WEST Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has still not answered a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Telegraph & Argus over the closure of Bradford Interchange's bus station - more than 40 days after the question was asked.

Bradford's main bus station - run by WYCA - has been shut since early January after a block of concrete from the structure collapsed into an underground car park.

On January 12, the Telegraph & Argus submitted the following question to WYCA under the Freedom of Information Act: "Please can WYCA provide all written correspondence it has made and received regarding the emergency closure of the bus station at Bradford Interchange, up to today (Friday, January 12, 2024)."

Under the Freedom of Information Act, authorities are required to comply with requests within 20 working days of receipt, although there are circumstances when this time limit can be extended.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bradford Interchange could be closed for several weeks as surveys take place

On February 9, WYCA informed the Telegraph & Argus that the "organisation may hold some of the information which you have requested" - but said due to the request's "complexity", an extension had been permitted from 20 working days to 40 working days.

"We expect that we will be able to provide a full response to you no later than March 8, 2024," WYCA added at that time.

But on March 8, WYCA told the Telegraph & Argus: "We apologise for the delay in providing you with a response to your request.

"We are actively working on providing you with the information you have requested and a response will be issued to you as soon as possible.  

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause."

Yesterday, 47 working days after the FOI was submitted, the Telegraph & Argus asked WYCA - on behalf of the public - why the information had still not been provided by WYCA, and when the information would be provided.

WYCA had not responded by the time of publication.

Last week, it emerged a temporary bus station could be set up in Bradford city centre should the work needed to repair Bradford Interchange stretch into 2025.

WYCA said it was in talks to find potential sites for a temporary option.

Results of a survey on the current site are due in the next few weeks.

If that reveals repairs will continue into 2025, when Bradford is UK City of Culture, then a temporary site would be established, the authority said.