WHAT is Bradford Council playing at over the funding of refurbishments to the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens?

First there is a lottery bid for cash to carry out a feasibility study for a lottery bid which, after what seemed like a lifetime of waiting while the buildings crumbled, came to nothing.

Then there was the promise to spend around £100,000 for the front of house refurbishment. Shortly afterwards it is announced that there is only £55,000 to come and the next wad of cash depends on whether the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens complex remains in the recreation department or the museums and libraries budget.

Now, according to Bradford, it has nothing to do with whether the complex is in recreation or museums and galleries. They are going to spend money on providing ramps, disabled toilets and handrails - which they will be forced to do this year anyway.

Any other improvements depend on whether they have any money or not. According to a council statement: "When more money becomes available we hope to make further improvements."

It might seem churlish to ask what seems a very pertinent question: Is there anyone out there who can remember the last time Bradford Council had any extra money to spend in Ilkley?

In what seemed a new spirit of co-operation between Bradford Council and Kings Hall/Winter Gardens users, many people expressed the intention to donate their own money and time to bring the potentially first-class venues up to scratch.

Now it seems they are left up a gum tree by the very people they were depending upon to share their enthusiasm.

Perhaps council leader Ian Greenwood and recreation chief Barry Thorne can be persuaded to perform a duet at one of the old time music hall events planned for next month at the King's Hall/Winter Gardens.

They could give us a rendition of the old refrain: "We've got no money, the building can go to pot."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.