Expert ‘gutted’ at Bradford traders’ no-show (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

angry bradfordian wrote:
'She said she believed as many as one in four of its shops are now standing empty.'- why have they holding up a sign saying it's 1 in 5 then??

Perhaps this suggests that the apathy of the shopkeepers is actually as much to blame as the council's mismanagement if they're offered free advice and turn it down.

I think they're generally right about the appearance of the shops. For every example of an attractive one (can only think of Waterstones) there are 10 bad ones (the particularly shabby WH Smiths comes to mind- it needs a doormat when you leave!)

spudulike wrote:
just another parasitic organisation making cash from gullible councils-spin spin spin

Avro wrote:
Bradford's retailers have been let down too many times, and whilst ever we have a Council hell bent on making the situation worse, by such as increasing the number of parking meters, is it any wonder the retailers are apethetic, they've simply lost the will to live and the death of Bradford's retail is being played out!

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

vikksy wrote:
Retailers.....what retailers.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

angry bradfordian wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Don't know about BD16, but in my case it's any decent men's clothing, a decent selection of music (no idea why HMV if full of mobile phones!), outdoor equipment and anything that a department store sells (including homeware, bedding, clothing etc)

The parking charges don't bother me, I'm probably spending more on petrol to get to Leeds or Manchester. Until I can get the above in Bradford, why would I visit?

angry bradfordian wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Don't know about BD16, but in my case it's any decent men's clothing, a decent selection of music (no idea why HMV if full of mobile phones!), outdoor equipment and anything that a department store sells (including homeware, bedding, clothing etc)

The parking charges don't bother me, I'm probably spending more on petrol to get to Leeds or Manchester. Until I can get the above in Bradford, why would I visit?

Clowny wrote:
To be fair Kate Hardcastle did herself highlight the parking issue in Bradford on Look North a few months ago.
.
It’s an issue the council and local MPs should be taking up with government requesting that VOA revalue Bradford more accurately, a wholesale downgrade is needed of the whole city centre. It’s worth noting businesses can appeal individually:
.
http://www.voa.gov.u

k/corporate/index.ht

ml
.
Click the link “Find, compare and appeal your property's rateable value”
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Parking is an issue wholly for the council, but the less said on that the better, they clearly couldn’t care less.

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

yorkshiredude wrote:
If people think things are bad in terms of local government finance now, then they ain’t seen nothing yet.

Business Rates are going to be ‘localised’ as part of Localism Act. The Council will keep exactly what they raise in rates. As rates are based on the rental value of a property on the open market, this means authorities in the north with lower land values and lower economic prospects are going to be hard hit, whilst the big winners of this are down south.

Business rental prices and therefore rates in Bradford are comparable if not cheaper than our neighbouring towns and cities. Parking charges on street in Bradford are cheaper than the Huddersfield and Halifax.

Retailers, the council, property owners, chamber of commerce need to come up with creative solutions to get things going in the city centre again and residents, arts organisations need to support them. None of this seems to be happening at the moment.

Personally speaking, I’m getting a pay freeze for third successive year. Prices (and VAT I pay) keep going up, council tax has gone up, utility bills are going up, transport fares have gone up… do I sit around waiting for all these things to change or do I make changes myself?

the Laird wrote:
Kate Hardcastle certainly didnt do herself any favours in a BBC Radio Leeds interview earlier yesterday. She was on promoting the event,also on at the same time was the leader of Dewsbury Chamber of Trade and the Markets (another town with an equally depressing amount of shops like Bradford has) When the presenter asked the woman from Dewsbury what traders wanted to help, the immediate reply was "Lower business rates and free parking" Kate Hardcastle dismissed these out of hand, saying they had nothing at all to do with her, and traders should take it up with the Council. When pressed on the matter, she got rather irritated, stating that she was giving up her "free time", but steadfastedly refused to debate anything that was Council related.

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote: IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

angry bradfordian wrote:
'She said she believed as many as one in four of its shops are now standing empty.'- why have they holding up a sign saying it's 1 in 5 then?? Perhaps this suggests that the apathy of the shopkeepers is actually as much to blame as the council's mismanagement if they're offered free advice and turn it down. I think they're generally right about the appearance of the shops. For every example of an attractive one (can only think of Waterstones) there are 10 bad ones (the particularly shabby WH Smiths comes to mind- it needs a doormat when you leave!)

