Council to landscape Broadway site until building starts

The Westfield site in Bradford which could be opened up as a "community garden" The Westfield site in Bradford which could be opened up as a "community garden"

The site of Bradford’s mothballed shopping development is set to be opened up as a “community garden” until Westfield is ready to re-start its £320 million retail scheme.

Bradford Council has completed a site survey and is exploring a raft of temporary uses for the dormant Broadway site.

The plans would see hoardings surrounding the site moved back to the edge of the basement area that has been dug out, allowing half of the site to be levelled out and used by the public.

The Council said there was potential to create grassed areas, seating, footpaths between the city centre and Little Germany, a wild flower meadow, urban allotments and an area for outdoor theatre performances, illuminated at night by a solar-powered lighting system.

Regeneration chiefs are working with bosses of arts development organisation Fabric, which wants to see sculptures around the site, artwork on the hoardings and large art installations in the basement area that could be viewed through perspex windows in the hoardings.

Mike Cowlam, the Council’s assistant director for regeneration, said: “Clearly it’s a construction site and that has some fairly clear challenges in terms of health and safety. Whatever we do, we need to make sure the ground is safe for everyone.

“In the current economic climate, the site is going to continue to remain empty until things pick up. On that basis, we want to find a ‘meanwhile’ use for the site.

“The plan is to reduce the amount of hoarding down to a much smaller area running around that basement part of the site. About half the site will be opened up to this community garden.”

He said the Council had some Government money to help ease the effects of the recession and was in discussions with Westfield about co-funding the interim measures. The Council is also in talks with arts foundations and a number of other partners.

Gideon Seymour, director of Fabric, said: “Our reason for getting involved was to allow people to engage with that space and that means opening parts of it up.

“Once people can access it we want to create reasons for them to linger and enjoy it, whether it’s things to look at or things to do.”

A Westfield spokesman said: “We are continuing to monitor the demand for new retail space and economic conditions in all markets in which we operate with a view to determining if and when we can re-start our development pipeline.

“As an interim measure we are exploring short terms uses for the Broadway site that are cost-effective and will not have a detrimental effect on the feasibility of the development.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, the Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “Any solution that comes out of what we are doing must involve the community in terms of how they have the ability to contribute to the final answer.”

Comments(81)

old speckled hen says...
7:12am Thu 11 Feb 10

it will take another 5 years just to plant some wild flowers.
as it taken that long for them to realize , nowts happening

Bradford's Great says...
7:17am Thu 11 Feb 10

Sounds great to me - well done Bradford Council for this great idea!

Kev-Robinson says...
7:38am Thu 11 Feb 10

Another area that will secombe to th the the off street drinkers and junkies

amiedave says...
7:40am Thu 11 Feb 10

April 1st has come early this year !

holden caulfield says...
8:00am Thu 11 Feb 10

Would that be Harry Secombe? I think the word you're looking for is succumb.

But what a silly idea, better to leave it as a monument to the folly of the Council Leaders, their advisers, the 'Consultants' and the economic miracle that is unfettered capitalism.

Avro says...
8:06am Thu 11 Feb 10

Shouldn't Westfield be stumping up the bill for this?

Meanwhile 1 in 5 shops in the centre are empty!

ms walker says...
8:17am Thu 11 Feb 10

Bradford's Great wrote:
Sounds great to me - well done Bradford Council for this great idea!
*ahem!* BG, contributors to this site have been suggesting something similar for at least two years. I'd say 'Well done Bradford Council for eventually taking notice'. However, it is a positive step, and in response to old speckled hen, as long as they get the topsoil down fairly quickly, some wildflowers can be seeded and germinate in just a few months. Time allowing, I'd be happy to volunteer some time and effort to support this move. I'm really pleased that we're seeing some action.
My misgivings come from the Wastefield quote:
"A Westfield spokesman said: “We are continuing to monitor the demand for new retail space and economic conditions in all markets in which we operate with a view to determining if and when we can re-start our development pipeline."
Buried in this corporate gobbledygook is the word 'IF'. Since when did the suggestion that they might not 'restart development pipeline' creep into their plans...?

sarahkate says...
8:33am Thu 11 Feb 10

this is a good move.

jkelly says...
8:43am Thu 11 Feb 10

Was about to make a comment about the "if and when" statement when I realised that Ms Walker had already done so. However, I continued because the words to to type in are "hole-weak"

richardk9 says...
9:05am Thu 11 Feb 10

Great idea that is really just common sense so why has it taken them so long to come up with it? The other side to the coin though is that this means that neither the council nor Westfield expect building to start any time in the next couple of years otherwise they would not be putting money into this scheme.

