A REPAIR bill of more than half-a-million pounds has been revealed for Haworth Community Centre, which faces an uncertain future as part of a Bradford Council review of its youth service buildings.

The Butt Lane property has a backlog of maintenance totalling £509,118.

The same council review has also revealed Parkwood Centre for Young People in Parkwood Street, Keighley, is among six centres Bradford Council believes it can dispose of most easily.

However, the head of Bradford’s children’s services has said although the local authority needs to find massive savings in response to government cuts, community groups would first be invited to take over the running of any buildings the council stops using.

Haworth Community Centre needs repairs and modernisation of its windows, boiler, plumbing and wiring.

The report states: “The building is considered to be in a poor state and beyond reasonable repair. The first floor of the property is unsafe/unusable.”

Worth Valley Ward councillor, Rebecca Poulsen, has been calling for the district council to do more to improve the centre.

She said: “It has been completely neglected by the council in recent years.

“I really hope it keeps it open or gives the community time to come up with a way to take it on.”

But Cllr Ralph Berry, portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “Cuts in government funding mean that between now and 2020 the money for council services is forecast to reduce by £130 million – that’s nearly a third.

“Our focus is on making savings in a way that minimises the impact on frontline services and makes better use of the buildings we have.

“The review has involved wide-ranging consultation with young people, local councillors and other stakeholders.

“The review’s proposals will set out a district-wide plan for how we use these buildings in a sustainable way. Should we need to stop using certain buildings, it is our intention to explore ways of developing them for community use.”

Haworth Community Centre is used by Scout groups two nights a week, but it is also home to a number of other community organisations.

A meeting to discuss the future of the centre was due to take place at West Lane Baptist Church last night. In the meantime, Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council has confirmed it has had the centre registered as an ‘Asset of Community Value’. This means if the building is put up for sale, the parish council must be notified. It will then have six months to come up with a viable alternative way to keep the property open to the community.