Sue Dyde, a director of the women’s performance troupe Bradford Belles, has started a petition and organised a protest outside City Hall ahead of a meeting of Bradford Council’s executive on Tuesday, where the plan could be signed off.
She said there had been “absolute shock” at the proposal.
Dyde said she was well aware of the arguments for reopening Sugden End as it is her local tip, and she acknowledged the inconvenience caused by its closure.
But she questioned the decision to scrap arts funding to pay for it.
“This is about the regeneration and a future for Bradford, not about just opening one tip,” she said.
“The buoyancy in Bradford as a result of the City of Culture was palpable.
“It needs building on now, and it was agreed in March that that money should be used to build on it now.
“You know what you’re losing and what you’re gaining. It’s perverse. It’s a false economy.”
She urged the council’s Reform UK leadership to “put the brakes on” and “talk to the people who will understand and know the impacts this could have for the future”.
Dave Gill, from Bradford community street band the Peace Artistes, said council and other public funding allowed grassroots organisations to develop, reach new people and bring visitors to the city.
“It’s not simply money that’s going,” he said. “It’s money that’s investing in the possibility of further work, people employed, new industry, both tourist-based and arts-based.”