Icemonkey says...
9:16am Thu 11 Feb 10

What the people of bradford need is one big FREE car park. not more grass that will cost the tax payer money to cut. come on Bradford we do not need any more play areas. get a grip and get out of Town.

Up with the partridge says...
9:28am Thu 11 Feb 10

Icemonkey wrote:
What the people of bradford need is one big FREE car park. not more grass that will cost the tax payer money to cut. come on Bradford we do not need any more play areas. get a grip and get out of Town.
Good idea a genuine shoppers car park with say a max limit of 5 hours to stop office wallers filling it up. One of the best ideas yet, attract shoppers to what is left of Bradford as it will be 5-10 years before a new shopping centre is built.

Ralphie says...
9:31am Thu 11 Feb 10

It will look like the Amazon rain forest by the time Westfield start work. (Complete with a tribe of travellers!)

Biker71 says...
9:34am Thu 11 Feb 10

I'm sorry but this is just a cynical excersise to " bury " the news that Bradford is 2nd in the list of most empty shops in the country.. They must have known this list would be published today and held this " news " until it was published to take the edge off it.
A more positive announcement would be a scheme to reduce rent and rates in council owned shops or even free periods to allow small businesses to establish.. rather than spending our money to make good a profiteering company's folly.
Maybe the money spent making the " park " would be better spent taking legal action to force Westfield to honour its LEGALLY BINDING contract..
But that would mean this council developing a backbone, and not chasing easy targets like motorists.

cliftonmike says...
9:38am Thu 11 Feb 10

Why not develop it as a new cemetery as nothing is ever going to happen there. R.I.P.

Moon on a stick says...
9:50am Thu 11 Feb 10

Up with the partridge wrote:
Icemonkey wrote: What the people of bradford need is one big FREE car park. not more grass that will cost the tax payer money to cut. come on Bradford we do not need any more play areas. get a grip and get out of Town.
Good idea a genuine shoppers car park with say a max limit of 5 hours to stop office wallers filling it up. One of the best ideas yet, attract shoppers to what is left of Bradford as it will be 5-10 years before a new shopping centre is built.
AGREED, this would resolve 2 problems, the lack of use at the Westfield site and the serious retail decline in the city centre.
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Maybe I'm cynical but I almost believe the council wants the failure in the city centre so that would make the Westfield site more attractive for businesses to relocate to? If they're not that mad, their policies suggest otherwise.

As for the point that benched public realm attracts drunks, smack heads and purse theives that is 100% correct.

alas poor bradford I new it well says...
10:17am Thu 11 Feb 10

This Council beggers belief it really does. A Community garden, for which community? It will be another no go zone for Bradford people.

Ever see that film Gangs of New York. It's happening here.

Roll on the elections.

Joedavid says...
10:26am Thu 11 Feb 10

Avro wrote:
Shouldn't Westfield be stumping up the bill for this? Meanwhile 1 in 5 shops in the centre are empty!
YES, they should pay.

tjm5 says...
10:27am Thu 11 Feb 10

why is it that places like Wakefield can get things restarted on their development yet we always seem to choose the worst developers to try and sort out our decreped city centre. Yet another example of a dead city. The city centre of Bradford is slowly becoming an American style Ghetto so are the areas surrounding it. Poverty is rife in this city and the council are just as much to blame as the government maybe even more so as they can see the problems first hand. Can't wait to afford to move from this rotting hell hole.

alas poor bradford I new it well says...
10:29am Thu 11 Feb 10

Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City.

Are you listening Councilors

Ed Hunter says...
10:32am Thu 11 Feb 10

this has been an going joke thats gone on for far too long,so its hardly surprising that the local council have come up with a notion as ridiculous as this,loads of money goes into schemes to attract tourism, so why not do something for the local communities for a change?

Andy2010 says...
10:49am Thu 11 Feb 10

Why build a landscaped area that even 5 years down the line will need to be removed or destroyed ?

I appreciate others with the car park option but really the only option should be for the council to ditch Westfield, sue them for compensation and appoint another business to build this. I used to work for one of the largest builders in the UK who owns the White Rose and I asked at the time about the Westfield project. Their response was that the leases that are profitably are unworkable in Bradford. In order for it to be a success you need a major player to be the head lease and other high street chains to partcipate however it was felt through research that no retailors or not many would want a presence in Bradford due to

1) The disposable income of the population which in essence is impoverished

2) The location to Leeds

After listening to their arguements it does not make any business sense for this centre to be built at all and the whole prject shoudl be mothballed and the actual city centre regenerated. Alas all I feel that will be left shopwise in Bradford is just small high street retailors, endless Greggs and numerous pound shops.

