petition, Councillor Alex Mitchell (Lab, Queensbury) said: “Each signature represents a story, shared experience and a memory, and epitomises the resounding determination to preserve the hall.”

The petition was referred to a future meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive.