CALLS are growing for the former Keighley College site to become a permanent park to commemorate coronavirus heroes.

Popular local gardener Steve Thorpe this week added his voice to those calling for the green space to be named for Captain Tom, NHS workers or people who have died.

Bradford Council this week acted to stop the campaign in its tracks by insisting there was no need to convert the grassy site on North Street into a town park.

The council, which plans a £9m ‘hub’ building on the land, says the public are already well-served by Church Green, Devonshire Park and Cliffe Castle Park.

The site at the junction of Cavendish Street was grassed over in 2017 following the demolition of the former Keighley College and Keighley Boys Grammar School building.

Since then the council has been negotiating with other public organisations to develop a multi-storey structure bringing a range of services under one roof.

During that time there have been suggestions by members of the public to use the site as public green space.

In recent weeks several people have written to the Keighley News calling for such a ‘town park’ to be named after Captain Tom Moore in honour of his massive fundraising for the NHS.

Expressing similar comments this week was Steve Thorpe, who with son Joe creates the floral displays in the nearby town hall square. They currently cut the grass on the former college site on behalf of regeneration agency the Airedale Partnership.

Steve said: “I feel very strongly it should be kept as green space. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Keighley to get a town park.

“It seems a shame to build on it. We have enough empty buildings in Keighley already. It should be a park in memory of all those people who have suffered or died from coronavirus.

“It could show how important it is to get out, and not take green space for granted. We could keep the big open space for activities with the kids, and have some play equipment.”

Steve offered to provide free help with conversion work such as planting, and he expected other local gardeners to follow suit. “It would take the burden of the council,” he added.

A Bradford Council spokesman this week said: “We are all proud and supportive of Captain Tom and our brilliant NHS staff.

“A blue plaque has been installed at Airedale Hospital as a tribute to Captain Tom’s achievements and we are always open to good ideas on how we can celebrate our local heroes.”

But the spokesman said there were no plans convert the North Street site into a park, adding: “There is Church Green within the town centre and Devonshire Park and Cliffe Castle on the outskirts, so we have plenty of excellent accessible green spaces for people to enjoy.”