One of the directors once told me that no matter how much market research was done he always visited sites e.g. Bradford centre and walked round for a day to get a feel for the place. He stated that the shops already there represent what the people want...enough said. The assumption of this is that if retailors geniunelly beleived a profit could be made they would be queuing up for pretigious premises....enough said.

Moon on a stick says...
10:58am Thu 11 Feb 10

You forgot to mention the betting shops, they probably outnumber the pound shops now.
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Then again it's always a gamble buying something for a pound and expecting it to last...

albion says...
10:59am Thu 11 Feb 10

Joedavid wrote:
Avro wrote:
Shouldn't Westfield be stumping up the bill for this? Meanwhile 1 in 5 shops in the centre are empty!
YES, they should pay.
It says in the report that the two sides are discussing co-funding, whoever pays it is a waste of money! Just leave it.

janep says...
11:14am Thu 11 Feb 10

"Gideon Seymour, director of Fabric, said: “Our reason for getting involved was to allow people to engage with that space and that means opening parts of it up."

No Gideon, the reason for getting involved is to make money for yourself and your network of 'artists' and 'consultants' who are leeching off the tax payers in a totally no productive 'industry'.

As others have suggested, make it a SECURE free (or cheap) car park, then spend money on fixing up the city centre, firstly, by tackling crime, and blatant law breaking, which WE ALL CAN SEE HAPPENING DAILY in town!

Moon on a stick says...
11:46am Thu 11 Feb 10

janep wrote:
"Gideon Seymour, director of Fabric, said: “Our reason for getting involved was to allow people to engage with that space and that means opening parts of it up." No Gideon, the reason for getting involved is to make money for yourself and your network of 'artists' and 'consultants' who are leeching off the tax payers in a totally no productive 'industry'. As others have suggested, make it a SECURE free (or cheap) car park, then spend money on fixing up the city centre, firstly, by tackling crime, and blatant law breaking, which WE ALL CAN SEE HAPPENING DAILY in town!
APPLAUSE!!!!
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This public realm solution to all Bradford's problem is a joke. Let's pay for someone to keep churning out Photoshop images of an imaginary Bradford and plant a few trees, stick in some benches and erm job done!
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You don't just need to see crime even from the streets, some of it's even being posted on Facebook and YouTube. Want to order a space at the back of an apparent business premise in Bradford to smoke shisha (or whatever else) and have a party and you can do so.
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Want to harass a PCSO in Bradford centre and film it on your cameraphone and post it to YouTube then go ahead, there's examples already on there.
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Of course the council and police don't know how to use a computer it would seem. Given they don't seem to leave their desks to see the problems first hand you think they could at least manage that?

markjoe says...
12:01pm Thu 11 Feb 10

I would like to applause both comments. Well said both of you.

The Controller says...
12:05pm Thu 11 Feb 10

"outdoor theatre performances, illuminated at night by a solar-powered lighting system"

Isn't that the Moon ??

Joedavid says...
12:08pm Thu 11 Feb 10

A final solution would be to get rid of Westfield.
The council have no guts to do what is the right thing to do.

Storck says...
12:25pm Thu 11 Feb 10

alas poor bradford I new it well wrote:
Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City.

Are you listening Councilors
I can not see the council turning it into a free secure car park as it would cost the council thrice over. Firstly there would be a cost to set the car park up, secondly an on going cost to make it secure, CCTV, security guards who would have to check the 5 hours was held and thirdly they would lose any income that they make from parking at the moment. Who would pay to park for a few hours if they can park for free just a couple of minutes walk away.

Rambo says...
12:25pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Moon on a stick, I can back that up - I've seen some of the videos on youtube. They weren't hard to find, I was looking up bradford city and they popped up. The worst was bare knuckle fighting people were betting on on some waste ground behind the university.
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I was in Ilkley on Sunday. Saw more police there in an hour than I have done for a whole month in Bradford.
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In relation to the article, to me it smacks of the council admitting the development is NOT going to happen.

