WEST Yorkshire's Mayor has issued a brief comment on Bradford Live.

Tracy Brabin has long spoken about the importance of West Yorkshire's cultural and creative sectors.

Amid ongoing concerns and questions surrounding the £50.5 million Bradford Live project, the Telegraph & Argus asked Ms Brabin to share her thoughts.

In a short statement, she said: "Bradford Live's going to be amazing when it opens."

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin

Earlier this week, Ms Brabin posted on the X social media site: "Relative to size of population, West Yorkshire has the biggest creative economy in employment terms in the whole of the north.

"We understand the power of music to drive tourism, investment, regeneration, skills and well-being and will continue to invest in our creative sector to grow our economy."

Last week, Bradford Council confirmed building work to turn the city's former Odeon cinema into a 3,800-capacity music and entertainment venue had reached "practical completion".

The Council also revealed it had contributed £43.75m of grants and loan cash to the scheme, with the rest of the money coming from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ms Brabin has served as the Mayor of West Yorkshire since the office was established in May 2021.

Five years prior to that, in 2016, WYCA made an investment of £357,000 in the Bradford Live project.

The chosen operator for Bradford Live, Birmingham-based NEC Group, has not publicly commented on its involvement with Bradford Live for a number of months.

No shows or events are currently listed under the 'what's on' section of the Bradford Live website.

An opening date for Bradford Live has not yet been released.

Last week, a Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Bradford Council and Bradford Live are pleased to announce that construction work at the new Bradford Live venue has reached 'practical completion'.

"This means all the major building work at the former Odeon cinema in the city centre has been finished and it is ready for the final fit out.

"After being empty for around 20 years, the art deco building, which originally opened in 1930, has been beautifully restored and transformed into a world-class, 3,800-capacity music and entertainment venue.

"The legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group will now be progressed."