Here’s how much money went into surveys at Bradford Interchange bus station

WEST Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has revealed how much money it has set aside to spend on surveys at Bradford Interchange bus station.

The station – which is run by WYCA – has been closed since early January following concrete collapse in the Interchange’s basement car park.

Since then, several surveys have been conducted.

In late May, WYCA said the bus station would remain closed until at least September to allow “more in-depth surveys” to be completed to “determine whether it can ever be safely reopened”.

This week the Telegraph & Argus asked WYCA how much taxpayers’ money has been spent on polls so far and how much more taxpayers’ money is expected to be spent on polls by September.

WYCA responded by saying it had set aside a budget of £300,000 for the surveys.

It remains to be seen when – if – Bradford Interchange bus station will reopen (Image: Newsquest)

In a recent report, WYCA said the station’s closure resulted in additional costs for the authority of between £204,000 and £238,000 a month.

These include lost revenue due to the closure and costs to ensure the building is properly secured.

WYCA also said it has invested more than £13m in the repair and maintenance of the facility over the past decade.

The authority itself admitted that the bus station – which was built in the mid-1970s – was “reaching the end of its estimated 50-year lifespan” and “the structure is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and operate safely”.

The T&A recently asked WYCA why several million pounds of taxpayers’ money has been spent in recent years on the Interchange which, the authority admits, is “becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and operate safely”.

The T&A also pointed out that a number of readers have urged WYCA to permanently close the facility now rather than “continue to waste money” on it.

A WYCA spokesman replied: “Public safety is our number one priority at Bradford Interchange bus station.

“We have invested millions in the facility over the years to ensure it can continue to serve the people of Bradford safely.

“The efficient use of taxpayers’ money has rightly been at the heart of our decisions, but we need more evidence from surveys before we can come to a conclusion about the future of the Interchange.”

The closure of Bradford’s main bus station has caused much disruption (Image: Newsquest)

During a meeting last month, West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Thank you to the people of Bradford – it has been awful at times but we are focused on making things as easy as possible.

“The people of Bradford have shown great patience.

“It’s been really hard and I know people are very, very frustrated.

“We want to reassure the public that we are working closely with partners to make the right decision about the future of the Interchange, bearing in mind the critical importance of public safety.

“We will continue to invest in Bradford to make this great city a success.

“Transportation is a vital part of the growing economy.”

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “The public are extremely frustrated and we all want to see a quick solution.

“We want to see plans in place regardless of the outcome of the polls.

“When that happens, we want to implement the right solution right away — it can’t happen soon enough.”

Before any decision was made on the bus stop, WYCA said it was committed to “improving” the entrance to the station at the Interchange.

This would provide rail users with facilities that have been lacking since much of the building was closed, according to the authority.

This rail gate is to be created using £22m of funding previously allocated to Bradford Interchange improvements as part of the Transforming Cities programme.

A WYCA spokesman added: “Work is underway to identify sites for a possible temporary bus station suitable for Bradford as UK City of Culture 2025, to be introduced as soon as possible should the final survey reports recommends continued closure.

“We know this has been disruptive to the people of Bradford, but at the heart of the decision-making process we have sought to prioritize public safety, the efficient use of taxpayers’ money and minimize disruption.”