Moon on a stick says...
12:44pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Storck wrote:
alas poor bradford I new it well wrote: Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City. Are you listening Councilors
I can not see the council turning it into a free secure car park as it would cost the council thrice over. Firstly there would be a cost to set the car park up, secondly an on going cost to make it secure, CCTV, security guards who would have to check the 5 hours was held and thirdly they would lose any income that they make from parking at the moment. Who would pay to park for a few hours if they can park for free just a couple of minutes walk away.
People won't park at Forster Square to come into town as they're keen on clamping at Forster Square for one. What is proven though is that free parking brings in trade even mid-week and out of office hours. The parking attendants in the city centre are driving away trade.
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As for CCTV there's already cameras around that area so it would need few if any added.
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How much trade are some benches and trees going to bring in?

boparob says...
12:47pm Thu 11 Feb 10

No park for decades, then we get 2 in a year!! Can we call it Central Park?

Moon on a stick says...
12:49pm Thu 11 Feb 10

boparob wrote:
No park for decades, then we get 2 in a year!! Can we call it Central Park?
More like South Park... With Adrian Naylor as Cartman shouting out "respect mah AUTHORITAH!!!"

Storck says...
12:58pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Moon on a stick wrote:
Storck wrote:
alas poor bradford I new it well wrote: Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City. Are you listening Councilors
I can not see the council turning it into a free secure car park as it would cost the council thrice over. Firstly there would be a cost to set the car park up, secondly an on going cost to make it secure, CCTV, security guards who would have to check the 5 hours was held and thirdly they would lose any income that they make from parking at the moment. Who would pay to park for a few hours if they can park for free just a couple of minutes walk away.
People won't park at Forster Square to come into town as they're keen on clamping at Forster Square for one. What is proven though is that free parking brings in trade even mid-week and out of office hours. The parking attendants in the city centre are driving away trade.
.
As for CCTV there's already cameras around that area so it would need few if any added.
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How much trade are some benches and trees going to bring in?
What about the multi storey at John Street Market, or the on street parking around the city centre where you have to pay, they would soon be empty if the Broadway was free. As for CCTV they would have to fit it into the site itself so that it was secure and employ people to walk round the site otherwise it would be a thief paradise.

Storck says...
1:01pm Thu 11 Feb 10

If it was turned into a park and stuff then I would happily have an allotment down there. I live in the city centre and would love somewhere to go and grow things in walking distance of where I live. I know most stuff would be nicked on a Friday/Saturday night but at least it would pass the time :)

After typing that I just noticed the word was take-food. Hope true.

Moon on a stick says...
1:08pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Storck wrote:
Moon on a stick wrote:
Storck wrote:
alas poor bradford I new it well wrote: Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City. Are you listening Councilors
I can not see the council turning it into a free secure car park as it would cost the council thrice over. Firstly there would be a cost to set the car park up, secondly an on going cost to make it secure, CCTV, security guards who would have to check the 5 hours was held and thirdly they would lose any income that they make from parking at the moment. Who would pay to park for a few hours if they can park for free just a couple of minutes walk away.
People won't park at Forster Square to come into town as they're keen on clamping at Forster Square for one. What is proven though is that free parking brings in trade even mid-week and out of office hours. The parking attendants in the city centre are driving away trade. . As for CCTV there's already cameras around that area so it would need few if any added. . How much trade are some benches and trees going to bring in?
What about the multi storey at John Street Market, or the on street parking around the city centre where you have to pay, they would soon be empty if the Broadway was free. As for CCTV they would have to fit it into the site itself so that it was secure and employ people to walk round the site otherwise it would be a thief paradise.
Clearly you've not parked on the on-street parking in the city centre, apart from the current hassle, break-ins too aren't uncommon. Then if you're a few minutes late, bang!, ticket.
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Maybe you should hang around around the current benched areas around Centernary Square that at first sight look nice and see how long before you're hassled?
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If there was an allotment in the city centre I'd be up for that mind you; I could grow cannabis since enough people walk around the centre smoking it.

Ralphie says...
1:24pm Thu 11 Feb 10

The annoying thing about the current Westfield situation is that virtually everyone outside of City Hall realises that there is a very strong possibility that this development will never happen. Westfield in the meantime appear quite happy to let things drag on until it suits them to eventually drop out of it, probably in 5 or more years time.
Why are n't the council investigating alternatives for the site? Perhaps a smaller shopping centre without the car parking etc. and the remaing area returned to roads with shops etc
perhaps linked to Forster Square.
Maybe Westfield would be interested in building a smaller project.
The frightening thought is that this situation could still exist in 10-15 years time.

