Business leaders discuss ways to boost success of Bradford's main retail area

10:48pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Rhys Thomas, T&A Reporter

Bradford's Darley Street Bradford's Darley Street

Bradford needs more people living in the city centre if it is to blossom in the future, a meeting heard.

About 40 businessmen and women from around the city gathered for an Open Business Meeting at City Hall last night to discuss what role they could play in Bradford Council’s City Plan.

They discussed ways of taking Bradford forward, with many wanting to see more people making a home in the city centre.

Other suggestions included covered walkways and allowing shops to expand on to pedestrian areas.

One man said: “A city centre is not just about shopping. You also want to eat, be entertained and have somewhere to live.”

Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said: “City centres have to reflect modern ways. They are now more than just about retail.”

Shelagh O’Neill, Bradford Council’s economic development programme manager, discussed the City Plan and what role businesses could play in it.

“It is a simple statement of what we think the city should be,” she said, before the guests split into workshop groups to discuss four questions formulated by the Council.

Question one was ‘What is the role of Bradford city centre?’ One group said: “It has to be somewhere that caters for everyone.” They wanted more focus on independent retailers who could “create a character for the area”.

Question two – ‘What would a redesigned high street look like?’ – was answered simply: “Full of people.”

It was also suggested Bradford’s high street could be less sprawling with more cafes, restaurants, arts and culture.

The third question – ‘How do we create a city centre that is distinctive and authentic?’ – was met with various suggestions, including markets, covered walkways, extending shops into pedestrian areas, and encouraging people to live there.

The fourth question asked how Westfield could be used to stimulate further investment, with many agreeing that the city centre needs to offer an alternative to the shopping centre that will draw customers on to the street.

Council leader David Green closed the meeting, saying: “We want to say to people, come and shop at Next or Debenhams, but then go to one of our independent retailers, go to the cinema, and go for a meal.”

Comments(21)

thatsnotmyname says...
11:17pm Wed 27 Feb 13

FFS!...I remember 15 yrs ago going into a similar meeting with other business ppl. The same questions, the same ideas were heard.

Members of the council, redevelopment directors and offices have been flown around Europe to look at other cities and there culture to examine how they have produced a culture rich city, millions have been spent by various teams over the last decade and we are STILL having bloody meetings about how to make the city better?

While other cities have gone about and brought the ideas into reality Bradford council have **** about getting overpaid tossers to draw up fairy land places.

It's pretty simple. More galleries, more museums, more places to visit. Create a place were people want to go, not avoid. There is not a cat in hells chance of bringing the shoping experience in line with Leeds so lets forget it now and create something else.

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room111124 says...
11:55pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Are these people for real? The fourth question asked how Westfield could be used to stimulate further investment. Err, try building it first then ask. Or how about a really radical solution. All senior Council employees be contractually obliged to have their main residence within the City boundaries and their kids educated in City state schools. Might just open their eyes.

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Rambo says...
12:43am Thu 28 Feb 13

Bradfords nightlife and entertainment is absolutely dismal. It needs nice restaurants, nice bars, maybe a few small/mid size music venues. And even before that, jobs for the sorts of people who live in a city centre.

The sort of people who would work and live in a city don't live in the centre of Bradford because theres NOTHING to do.

I live in the centre of Leeds - the next time you go there look at all the flats along the train line all the way down to the Royal Armouries, theres a staggering amount. And in terms of things to do here is so much to do you are spoiled for choice rather than limited to the same half dozen bars and eateries.

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Patrick Bateman says...
7:00am Thu 28 Feb 13

"About 40 businessmen and women from around the city gathered for an Open Business Meeting.

They discussed ways of taking Bradford forward, with many wanting to see more people making a home in the city centre"

Very nice. And are these people going to lead by example?

Fat chance!

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Save2020 says...
7:24am Thu 28 Feb 13

Bradford it appears cannot get any worse, it seems everything good that can be done around the city is not a priority.....my comment won't change anything but if you stop converting shops into pound land/betting shops/pawnbrokers/lo
an shops and have free parking at off peak times and build flats/apartments in the city centre and sort out the shambles that is the former odeon cinema and get that bloody shopping centre built.....then bradford could be a top city within 2-3 years....but I suppose I'm just being a bit negative with those ideas

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Avro says...
7:59am Thu 28 Feb 13

"Council leader David Green closed the meeting, saying: “We want to say to people, come and shop at Next or Debenhams, but then go to one of our independent retailers, go to the cinema, and go for a meal.”

