Council could use cultural funding to reopen tip

A rubbish tip in Bradford could be reopened using money previously earmarked for cultural events, according to a council report.

Bradford Council's Reform UK-led executive is expected to approve plans to reopen Sugden End Household Waste Recycling Centre in Cross Roads, near Keighley, when the committee meets on 8 September.

The report said £400,000 of funding for cultural events across the district will be pulled and rediverted to pay for the centre to be reopened before Christmas.

Ian Walker, the council's portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said there was a "strong case" for reopening this site.

The Reform councillor for Wyke said the facility, which closed in April 2024, would serve residents on the Worth Valley side of Keighley and the surrounding villages, which are "some distance" from their current nearest tip at Royd Ings.

The Sugden End site was among three tips closed by the previous Labour administration.

The closure of Sugden End, Golden Butts in Ilkley and Ford Hill in Queensbury saved £900,000 a year, but has been heavily criticised.

Golden Butts and Ford Hill have since been sold, but Sugden End remains in the Council's possession.

The report said re-opening Sugden End would cost £95,000 then a further £315,000 a year to run, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The executive will also consider plans for all tips to open on bank holidays from 10:15 to 15:45, excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day, at an annual cost of £33,000.

The report said closing the tips had saved money "at a time of significant financial challenge", but in a statement, the council admitted during peak periods the remaining sites in the district "get extremely busy with long queues stretching beyond site boundaries and causing congestion on neighbouring roads".

The statement added: "It is hoped that by reopening Sugden End, it will ease the pressure on some of the other sites."

The cultural funding was intended to "support the delivery of events across the district to promote local heritage, culture and arts and drive increased footfall in district centres," the council said.

The report said the previously approved funding would be "deprioritised" to cover the cost of reopening of the tip.

Bradford was the UK's City of Culture last year, with a council report from the time warning that failure to follow up on its success could have a negative impact on potential "long-term cultural, social or economic benefits".

Other grants have been awarded for projects continuing the Bradford 2025 legacy.

Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservative Group on Bradford Council said they were "delighted" with the news, having campaigned to keep the recycling centre open when its closure was announced in 2024.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.