Moon on a stick says...
1:28pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Storck are you a Little Germany resident who gets hassle free parking and doesn't see what's happened in the rest of the city centre or one of the artists being paid and pretending to be the former? If you’re a resident then look beyond the Photoshop images, if you’re one of the artists you already know public realm is a fraud, ask if the current police resource can be stretched to cover this new park area?
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When you're on the end of the continual unoriginal approaches of "Excuse me mate" or "Got any change for the phone" (I can't believe some people still use that line given everyone has mobiles these days) then maybe you'll lose the rose tinted glasses. TBH at least those are the least hassle, some people are more aggressive to even bother putting on an act.
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Then the next thing you'll have are the chavs coming with their Tesco bags with vodka and coke pouring the vodka into the coke, ditching the vodka bottle then walking around generally p1ssing about but the PSCO's won't go near, a) because they know it'll end up trouble b) because they can pretend that surely they're only drinking coke (despite not being that naive themselves).
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Your argument on the grounds of the existing CCTV not being up to monitoring a car park is even more flawed, CCTV is more important to tackle street crime than car crime without being watched the example issues above will undoubtedly occur and worse still.
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Even this month the Bradford South NPT (Neighbour Policing Team) has an action to try and tackle “anti-social behaviour and drugs in Little Germany” well when the area is landscaped those elements will have a field day.

guggsy says...
2:20pm Thu 11 Feb 10

If it does get landscaped be very careful that the wild-flower beds do not attract rats once all the litter and empty food cartons have gathered in the bushes.This is apparent in centenary square where rats have nested in the shrub areas due to police dicarded food.At least the landscaped area will provide a playground for all the dole dossers and scum that are resident during the day in bradford city centre.

spanglishbull.uk says...
2:23pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Another free living site for the gypsies then. Good idea Councillors.

Juice Terry says...
2:33pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Grass in the centre of Bradford is a great idea. Lots of grass.

t'old man says...
3:06pm Thu 11 Feb 10

“Once people can access it we want to create reasons for them to linger and enjoy it, whether it’s things to look at or things to do.”....... how about building some shops then !

mad matt says...
3:08pm Thu 11 Feb 10

You can see rats regularly in the shrubberies on the Shipley - Airedale Road outside Asda and by the taxi rank in Norfolk Gardens. Anywhere that rubbish collects will attract them.

outside of politics says...
3:32pm Thu 11 Feb 10

it is time to consider a smaller shopping centre which businesses on Forster square should be encouraged to be part of on the same rates. turn forster square into the area for a 'pond' not outside city hall as planned and linked to the canel reopening and create an open air market on the westfield site.
move businesses down the hill as well onto the site so the majority of shops are together and folk don't have to continually walk up and down hills to shop.
then look at developing top ens of town as a separate project.

Eccy George says...
3:47pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Maybe I have missed something but please could someone explain to me how this situation has dragged on for so long and it appears nobody is accountable for the mess. What sort of deal allows a huge derelict hole to be left in the middle of a major city for so long? Why have new developments been built in other cities since work on our 'hole' stopped? Bradford city center is an embarrassment to it's residents and the Council cannot give us the true facts on this fiasco. I bet Westfield would soon get on with the building work if Forster Square Retail Park announced it was closing.

janep says...
3:52pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Tut Tut, stop talking sense, you haven't received any council tax money, and everyone knows you have to pay for consultants to find solutions, it's no good just 'thinking the ideas up' yourself.

webess says...
3:59pm Thu 11 Feb 10

alas poor bradford I new it well wrote:
Good idea from a previous post, a FREE, secure car-park for say up to 5 hours per day that would be very positive for the City.

Are you listening Councilors
Indeed so, especially as all those blue jacketed wardens are there to prevent congestion and not there as a money making exercise.

Come on council, why no free car park? Dewsbury's just brought in a free car parking scheme BTW

albion says...
4:02pm Thu 11 Feb 10

I thought they were the cabbies!

Eccy George says...
4:08pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Maybe Bradford City could move in to the hole, surely it would be cheaper rent than the alleged £1.2 million per year they currently have to pay Mr Flamingo Land, they could then spend more on players to get out of league two and it would be a lot better for us fans from this side of Bradford than moving across to the Odsal Sporting Village (another 'never going to happen' scheme involving our shambles of a council)

Hugo Chavez says...
4:35pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Activity is the politician's substitute for achievement.

sec word: land-debt

cityd says...
4:46pm Thu 11 Feb 10

BIG CARPARK WOULD BE A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT. WE DONT EVEN NEED A NEW SHOPPING CENTRE

Iona Cortina says...
5:05pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Bradford has been abandoned since 1990 (i.e. since the last great mill (Listers) closed down).
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What would Sir Samuel make of what's happened to his beloved city ? <shudders>

moving finger says...
5:57pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. People have been whining on this website that something should be done with the site. Now there is something being done they don't like what that something is.