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote: IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

What's snobby about that? Sorry but that's a daft thing to say.

We all want a clean, decent, trouble free shopping experience.

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote: IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

What's snobby about that? Sorry but that's a daft thing to say. We all want a clean, decent, trouble free shopping experience.

"probable asylum seekers", "groups of Asian youths"...they are just people who live here, why do you feel so "intimidated"?

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

bhuna156 wrote:
I wonder how many of you lot actually do shop in the city centre and not just presume it's always dead and no one else does.
I'm in Bradford most fridays or saturdays and it always seems to be busy in the kirkgate shopping centre and on darley street and at forster square.
Most of the shops that have closed down are the ones that are struggling nationally and have been forced to close in other towns and cities too..... perhaps you're all being too harsh on Bradford.... some of you need to wake up and realise the world is in economic despair!

bhuna156 wrote:
I wonder how many of you lot actually do shop in the city centre and not just presume it's always dead and no one else does.
I'm in Bradford most fridays or saturdays and it always seems to be busy in the kirkgate shopping centre and on darley street and at forster square.
Most of the shops that have closed down are the ones that are struggling nationally and have been forced to close in other towns and cities too..... perhaps you're all being too harsh on Bradford.... some of you need to wake up and realise the world is in economic despair!

Yorkshire Lass wrote:
I'll stick to Leeds (my favourite), Keighley, Skipton, Huddersfield, Brighouse and Halifax for my shopping. Have our Councillors been around Leeds City Centre lately and seen how many shoppers are there not only at the weekends but through the week as well. The new shopping complex which is being built in the middle of the city centre around all the shops is going to be big. This is not a replacement to the facilities already on offer, but extra shops. This is progressing nicely without any trouble for the people who work and shop there in fact is is very professional the way it is being erected. I think I am not alone in saying I will not be shopping in Bradford any time soon and by the look of the pessimistic traders not bothering to turn up to this meeting, I guess they have found an alternative city to trade which would only be to their advantage. Bradford Council needs to get someone with some business acumen on board, sooner rather than later, as it will be at least another decade before they have anything to offer. What a disgrace!

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

Clowny wrote:

bhuna156 wrote:
I wonder how many of you lot actually do shop in the city centre and not just presume it's always dead and no one else does.
I'm in Bradford most fridays or saturdays and it always seems to be busy in the kirkgate shopping centre and on darley street and at forster square.
Most of the shops that have closed down are the ones that are struggling nationally and have been forced to close in other towns and cities too..... perhaps you're all being too harsh on Bradford.... some of you need to wake up and realise the world is in economic despair!

If you know Kirkgate so well, you know The Wharf (not a national chain) has gone, its other stores in Yorkshire still trading.
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You'll know Betfred is aiming to open in a large retail space on Kirkgate and Ladbrokes moved into a listed building months ago.
.
You'll know one of last years largest single robberies by Eastern European's took place at the newly opened Hogarth's on Kirkgate.
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You'll know the WHSmith store is infamous for not refurbing in over a decade, unwilling to invest, possibly waiting for Westfield.
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You might want to look on the ground floor in the Kirkgate, there's at least one closed unit where the sign directs customers to their outlet in a nearby city.
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Whilst you're at it, look in the market and see how many stalls have closed.
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Footfall is measured every single year, every year it has recorded a massive decline. The facts speak for themselves.
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Finally watch this on YouTube.
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http://tinyurl.com/7

wvwjzh

schroeder wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:
I'll stick to Leeds (my favourite), Keighley, Skipton, Huddersfield, Brighouse and Halifax for my shopping. Have our Councillors been around Leeds City Centre lately and seen how many shoppers are there not only at the weekends but through the week as well. The new shopping complex which is being built in the middle of the city centre around all the shops is going to be big. This is not a replacement to the facilities already on offer, but extra shops. This is progressing nicely without any trouble for the people who work and shop there in fact is is very professional the way it is being erected. I think I am not alone in saying I will not be shopping in Bradford any time soon and by the look of the pessimistic traders not bothering to turn up to this meeting, I guess they have found an alternative city to trade which would only be to their advantage. Bradford Council needs to get someone with some business acumen on board, sooner rather than later, as it will be at least another decade before they have anything to offer. What a disgrace!