Simples, BUILD and they will come!

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BagOfMonkeys says...
8:48am Thu 28 Feb 13

Cities need workers not flat dwellers. Imagine if the Council had managed to get Morrisons HQ to be built near the city centre. I mean have you seen the car park at their HQ, and the overflow onto the surrounding streets. Imagine if those thousands of employees had used public transport to go to work, gone out on their lunch break to wander around a decent shopping area, and actually buy stuff ...... I wouldn't pay out the councillors or planners in this **** with washers ......

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loftyme says...
8:49am Thu 28 Feb 13

"About 40 businessmen and women from around the city gathered for an Open Business Meeting at City Hall last night to discuss what role they could play in Bradford Council’s City Plan"
.
not on your nelly mate, live in the city centre, are you mad!,
suppose they had a lovely lunch with the meeting though,

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old pecker says...
8:55am Thu 28 Feb 13

A big bomb in the city center would make it look better that what it is now !!

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BagOfMonkeys says...
8:59am Thu 28 Feb 13

Bloody good idea them workshops, let's have one to uncover new ways of getting rid of the Hinchcliffes O'Neils and Greens, and actually get someone to get things done!

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BagOfMonkeys says...
9:08am Thu 28 Feb 13

Just noticed the title says "BOOST SUCESS" am I in a parallel universe?!

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BagOfMonkeys says...
9:09am Thu 28 Feb 13

BagOfMonkeys wrote:
Just noticed the title says "BOOST SUCESS" am I in a parallel universe?!
Bugger got the LL's right n' forgot the C in success.

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Corporal says...
9:14am Thu 28 Feb 13

Bradford needs to have it's council removed and replaced by a set of monkeys as monkeys would have more intelligence and drive to get things sorted than they have

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Joedavid says...
10:03am Thu 28 Feb 13

Avro wrote:
"Council leader David Green closed the meeting, saying: “We want to say to people, come and shop at Next or Debenhams, but then go to one of our independent retailers, go to the cinema, and go for a meal.”

Simples, BUILD and they will come!
Well if that the case why Westfield not built and the Odeon in the state it is for 10 years?

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Albion. says...
11:18am Thu 28 Feb 13

It's a thoroughly unpleasant place to visit, let alone live in it!
Some new shops and apartments wouldn't alter that.

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webess says...
1:46pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Future of city centres is going to be much different to in the past. The changes aren't confined to Bradford, future cities will be far more about living and socialising and far less about shopping.

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loftyme says...
2:00pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Albion. wrote:
It's a thoroughly unpleasant place to visit, let alone live in it!
Some new shops and apartments wouldn't alter that.
Completely agree with you, the deterioration of the city centre has been slow but very noticeable now, I used to enjoy going into Bradford every Saturday with friends in the 90's, bit of shopping, couple of pints, a wander round, avoid the place now, what does the future hold!, more immigrant beggers, rubbish shops etc, not being negative, just telling the truth.

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alfierowe says...
7:22pm Thu 28 Feb 13

old pecker wrote:
A big bomb in the city center would make it look better that what it is now !!
well said pecker :@)

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alfierowe says...
7:26pm Thu 28 Feb 13

old pecker wrote:
A big bomb in the city center would make it look better that what it is now !!
well said pecker :@)

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Yorkshire Lass says...
7:55pm Thu 28 Feb 13

One man said "A City centre is not all about shopping". Spot on especially for the size of a city like Bradford, the amount of shops are abysmal and the centre is becoming a "no go area". A lot of the new flats that were built in recent years look absolutely scruffy from the outside. Take a look upwards on Market Street and see the scruffy flats' windows. Thats only a tip of the iceberg, could go on most of the night.

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bradmat says...
3:04am Fri 1 Mar 13

People don't want to live in the city centre! Appartments not being sold or let, so not a good idea to build more. The city centre stinks of dead chickens and various herbs. The visiting hordes walking round with T-shirts over their noses because of the slaughter place while being encouraged to look at our new pond. Great day that one was

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