We'll get some green space instead of a fenced off space, the landscaping & subsequent maintenance will provide jobs, and Little Germany will be re-united with the city centre.

Stop moaning.

Pratfinder-General says...
5:57pm Thu 11 Feb 10

If there was ever a tacit acknowledgment that the Broadway scheme is not expected ever to go ahead in the foreseeable future, surely this is it?

Moon on a stick says...
6:02pm Thu 11 Feb 10

moving finger wrote:
Damned if they do, damned if they don't. People have been whining on this website that something should be done with the site. Now there is something being done they don't like what that something is.

We'll get some green space instead of a fenced off space, the landscaping &amp; subsequent maintenance will provide jobs, and Little Germany will be re-united with the city centre.

Stop moaning.
It's better than nothing but again it's half measures, Bradford needs ecomonic repair not eye candy covering the cracks. Also given the figures that Bradford has the 2nd worst record in the country for vacant shop units it's about time someone in power realised Spin won't fix Bradford, nor will water features and trees.
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If you look at the moans over the last 12 months plus, the idea of car parking has been a constant theme with few people demanding more public realm enhancements.

webess says...
6:02pm Thu 11 Feb 10

moving finger wrote:
Damned if they do, damned if they don't. People have been whining on this website that something should be done with the site. Now there is something being done they don't like what that something is.

We'll get some green space instead of a fenced off space, the landscaping &amp; subsequent maintenance will provide jobs, and Little Germany will be re-united with the city centre.

Stop moaning.
Afraid this is Bradford, UK capital of moaning

cityd says...
6:06pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Eccy George wrote:
Maybe Bradford City could move in to the hole, surely it would be cheaper rent than the alleged £1.2 million per year they currently have to pay Mr Flamingo Land, they could then spend more on players to get out of league two and it would be a lot better for us fans from this side of Bradford than moving across to the Odsal Sporting Village (another 'never going to happen' scheme involving our shambles of a council)
its £600000 not 1.2 million, looks like the bulls might be playing in that hole rather than the bantams

giveover says...
6:10pm Thu 11 Feb 10

cityd wrote:
Eccy George wrote: Maybe Bradford City could move in to the hole, surely it would be cheaper rent than the alleged £1.2 million per year they currently have to pay Mr Flamingo Land, they could then spend more on players to get out of league two and it would be a lot better for us fans from this side of Bradford than moving across to the Odsal Sporting Village (another 'never going to happen' scheme involving our shambles of a council)
its £600000 not 1.2 million, looks like the bulls might be playing in that hole rather than the bantams
Or maybe put the bullies in the hole and fill it in.

Moon on a stick says...
6:27pm Thu 11 Feb 10

webess wrote:
moving finger wrote:
Damned if they do, damned if they don't. People have been whining on this website that something should be done with the site. Now there is something being done they don't like what that something is.

We'll get some green space instead of a fenced off space, the landscaping &amp; subsequent maintenance will provide jobs, and Little Germany will be re-united with the city centre.

Stop moaning.
Afraid this is Bradford, UK capital of moaning
Well we're in the top 10 for most things negative so one more won't do any harm.

nowt fresh says...
6:27pm Thu 11 Feb 10

That £45 million we recieved for Leeds/Bradford Airport is burning a hole in the councils pocket so they have come up with this lemon, this says to me the council have spoken to Westfield and have been told nothing will happen for at least 3/5 years otherwise why bother because if not by the time it has been done Westfield will dig it back up, do us a favour Bradford council and give us a bit of credit.

