RESIDENTS deserve to know whether 2025 City of Culture will involve Bradford Live, a councillor has said. 

Bradford Live was due to open as a "world-class music and entertainment venue" this autumn - just in time for Bradford's historic year of glory.

But the Birmingham-based NEC Group has repeatedly declined to reaffirm its commitment to operating Bradford Live for much of this year - and it is still not known when it will open. 

Last week, the Telegraph & Argus revealed that only a preliminary contract - not a formal lease - currently exists between Bradford Live and the NEC Group.

Representatives from Bradford Council and Bradford Live have repeatedly said "the legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group are progressing".

Councillor Russell Brown, Conservative and Queensbury Independent Group spokesperson for City of Culture, has joined the long list of concerned people calling for answers over the ongoing saga. 

He said: "While we are being kept in the dark about the reasons for the delays in opening Bradford Live and the radio silence from the NEC Group, we are also being told nothing about what role the venue is intended to play in City of Culture year. 

"We are told the plans for City of Culture are exciting and the future of the Odeon building is exciting - but we are not told how the two will interact. 

"It seems only the leader of the Council (Susan Hinchcliffe) and the portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport (Alex Ross-Shaw) can answer the question, but are unwilling to do so." 

Cllr Brown said he wanted to know how many City of Culture events planned to take place at Bradford Live had been cancelled or relocated due to the ongoing uncertainty.

He added: "Bradford district residents really do deserve to know whether City of Culture year will involve a building that more than £43 million of their money has been spent on."

In July, Bradford Council revealed the overall cost of the Bradford Live project had climbed to £50.5m.

Of this, £43.75m is from the Council - made up of grants and loan cash - and the remainder is from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The T&A approached Bradford Council and the NEC Group for comment for this article. No statements were received.