THE leader of Bradford Council has issued a brief statement on Bradford Live.
With questions and concerns continuing to swirl around the future of the taxpayer-backed £50.5 million project, the Telegraph & Argus asked Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe for an interview either over the phone or at City Hall - but was told she was unavailable.
Instead, Bradford Council's press office sent a written statement from Cllr Hinchcliffe saying: "Bradford Live is a major part of our ongoing investment in revitalising the city for the benefit of the whole district.
"The main building work has now completed and it's great to see this stunning building brought back to life for the next generation of visitors.
"Preparations can now be made for fit out of the venue by the operator and the legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group are progressing."
The Bradford Live saga made national news over the weekend when The Guardian and The Observer highlighted the T&A's open letter to Bradford Council, Bradford Live, and the Birmingham-based NEC Group.
The open letter contained a series of key questions - one asked the NEC Group if it still envisaged itself operating Bradford Live. The NEC Group failed to respond.
T&A editor Nigel Burton told The Guardian and The Observer: "No opening date has yet been formally announced, and no shows or events are currently listed.
"The general manager left in February and no replacement has been announced.
"The new venue looks fantastic and when it does eventually open it will be a wonderful addition to the city.
"But excitement about the project has been tempered with concern due to the lack of information.
"The taxpayers of Bradford deserve to know what is going on.
"Simply saying nothing is not acceptable."
The NEC Group did not respond to a request for comment.
Questions have also been asked about jobs that were promised at Bradford Live.
In 2018, a Council report stated: "NEC estimates the venue will create 86 direct full-time equivalent (FTE) private sector jobs, and approximately 60 FTE positions associated with the construction phases over two years."
No job vacancies for Bradford Live are currently listed on the NEC Group's website.
Three jobs are still listed on the Bradford Live website - head of operations, head of marketing and PR, and head of sales - but the closing date for all these roles was January 25, 2024, and it is understood they have not been filled.
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