Yorkshire Lass says...
6:48pm Thu 11 Feb 10

So we are now going to have another green area in the city centre on the Westfield Site. I think it is about time someone with a bit of common sense took a vote on this. How about the T & A getting involved because this is going to be another huge waste of money. Enough is enough I am sick of being a laughing stock where ever I go because our one great city is now at the bottom of most league tables. Instead of the negative comments from the usual people who dont seem to have anything better to do, lets stand and be counted for once so that everyone can have a voice instead of the usual hierarchy who think everyone agrees with their opinions. Well a lot of us dont and enough is enough

albion says...
7:16pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Iona Cortina wrote:
Bradford has been abandoned since 1990 (i.e. since the last great mill (Listers) closed down).
.
What would Sir Samuel make of what's happened to his beloved city ? <shudders></shudders
>
He would probably say "bl**dy h*ll its full of w*gs!

yezboss says...
7:24pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Up with the partridge wrote:
Icemonkey wrote:
What the people of bradford need is one big FREE car park. not more grass that will cost the tax payer money to cut. come on Bradford we do not need any more play areas. get a grip and get out of Town.
Good idea a genuine shoppers car park with say a max limit of 5 hours to stop office wallers filling it up. One of the best ideas yet, attract shoppers to what is left of Bradford as it will be 5-10 years before a new shopping centre is built.
Up with the partridge of Norwich; Clearly you have not shopped in Bradford. How on earth would you possibly find enough to keep the most casual shoper occupied shopping in Bradford. I would say having been to Norwich there is more there to shop for than Bradford. The only driver wanting to park in Bradford for more than 5 hours is someone who works there.

albion says...
7:32pm Thu 11 Feb 10

yezboss wrote:
Up with the partridge wrote:
Icemonkey wrote:
What the people of bradford need is one big FREE car park. not more grass that will cost the tax payer money to cut. come on Bradford we do not need any more play areas. get a grip and get out of Town.
Good idea a genuine shoppers car park with say a max limit of 5 hours to stop office wallers filling it up. One of the best ideas yet, attract shoppers to what is left of Bradford as it will be 5-10 years before a new shopping centre is built.
Up with the partridge of Norwich; Clearly you have not shopped in Bradford. How on earth would you possibly find enough to keep the most casual shoper occupied shopping in Bradford. I would say having been to Norwich there is more there to shop for than Bradford. The only driver wanting to park in Bradford for more than 5 hours is someone who works there.
Or who is selling items FROM his car.

webess says...
7:49pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Don't know if it's just me, but 80%+ of the comments on every story come from a small group of people.

Furthermore they seem to post the same stuff no matter what the story, same old jokjes, same dreary rambles every day.

psymo says...
7:55pm Thu 11 Feb 10

Why are the people of Bradford so negative, comments asking of a carpark and beratting the ideas. At least people are thinking of doing something while everybody else sits at home complaining about nothing getting done, and then someone does think of doing something for once and you complain again.

Let the independent artists of bradford have a go and just lighten up for once...there are other factors that make bradford dull and quiet; the rising costs of bus travel, the obviously repressed mindset and the clear demand there must be for poundshops and betting shops. dont shun an opportunity, embrace it.

psymo says...
7:58pm Thu 11 Feb 10

not to the mention the astronomical business rates in the city

albion says...
7:58pm Thu 11 Feb 10

psymo wrote:
Why are the people of Bradford so negative, comments asking of a carpark and beratting the ideas. At least people are thinking of doing something while everybody else sits at home complaining about nothing getting done, and then someone does think of doing something for once and you complain again.

Let the independent artists of bradford have a go and just lighten up for once...there are other factors that make bradford dull and quiet; the rising costs of bus travel, the obviously repressed mindset and the clear demand there must be for poundshops and betting shops. dont shun an opportunity, embrace it.
There is still a question of the cost.

cityd says...
8:25pm Thu 11 Feb 10

psymo wrote:
Why are the people of Bradford so negative, comments asking of a carpark and beratting the ideas. At least people are thinking of doing something while everybody else sits at home complaining about nothing getting done, and then someone does think of doing something for once and you complain again. Let the independent artists of bradford have a go and just lighten up for once...there are other factors that make bradford dull and quiet; the rising costs of bus travel, the obviously repressed mindset and the clear demand there must be for poundshops and betting shops. dont shun an opportunity, embrace it.
so a car park would not be more usefull than a green area for smack heads and winos? hows that negative, if im in town im going to use the carpark, and would be happy to pay a couple of pounds to use it rather than drive round and round looking for parking, the money could be used to build the future project and all is good! negative my eye

mhaze says...
9:38pm Thu 11 Feb 10

When is Bradford Council going to give Westfield the sack and concentrate on regenerating existing businesses/property in the City Centre, rather than build a potential white elephant!

js66 says...
11:29pm Thu 11 Feb 10

cityd wrote:
psymo wrote:
Why are the people of Bradford so negative, comments asking of a carpark and beratting the ideas. At least people are thinking of doing something while everybody else sits at home complaining about nothing getting done, and then someone does think of doing something for once and you complain again. Let the independent artists of bradford have a go and just lighten up for once...there are other factors that make bradford dull and quiet; the rising costs of bus travel, the obviously repressed mindset and the clear demand there must be for poundshops and betting shops. dont shun an opportunity, embrace it.
so a car park would not be more usefull than a green area for smack heads and winos? hows that negative, if im in town im going to use the carpark, and would be happy to pay a couple of pounds to use it rather than drive round and round looking for parking, the money could be used to build the future project and all is good! negative my eye
There's plenty of room on the site for both a car park and a green park area - why not do both?