How's "The Core" shopping centre looking these days? Fully let and bursting customers?
Do you not also think Trinity will affect bussines badly elswhere in the city?
Many other people seem to think so.
Things could go very pear shaped indeed..

Clowny wrote:
Well what a turn around, the Local Data Company in 2010 put Bradford as 2nd worst for empty shop premises in the country. Bradford's regeneration department are on record in the T & A disputing LDC's measurements.
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I find it a bit rich that now LDC have some more cities above Bradford that a councillor representing regeneration would post citing figures from the company. You can't have it both ways LDC either measure correctly or they do not.
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The last LDC figures I saw had Bradford at 26.8% when you consider at the other end of the scale some cities are as low as 9% there are no excuses.
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When Bradford has as many or more shop vacancies since Adrian Naylor was in power the Labour record is nothing to be proud of. Action needs taking that isn't further damaging the city like the sham consultation over the parking meters.

Clowny wrote:
Bradford used to get over 400,000 in a normal week in footfall. On late night Xmas opening many of Kirkgate's stores had closed by 6pm, the footfall clearly not equating to all that many sales.
.
No one has argued about Forster Square, news flash for you that retail outlet isn't the city centre. That succeeds due to free parking.
.
Toy Master on James Street is about to close down. This year like last, we're losing more shops than we're gaining.
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Bradford has lost most of its independant stores already.
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A national chain having its only city centre store with no investment is staggering, an area manager normally wouldn't tolerate that unless the unit was deemed not to have a long term future.
.
A point you overlook of the national chains cutting stores, many are left open in other cities with Bradford being on the "close down" list everytime.

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

I do live in Ilkley for your information but that does not make me a snob just working class. At the end of the day, everybody tries to better themselves as they go through life and if not being a druggie or drunk or swearing a lot or thinking that Bradford is a dump makes me a snob, so be it. You need to take off the rose tinted classes and smell the coffee because things in Bradford are not going to change anytime soon. Incidentally did you know that Ilkley is actually run by Bradford Council so what does that tell you?

Clowny wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine.

I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

Unfortunately it's not in Albion's or anyone's mind.
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You won't have seen a story hear as the police and council won't mention it, but robbery has increased 75% in Bradford centre based off the last published month which was December.
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Much of the bag snatching has been from foreign gangs, typically Eastern European.
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The T & A reported recently shoplifting increasing at over 30%.
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I'm sure the police are making efforts to tackle these problems but to say there are no crime problems in the centre in nonsense.
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There have been huge drops in general anti social crimes but I think that could attributed to less footfall at the nightclubs.

Gabbysgran wrote:
Apart from the two way up Manningham Lane, and who wants to toil up that hill! I can't think of one shoe shop in Bradford Centre! I agree, I shop in Leeds

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Last time I went shopping I wanted a new suit. Leeds has a wide choice of retailers offering many different styles and covering all budgets. Bradford has Moss Bros and maybe one or two others.

No contest.

Susan Hinchcliffe wrote:
The fact that no one showed up does not indicate that no-one cares or that Bradford retailers are insular. When you run an event you have to market it properly. This also means if you're not from the town, you need to link up with a local relevant partner to deliver a workshop. They should have been working with the Chamber of Trade rather than just inviting them along.

Also on the issue of Councillors. If they would like us to come then firstly they should invite us. I only found out about it from the T&A in a tiny article on the business pages and I then advertised it on Twitter. Also they would need to arrange it for a night when we can come. With the annual council budget being voted on next week, the entire Labour group were in a budget meeting last night from 6pm and therefore none of us could come.

Finally the average vacancy rate in town centres nationally is 14.5% but increases up to 36% when you look at places like Leigh and Margate. Nationally some property owners are sitting on town centre property that they are not using or improving and therefore they really need to sell it on. However they are reluctant to do so as don't want to see the asset value decrease on their pension pot. Sorry to go on but it's a real important subject and one that I am particularly passionate about.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Last time I went shopping I wanted a new suit. Leeds has a wide choice of retailers offering many different styles and covering all budgets. Bradford has Moss Bros and maybe one or two others. No contest.

I bought a perfectly good suit here in Bradford approx. 10 yrs ago, still got it, only worn twice. I doubt I'll ever need another one.

