An exclusive sports firm is bidding to demolish a Bradford school and build a multi-million pound leisure complex in its place.

The David Lloyd group - originally set up by the famous tennis star - wants to buy Eccleshill Upper School when it shuts in the summer and goes on the open market.

The company wants to build a high-class leisure centre in its place - with community facilities for the public in its exclusive complex.

The sale of the site and property would go towards Bradford schools' reorganisation which was recently baled out by the Government because it needed a further £47 million.

The Council agreed the proceeds of the sale of some schools being vacated as a result of the shake-up would also go towards the shortfall.

The Council hopes to maximise revenue from the sale of redundant schools and raise some £25 million.

And the David Lloyd company is not the only company interested in the Eccleshill site, although the Council will not comment on any other interest in it.

Today, the company confirmed it wanted the land and had been in talks with the Council.

Early plans for a designer-complex have been discussed with some councillors, although they have never been to a formal meeting.

But the proposals have gone to a private meeting of Ravenscliffe Regeneration Consultative Committee made up of representatives of the community.

Chairman of the committee and Eccleshill Labour ward councillor Susanne Rooney said the proposals had been well received.

But Coun Rooney, who is also Executive Committee member for education and life long learning, stressed the school was not yet on the market and no decisions had been taken.

But Alison Gowthorpe, of Ravenscliffe, said: "I think it is a good proposal, but I understand it costs a lot of money to get into a David Lloyd centre and most people here are on income support."

Another Ravenscliffe resident Jim Stevenson said: "It has a lot of potential and I would like to see employment."

The company - which employs 3,500 people - has 43 clubs including one in Leeds which is set to be the blueprint for Bradford. The company was set up by David Lloyd who was recently sacked as Britain's Davis Cup team captain. He sold it to Whitbreads in 1995 for a reported £201 million.

The company's senior development manager Tony Lord said a centre at Eccleshill would provide 80 jobs for local people.

He said the company hoped to include community facilities including sports pitches and a hall. He said: "The site at Eccleshill does fulfil our requirements."

Coun Rooney said there were also plans by the Council to keep the empty site of Brookfield School, Greengates, and use it in a partnership scheme for an early years and family centre. Ravenscliffe first school, which will also be surplus was expected to become a neighbourhood centre with a housing office.

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