Just make sure the hordes of blue-jacketed tax collectors aren't allowed in!

markjoe says...
9:30am Fri 12 Feb 10

I was talking to someone at work about this and he mentioned that there had been a television program on recently about grassing over derelict areas of London. Coincident that a few days\weeks later a member of the council has this brighter idea, maybe they should have watched the news about the shopping centre in Wakefield being restarted

Keith W says...
10:11am Fri 12 Feb 10

Free town centre car park? Won't happen. This lot in city hall both elected and unelected would rather spend(or is it waste?) our local taxes on grandiose schemes (usually backed by the 'art' lobby....hence suggestions of statues) to benefit only a few.
What this city needs is bold schemes that would have the control freaks of Westminster wobbling.
What about not only free car parks, but why not take away most of the yellow lines most of which were never needed in the first place? I worked in Bradford centre and just outside from the early 60's and there was never the congestion that we have now as life wasn't made impossible for the motorist.
Bradford needs shoppers and visitors......not restrictions of movement. Has anyone with any say in city hall the guts to try a radical experiment such as the one I have outlined? Sadly I fear not one,person.
Keith W

psymo says...
10:29am Fri 12 Feb 10

There are already 3 multi-storey carparks in the city centre

cityd says...
12:19pm Fri 12 Feb 10

psymo wrote:
There are already 3 multi-storey carparks in the city centre
true but 2 of them are very close together and right in the centre of town,parking on broadway site would ease the traffic in the town centre would it not? also the one near tj hughes is expensive and so is the one at cini world

bfd lass says...
1:35pm Fri 12 Feb 10

makes me laugh how people go on about how much better Leeds is than Bradford then want a free car park in Bradford, well, cine world and TJ Hughes car parks are nowhere near as expensive as parking in Leeds. If you're not shopping i Bradford just cos the parking isn't free, then don't complain about the lack of shops. And personally, I think anything that makes that site look better will be good

Keith W says...
2:39pm Fri 12 Feb 10

Free town centre car park? Won't happen. This lot in city hall both elected and unelected would rather spend(or is it waste?) our local taxes on grandiose schemes (usually backed by the 'art' lobby....hence suggestions of statues) to benefit only a few.
What this city needs is bold schemes that would have the control freaks of Westminster wobbling.
What about not only free car parks, but why not take away most of the yellow lines most of which were never needed in the first place? I worked in Bradford centre and just outside from the early 60's and there was never the congestion that we have now as life wasn't made impossible for the motorist.
Bradford needs shoppers and visitors......not restrictions of movement. Has anyone with any say in city hall the guts to try a radical experiment such as the one I have outlined? Sadly I fear not one,person.
Keith W

Moon on a stick says...
3:37pm Fri 12 Feb 10

webess wrote:
Don't know if it's just me, but 80%+ of the comments on every story come from a small group of people. Furthermore they seem to post the same stuff no matter what the story, same old jokjes, same dreary rambles every day.
That includes you dear. The same issues exist a year on (more in fact) which surely is going to invite the same criticisms and suggestions.

bijou1963 says...
12:22pm Fri 19 Feb 10

What a daft idea. People are not coming to Bradford for the shops because they have pulled down a lot of them for this project. What Bradford needs is a big free car park to encourage people from out of town to what shops there is left.
They are not going to come into Bradford if they have to pay for parking. Free parking everywhere in Bradford come to think of it would be a good idea instead of paying our Council tax on another garden/park in the town centre. We pay enough as it is.

bijou1963 says...
12:22pm Fri 19 Feb 10

What a daft idea. People are not coming to Bradford for the shops because they have pulled down a lot of them for this project. What Bradford needs is a big free car park to encourage people from out of town to what shops there is left.
They are not going to come into Bradford if they have to pay for parking. Free parking everywhere in Bradford come to think of it would be a good idea instead of paying our Council tax on another garden/park in the town centre. We pay enough as it is.

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