Why a Bradford Civic Society? Once a thriving Victorian city, Bradford's heritage is alive in the fabric of its built environment and open spaces, a reality that is apparent to anyone who has sat in the shade of the gothic architectural splendour that is the City Hall in Centenary Square or anyone who has been strolling down Leeds Road to be stopped in their tracks by the imposing façade of the Grade II-listed Eastbrook Hall. It is in these and a multitude of other buildings and public spaces that the character of Bradford has withstood the test of time. Though much of this architectural heritage has been neglected in the past, recent developments in the programme of regeneration for Bradford's city centre promise great hope for reinvigorating the heart of Bradford, not only to bring it back to its former glory, but to possibly make it into a world-class city in the upcoming decades. However, in undertaking this regeneration, the people, local authorities and Regeneration Company in Bradford face a tough task ahead. In making Bradford the unique and thriving city it has the potential to be, the challenge has become to preserve the best of the old, whilst promoting the built heritage of the city with the buildings of Bradford's present, those being designed at this very moment. It is in this knowledge of what is distinctive about this city's past and present that the community associated with Bradford -- not only those people who live or work in the city centre, but anyone has ever experience this great city - are expert. Yet, while public consultations have been held over the course of development of official regeneration plans, the responses of Bradfordians have been so disparate as to make the public a largely ineffective partner in this process. It is intended that the BCS will bring these individual opinions together as an organised, informed and consequently more effective voice in the affairs of Bradford's built environment. At the same time, the BCS will promote an awareness of the diverse heritage and unique character of Bradford, not only just to the local community but to a much wider national and possibly international audience. As such, the group will be engaging in a wide array of activities to promote Bradford's uniquely multicultural character. Further, the BCS will be a positive force for change in envisioning new public spaces out of brown-field and derelict sites. Such a group will also offer individuals the opportunity to devise constructive solutions to problems in the community, ranging from redevelopment that is unsympathetic to the community's built heritage, to the need for new public spaces like parks and gardens, to the threat of anti-social behaviour. The Bradford Civic Society is a member of YHACS and, by extension, the Civic Trust in London. As such, it will have access to programs available not only from the Civic Trust, but also from our extensive network with other like-minded regional and national organisations, like the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), and English Heritage. ************STOP PRESS************* Wedneday 21st March at 7.00pm at The Bradford Club ************STOP PRESS**************
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Registered Charity No: 1115384 |