Latest news with #BradfordCivicSociety
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Stop changing Bradford's historic buildings without permission' says heritage group
Bradford residents are "fed up" with businesses making major alterations to historic buildings and then asking for permission afterwards, the chair of a local heritage group has of Bradford Civic Society Si Cunningham said businesses should "get the message" that they cannot change a building's appearance without going through the proper procedure. His comments came after a second application by Cash Generator to retain modern signage on a Grade II listed building dating back to the Victorian era.A statement in the company's new application says: "The proposal does not have a detrimental impact on the character or appearance of the Listed Building." It adds: "If anything, [it] ensures the reuse and upkeep of this otherwise vacant property ensuring it does not fall into disrepair."The pawnbroker opened a new Bradford city centre branch in the former Pearl Assurance House, on the corner of Kirkgate and Bank Street in September 2024, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The building was designed by architects Lockwood and Mawson and is also part of the City Centre Conservation part of the move, the company fitted bright blue and yellow signage on the building without listed building consent, or advertising consent, leading to criticism from local heritage groups.A retrospective application to keep the Cash Generator signage was submitted by the company, but this was refused earlier this latest application, which would see some changes to the design, is expected to be decided next signage on the pawnbroker was installed at the same time Historic England was awarding Bradford £2m to set up a Heritage Action funding could be used to help bring long-empty city centre buildings back into use, and remove tacky modern frontages from some of the city's architectural gems."With the new market open on Darley Street, footfall is now much higher in this part of town, so we must encourage the highest standards of design, particularly as it's at the heart of our new Heritage Action Zone," Mr Cunningham said."I wish that occupiers and building owners would get the message that it's their responsibility to get planning matters right first time to avoid costly enforcement action."The people of Bradford are fed up of it." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford parking charges hike sparks night time economy fears
Plans to increase parking charges by 100% will have a detrimental impact on Bradford's economy, a civic society has to increase short-stay city centre parking from £1 per hour to £2 per hour, would lead to a "real risk" of businesses closing due to a drop in trade, Bradford Civic Society would also see on-street evening parking rise from a £1 charge between 18:00 and midnight, to £2 per hour between 18:00 and 22:00.A consultation on parking changes in Bradford began on 11 June and will run until 2 July. Bradford Council said charges for short-stay on-street locations in the city centre – including streets like North Parade, Darley Street, Sunbridge Road, Kirkgate and Westgate – would rise "in line with parking on-street in neighbouring local authority areas". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Bradford Civic Society has written to the council to object to the letter states: "Bradford Civic Society objects to the proposed arrangements, which are likely to have a detrimental impact on the commercial viability of streets around the 'Top of Town' area — namely North Parade and Upper Piccadilly."The civic society said the North Parade area had become established as "a destination for independent hospitality businesses in the city centre, with particular emphasis on the night-time and evening economy". 'Reconsider' The society said under the new proposals a visitor could pay "upwards of an additional £9" to park which could be considered "an unreasonable price rise and could become a deterrent for future visits".It added: "A visitor currently paying £1 to park on North Parade to purchase off-sales or other items is facing a 100% increase for what may be considered a quick high street trip."The civic society asked the council to "please reconsider these proposals".It also raised concerns over the possibility of business closures as a result of the hike in parking said they would be "particularly harmful to the city centre during the UK City of Culture year, especially when more footfall and a boost to the local economy was promised".A Bradford Council spokesperson said all responses to the consultation would be considered with people encouraged "to have their say". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford Council refuses 'crude' signage on listed building
A council has refused retrospective planning permission for "strident and crude" shop signage on a city centre listed Cash Generator last year opened a Bradford branch in the ground floor of Grade II listed Pearl Assurance House, on the corner of Kirkgate and Bank criticism of the store frontage from Bradford Civic Society, Cash Generator applied for retrospective Bradford Council refused permission, with officers saying the signage "harmed the character and significance" of the building. The council's conservation officer Jon Ackroyd said: "The size, projecting form, colour and internal illumination of the signs all combine to create a very strident and crude appearance which conflicts with the listed building."The effect has been further compounded by the painting of boarded pilasters, shopfronts and external shutter boxes in the same strident colour."The implemented signage causes immediate visual harm to the listed building and city centre conservation area environment."Si Cunningham, chair of Bradford Civic Society, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I'm amazed that a company with a national profile and a number of branches would find it so difficult to accept that occupying a listed building within a conservation area brings certain responsibilities with it."People who I've spoken to in Bradford don't have an issue with any business trying to make a go of it, but they would like to see the city's unique heritage and character preserved."With our new Heritage Action Zone getting started, it's a good time to be reminding building owners and occupiers about their planning obligations."Getting it right first time is much cheaper, and is of great benefit to everyone who uses the city centre."Cash Generator has been approached for comment.