A multi-thousand-pound centre to help hundreds of people in Manningham will be open by autumn.

The project - which has been set up as a direct result of the Commission into the Manningham disturbances in 1995 - will provide on-the-spot services for people who were said by the Commission to have felt isolated, depressed and excluded.

Innovative hi-tech links used by staff and outside centres mean people will no longer need to trail from office to office to get the services they need.

Councillor Ralph Berry, chairman of Bradford Council's community development committee said today the centre would be the first in Bradford and one of few in Britain.

This week Joanne Loughrey was appointed manager of the One Stop Centre which will be based in the existing benefits offices in the heart of Manningham, at the junction of Lumb Lane and Carlisle Road.

She said: "I think it is very exciting and will really change the way services are delivered in Manningham."

The centre has already been criticised as a waste of money and "glorified community centre" by the Council's minority Tory group,

But Coun Berry said the message had come over loud and clear from the community that they needed it.

The building will get a £140,000 refurbishment and cost £120,000 to run.

The Council is working with a partnership which includes Employment Services, Bradford Health and the Benefits Agency.

Initially the centre will deal with Council services such as house repairs, rents and street lighting. But expansion is planned to bring in a wide range of other vital services.

Coun Berry said: "The idea is that they should go out of the door with everything they want to know. We want other agencies to come on board and we will deliver services built around the community."

Anyone who has views or suggestions for the new centre can ring Miss Loughrey or Bradford West area panel coordinator Bill Reed on Bradford 751072.

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