THE frustrated owner of a city centre deli says he is thinking of selling up after witnessing a catalogue of anti-social behaviour on the streets.

Andrew Westman, company director, says he may sell his Lovefood Deli business on Sunbridge Road after witnessing incidents on an almost daily basis.

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He said that, while preparing to open his shop at 7.30am each morning, he had seen people outside urinating into a street bin, fighting and other drunken behaviour including people throwing rubbish around the city centre streets.

Mr Westman, 50, who opened the deli two years ago, said a drunk man threw a yoghurt at his shop window yesterday.

He said: “It’s depressing to see it.

“It’s like the Wild West, I don’t want to be seeing it. It upsets my staff to see it too.

“This sort of behaviour is happening two or three times a week. I’m thinking of selling.

“I have traded in Halifax, Leeds, Barnsley and Sheffield and I’ve never come into a town as bad as here.

“I’m from Bradford, so it’s sad to see it.

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“The police and council are doing a lot of work to control it but there is a heck of a long way to go.”

Meanwhile, the manager of a city centre Fish and Chip shop has spoken of louts causing £5,000 worth of damage by smashing windows and abusing staff.

Andy Wharton, 43, of The In Plaice, Sunbridge Road, says he and his staff feel vulnerable because of people drinking at all times of the day outside his shop in Centenary Square.

He said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s an ongoing problem. Some of what we see is scary. People are regularly drinking on the steps outside the shop. We have had a newspaper A-board chucked through one of our windows before.

“It’s been going on for the last six years, since I have been here.

“You never know who’s coming through the door. I see people outside with a drink in their hand. It’s shops selling cheap booze that is the problem.

“I don’t think the people who have their beer taken away will take these new powers seriously.”

The business bosses were speaking in light of a proposal for a Public Space Protection Order in Bradford city centre, which has proved popular with businesses and residents alike.

A consultation was held regarding the proposal to create a space where people would not be allowed to drink alcohol if they were away from licensed premises.

A Public Space Protection Order allows greater powers than a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO), which currently exists in the city centre, as police officers, community support officers and the Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Officers will be able to confiscate cans and bottles of alcohol from those causing a nuisance.