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bradford: Blue plaque unveiled for women's rights campaigner
A blue plaque is set to be unveiled in tribute to "one of Bradford's most forward-thinking women".Florence White has been described as a "committed" women's rights and pensions campaigner who helped lower the pension age for unmarried women.A plaque for her previously stood at the entrance to the Bradford Mechanics Institute Library from 2007 to December 2023, but the front of the building was damaged when a car crashed into it."Like a lot of great Bradfordians, Florence White was doing things way ahead of her time," said Bradford Civic Society chair Si Cunningham. The plaque - the twelfth of its kind in the city - was due to be unveiled in the same location on Kirkgate as its original on Friday plaque will be unveiled by a representative from the West Yorkshire Pension in Bradford in 1866, Ms White went on to become secretary of the South Bradford Liberal Lauren Padgett, assistant collections curator at Bradford Museums and Galleries, described her as a "committed women's rights and pension campaigner".According to Dr Padgett, Ms White, who was never married, held an inaugural meeting which resulted in the founding of the National Spinsters' Pensions Association at the old Mechanics' Institute on Bridge Street in April 1935."As Secretary for the South Bradford Liberal Party, her eyes were opened to the impoverished plight and financial precarity of unmarried older Bradford women."They faced fewer and lower paid job opportunities and were often unpaid carers for others. The few that could make health insurance contributions often died before they could receive their benefit of a pension at the age of 65."After several years of campaigning, the government lowered the pensionable age for all women to 60 in Cunningham said the pension reform "was probably a pre-cursor to a lot of the privileges enjoyed by many women today". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Work completed on Bradford Forster Square railway arches gates
Work to close off ten archways next to Bradford Forster Square station by installing metal gates with artistic designs has been arches, which were once used by rough sleepers, were cleared by the council in charities branded the decision to move a group of people living in tents on from the area as "heartless" but Bradford Civic Society welcomed artworks on the metal gates include a poem written by a former Bradford schoolgirl. Commuter Michael O'Brien, 64, from Bradford, said the new gates were an improvement."I've got nothing against homeless people, but it was the first thing you saw when you came in and also it just felt dangerous," he said."If anybody is going to come into Bradford, especially women, and you need people to come for a night out, it really was the most uninviting entrance to the city." However, he said it would have been "great" if the archways could have been used for shops and cafes. Hannah Al, who has lived in Bradford all her life, said the gates were "just another hit to homeless people". "It was one of the only places where they could have a little bit of shelter and even that's been taken away," she said."I've lived her all my life and people have always taken shelter there." Jordan Payton, 26, is a joiner from Bradford and said he felt it was "disgusting" that the gates had been put in."At least they knew where the homeless people were and what they were doing," he said."If they're there in a tent they can be checked on, can't they?"He said rough sleepers had moved on to other areas along the who did not want to give her surname, was also unimpressed. "It doesn't look that pretty, to be honest, they look quite old and rusty already," she said."I know the homeless used to sit in the arches and it would protect them from the elements. I've never had an issue walking down here." A Bradford Council spokesperson said the project aimed to improve the area around the station and the work was paid for by Network council's homeless outreach partnership team visited the arches on a daily basis to speak to rough sleepers ahead of access to the area being withdrawn, the spokesperson previously metal panel features three intertwining strands to represent Bradford Beck, a fibre from the city's mill heritage and the railway tracks. The strands also reflect the Fibre sculptures near the station at St Blaise Square, so named after the patron saint of wool Alex Ross-Shaw said: "This artwork literally threads together the history of our incredible district, with words of hope which take us into the future."People of Bradford are proud of our heritage and at the same time hopeful for what is to come, and rightly so."It's fitting that we are welcoming people to the city at the station with beautiful words which reflect that pride and hope."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
