A picturesque marina on a housing development is up for grabs in a bid to breathe new life and leisure into the area

British Waterways wants to see leisure activities on the marina at Apperley Bridge.

The company bought the marina on the problem-hit Tenterfields estate two years ago, with a view to bringing it to life.

The company has already let a number of moorings to boat owners in the basin but says it now wants to step up its leisure use to make the marina an attraction to residents and tourists alike.

The company has also been granted planning permission by Bradford Council to establish a caf and visitors' shop.

The marina stood empty and vandalised following completion of the houses on the private estate in 1995 until British Waterways bought it. It contributed to a nightmare suffered by residents when the main development company went into administration and large amounts of outside works were unfinished.

Now the difficulties are being resolved after protests by residents and intervention by Bradford Council.

Today Joan Brown, of the Leavens, spokesman for Apperley Bridge Development Residents' Association, said: "We want to see it up and running.

"It was supposed to be one of the big attractions of the development and a reason why many of us bought our homes.''

Ward Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem, Idle) said: "I think it will be good for the community and an asset."

A British Waterways spokesman said: "We are looking for an operator to lease the whole of the marina for leisure or commerce.''

e-mail: olwen.vasey@newsquest.

bradford.co.uk