THE CONCERN felt by market traders in Bradford is understandable.

Many have been loyal to Oastler Market and loyal to the city for a very long time but they have had their environment changed markedly with the closure of Morrisons’ store in Westgate last year and the decline in trading at that end of Bradford as shoppers have flowed to the Broadway shopping centre.

On top of that they have been hit by the partial closure of the multi-storey car park in Westgate due to structural problems which are estimated to cost a hefty £1.7 million to repair.

The situation has become so acute that some of the traders are now threatening to leave Oastler Market, and possibly Bradford, altogether.

Therefore, Bradford Council needs to act quickly in making a decision about its future.

In a city like Bradford where a good proportion of the population are on low incomes or even living in the poverty zone, markets provide an important means of supplying affordable food and other goods.

But part of Oastler Market’s appeal is that it is far more than that as it also contains a number of fine independent traders and specialists and it is that mix that is absolutely vital to providing an attractive shopping centre in a major city.

The issue needs to be resolved and resolved soon.

If Council chiefs finally decide Oastler Market is not sustainable in its present location then, as many traders are now demanding, it needs to be quickly found a new home in the city centre which would put it firmly back on the map.