Bradford Interchange: How much cash has gone towards surveys

The station - which is run by WYCA - has been shut since early January following a collapse of concrete within the Interchange basement car park.

Since then, several surveys have been carried out.

At the end of May, WYCA said the bus station would stay shut until at least September to allow for "more in-depth surveys" to be completed to "determine if it can ever be safely reopened".

This week, the Telegraph & Argus asked WYCA how much taxpayers' money had so far been spent on the surveys, and how much more taxpayers' money was expected to be spent on surveys up until September.

WYCA responded saying it had allocated a budget of £300,000 for the surveys. 

It remains to be seen when - if - Bradford Interchange bus station will reopen (Image: Newsquest)

In a recent report, WYCA said the station closure had led to additional costs to the authority of between £204,000 and £238,000 per month.

This includes lost income due to the closure and costs to ensure the building is properly secured.

WYCA also said it had invested more than £13 million into repairing and maintaining the facility in the last decade.

The authority itself admitted that the bus station - which was built in the mid-1970s - was "reaching the end of its expected 50-year lifespan" and "the structure is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and operate safely".

The T&A recently asked WYCA why several millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash had been spent in recent years on the Interchange which, by the authority's own admission, was "becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and operate safely".

The T&A also pointed out that a number of readers had urged WYCA to permanently close the facility now rather than "continuing to waste money" on it.

A WYCA spokesperson responded: "Public safety is our number one priority at Bradford Interchange bus station.

"We invested millions into the facility over the years to ensure it could continue to serve the people of Bradford safely.

"The efficient use of taxpayers' money has quite rightly also been at the heart of our decision-making, but we need more evidence from the surveys before we can come to a conclusion about the future of the Interchange."

The closure of Bradford's main bus station has caused much disruption (Image: Newsquest)

During a meeting last month, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: "Thanks to the people of Bradford - it has been horrendous at times but our focus is to make things as easy as possible.

"The people of Bradford have shown great patience.

"It has been really difficult, and I know people are very, very frustrated.

"We want to reassure the public we are working flat out with partners to come to the right decision about the future of the Interchange, bearing in mind the critical importance of public safety.

"We will continue to invest in Bradford to make a success of this great city.

"Transport is a vital part of the growing economy."

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: "The public are hugely frustrated and we all want to see a speedy resolution.

"We want to see plans in place regardless of what the outcome of the surveys are.

"When that happens, we want to immediately implement the right solution - it can't happen soon enough."

Before any decision is made on the bus station, WYCA said it was committed to "enhancing" the entrance to the rail station at the Interchange.

This would provide rail users with facilities which have been lacking since much of the building closed, according to the authority.

This rail gateway is to be created using £22m of funding previously set aside for Bradford Interchange enhancements as part of the Transforming Cities programme.

A WYCA spokesperson added: "Work is underway to identify sites for a possible temporary bus station fit for Bradford as UK City of Culture 2025, to be introduced as quickly as possible should the final survey reports advise on continued closure.

"We know this has been disruptive to the people of Bradford, but at the heart of decision-making we have sought to prioritise public safety, the efficient use of taxpayers' money, and to minimise disruption."