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:

Susan Hinchcliffe wrote: The fact that no one showed up does not indicate that no-one cares or that Bradford retailers are insular. When you run an event you have to market it properly. This also means if you're not from the town, you need to link up with a local relevant partner to deliver a workshop. They should have been working with the Chamber of Trade rather than just inviting them along. Also on the issue of Councillors. If they would like us to come then firstly they should invite us. I only found out about it from the T&A in a tiny article on the business pages and I then advertised it on Twitter. Also they would need to arrange it for a night when we can come. With the annual council budget being voted on next week, the entire Labour group were in a budget meeting last night from 6pm and therefore none of us could come. Finally the average vacancy rate in town centres nationally is 14.5% but increases up to 36% when you look at places like Leigh and Margate. Nationally some property owners are sitting on town centre property that they are not using or improving and therefore they really need to sell it on. However they are reluctant to do so as don't want to see the asset value decrease on their pension pot. Sorry to go on but it's a real important subject and one that I am particularly passionate about.

You speak for the councillors, care to tell us why they bought parking meters whilst still pretending to listen to the concerns of Bradfords retail?

MisterBD wrote:

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:

Susan Hinchcliffe wrote: The fact that no one showed up does not indicate that no-one cares or that Bradford retailers are insular. When you run an event you have to market it properly. This also means if you're not from the town, you need to link up with a local relevant partner to deliver a workshop. They should have been working with the Chamber of Trade rather than just inviting them along. Also on the issue of Councillors. If they would like us to come then firstly they should invite us. I only found out about it from the T&A in a tiny article on the business pages and I then advertised it on Twitter. Also they would need to arrange it for a night when we can come. With the annual council budget being voted on next week, the entire Labour group were in a budget meeting last night from 6pm and therefore none of us could come. Finally the average vacancy rate in town centres nationally is 14.5% but increases up to 36% when you look at places like Leigh and Margate. Nationally some property owners are sitting on town centre property that they are not using or improving and therefore they really need to sell it on. However they are reluctant to do so as don't want to see the asset value decrease on their pension pot. Sorry to go on but it's a real important subject and one that I am particularly passionate about.

You speak for the councillors, care to tell us why they bought parking meters whilst still pretending to listen to the concerns of Bradfords retail?

never mind just add it to your expense account, just why are some so high? HIGHER THAN PEOPLES WAGES, bet your pension is ok

RedCyanNat wrote:
Most retailers are owned by larger companies and have no say in what happens to their shops, so it would have been pointless for them to turn up and waste time listening to something that they are not even allowed to act upon, good idea or not! Do these people not have brains! Also not all the shops are ugly- how offensive! All Forster Square is nice, the Kirkgate shops, HMV, Wilkinsons an B&M are set into an area with seating and new paving, what is this person on about?! All the fore mentioned have nice facias and most are nice inside, to mention only a few!

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

Last time I went shopping I wanted a new suit. Leeds has a wide choice of retailers offering many different styles and covering all budgets. Bradford has Moss Bros and maybe one or two others. No contest.

I bought a perfectly good suit here in Bradford approx. 10 yrs ago, still got it, only worn twice. I doubt I'll ever need another one.

Perhaps Bradford is fine for your requirements but I wear a suit a lot more than twice in 10 years.

Ten years ago you would have probably had a lot more choice than you have now, which is what this thread is about.

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

I do live in Ilkley for your information but that does not make me a snob just working class. At the end of the day, everybody tries to better themselves as they go through life and if not being a druggie or drunk or swearing a lot or thinking that Bradford is a dump makes me a snob, so be it. You need to take off the rose tinted classes and smell the coffee because things in Bradford are not going to change anytime soon. Incidentally did you know that Ilkley is actually run by Bradford Council so what does that tell you?

Ilkley has been neglected by Bradford Council and it needs more homeless hostels, more halfway houses and dry houses, plus a lot more social housing for the unemployed. More Pound Shops wouldn't go amiss too.

