MORE than 70 traders in Bradford’s Oastler Centre have petitioned Bradford Council demanding answers following closure of part of the multi-storey Westgate car park which went ahead yesterday.

The traders, who have formed a co-operative action group, have asked for a copy of the structural engineer’s report which forced closure of the top two tiers of the car park and are also asking why car parking charges could not be reduced during normal shopping hours.

The council has already announced it is offering free parking after 3pm but traders say few people shop after that time.

Mal Singh, who is closing down his Rio Clothing Company shop at the Oastler Centre after 30 years, said: “We have asked the council to be clear on what plans there are for the centre and have questioned why, if the car park was to be closed for health and safety reasons, that it wasn’t closed straight away.

“We contacted Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, the Council’s executive member for regeneration, and he said usage of the car park showed there would be sufficient to accommodate almost everyone on the lower floor.

“We told him the Westgate car park is underused because The Broadway car park is offering all day weekday parking for £3 and weekends parking all day for £1.50 which makes Westgate 50p dearer during the week and £2 dearer at the weekend.

“We have also pointed out that signposts on New John Street point to Kirkgate Car Park with no mention of Westgate Car Park.”

Cllr Ross-Shaw responded through an email stating they were closing the top levels of the car park on advice from the engineers.

He also stated that the lower tier would be short-stay to encourage a steady flow of customers.

He said a survey showed that roughly 75 per cent of visitors parking at Westgate stayed up to under two hours.

Cllr Ross-Shaw added: “None of this is a substitute for the longer term plan and I appreciate many of you will not be satisfied until we announce what that is.

“I can assure you we are all working hard to put ourselves in a position where we can announce and when we do we will be in touch with yourselves to discuss the future of the markets and the centre.”

He also stated the council was looking at short to medium term projects to try help the top of town - including free World Host Training, a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to renovate and bring back into use the many listed buildings.

Chris Georgiou, who runs Fountains Cafe, said: “The answers we are getting are not good enough and it makes us wonder if it is a smokescreen for other plans.

“We still don’t know what’s happening with the old Morrisons site.”