Statue of Oastler to stay as part of new park

A STATUE of Bradford politician Richard Oastler will remain in place as part of a major new scheme to improve Bradford’s “top of town” area.

Last year Bradford Council revealed that it planned to use almost £1m in funding from the National Lottery and EU to drastically alter the area of the city centre that includes Oastler Square and North Parade.

Two options were drawn up, with the public asked to say which they preferred.

One option would have seen the Grade II-listed statue of Oastler – famed for his efforts to reduce child labour – moved from its location in Oastler Square to the junction of Rawson Square and Darley Street.

In both sets of plans, the square would be turned into a “pocket park” with new planters, trees and benches, and there would also be new greenery on North Parade and at the top of Darley Street.

Now the council has revealed that after public feedback, the statue will remain in Oastler Square, the centrepiece of the new park.

But the feedback from the public has again highlighted the split in opinion over the future of North Parade, with calls to pedestrianise the street clashing with calls from several local businesses to keep it open to traffic.

The council has admitted many people have been “frustrated” at the decision to keep North Parade open to traffic.

Referring to the feedback, the council said: “Most feedback said that relocating the statue of Richard Oastler back to Rawson Square (where it had been located from the 1920s to the 1960s) did not offer sufficient additional benefit, when compared with the option to retain the statue in its current location.”

The council says it has plans to install automatic bollards on North Parade to allow the road to be closed off for public events or festivals.