Bradford MP comments on Enterprise Zone announcement
David Ward MP has hit out over yesterday's descision to award the area's first Enterprise Zone to Leeds rather than Bradford.
Commenting Bradford East MP, David Ward said:
"While it is still early days for the Leeds City Region LEP, we clearly need to start asking some serious questions about the way it is operating. This unaccountable organisation is taking descisions behind closed doors which affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
"The LEP Board claims that city centre locations were ruled out but Ministers have been clear that this is absolutely not the case. The real issue is that building factories on greenfield land is an easy option compared with the real challenges of redeveloping Bradford's city centre. It is extremely disappointing that the LEP Board's first decision seems to have been to generate a safe income for themselves rather than to do what is in the best interests of the region.
"With only one representative from Bradford on the board, and no Bradford business people, it is no surprise that Bradford lost out this time. We cannot allow Bradford to be sidelined again. I am seeking urgent meetings with Ministers and with the LEP Chair to make sure that Bradford is top of the list when the second round of Enterprise Zones are set up later this year."