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Yorkshire Lass wrote:

Stanglienne wrote:
IT WAS FREE for godssake! Bradford's independent retailers should have grasped this opportunity with both hands, or quite frankly they deserve to fail. The council and chamber of commerce want their heads banging together - pointing fingers won't do anyone any good, they need to start working together to make any headway. Bradford needn't be dead, but if NO-ONE - not even those whose livelihoods depend on it - is willing to put the effort in then it will never get off the critical list. And if some of you moaners above tried spending some cash IN BRADFORD instead of boasting about how you always spend elsewhere then it might give the retailers some incentive!

Excuse me for asking. Your last paragraph states that if the "moaners" (I admit to being one of those because I used to care but don't anymore and feel very angry about the situation). I much prefer spending my hard earned cash anywhere other than Bradford. My response to this is that I class shopping as a nice experience which I enjoy very much. The minute I walk into the city centre with the druggies, probable asylum seekers, groups of Asian youths, language from the chavs, drunks, etc, etc, I feel very intimidated and would prefer to walk around somewhere in comfort and not have to watch my back all of the time. So you see, its not all about the lack of shops but the city centre has not been welcoming for a long, long, time and the city park is not going to make any difference at all.

Sounds like you're a bit of a snob. Perhaps you should go live in Ilkley or Harrogate.

I do live in Ilkley for your information but that does not make me a snob just working class. At the end of the day, everybody tries to better themselves as they go through life and if not being a druggie or drunk or swearing a lot or thinking that Bradford is a dump makes me a snob, so be it. You need to take off the rose tinted classes and smell the coffee because things in Bradford are not going to change anytime soon. Incidentally did you know that Ilkley is actually run by Bradford Council so what does that tell you?

Ilkley has been neglected by Bradford Council and it needs more homeless hostels, more halfway houses and dry houses, plus a lot more social housing for the unemployed. More Pound Shops wouldn't go amiss too.

Not really but what we are getting via our not so wonderful council is a very new, very large Tesco which nobody here wants. We already have a smaller one, plus a Morrisons local and a Booths supermarket together with a Coop which have been adequate for many years. Despite petitions the council do not listen. Maybe it has something to do with the very many houses needed in the near future to accommodate the very overcrowded Bradford. When will someone on the council be intelligent enough to have a plan B or even C?

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

Unfortunately it's not in Albion's or anyone's mind. . You won't have seen a story hear as the police and council won't mention it, but robbery has increased 75% in Bradford centre based off the last published month which was December. . Much of the bag snatching has been from foreign gangs, typically Eastern European. . The T & A reported recently shoplifting increasing at over 30%. . I'm sure the police are making efforts to tackle these problems but to say there are no crime problems in the centre in nonsense. . There have been huge drops in general anti social crimes but I think that could attributed to less footfall at the nightclubs.

I'm not at all surprised at an increase in theft. Thank Cameron for that. It will get worse too, what with people losing their jobs, homes, State Benefits. All thanks to the Tory spending cuts.

MisterBD wrote:

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:

Susan Hinchcliffe wrote: The fact that no one showed up does not indicate that no-one cares or that Bradford retailers are insular. When you run an event you have to market it properly. This also means if you're not from the town, you need to link up with a local relevant partner to deliver a workshop. They should have been working with the Chamber of Trade rather than just inviting them along. Also on the issue of Councillors. If they would like us to come then firstly they should invite us. I only found out about it from the T&A in a tiny article on the business pages and I then advertised it on Twitter. Also they would need to arrange it for a night when we can come. With the annual council budget being voted on next week, the entire Labour group were in a budget meeting last night from 6pm and therefore none of us could come. Finally the average vacancy rate in town centres nationally is 14.5% but increases up to 36% when you look at places like Leigh and Margate. Nationally some property owners are sitting on town centre property that they are not using or improving and therefore they really need to sell it on. However they are reluctant to do so as don't want to see the asset value decrease on their pension pot. Sorry to go on but it's a real important subject and one that I am particularly passionate about.

You speak for the councillors, care to tell us why they bought parking meters whilst still pretending to listen to the concerns of Bradfords retail?

never mind just add it to your expense account, just why are some so high? HIGHER THAN PEOPLES WAGES, bet your pension is ok

MisterBD wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

Unfortunately it's not in Albion's or anyone's mind. . You won't have seen a story hear as the police and council won't mention it, but robbery has increased 75% in Bradford centre based off the last published month which was December. . Much of the bag snatching has been from foreign gangs, typically Eastern European. . The T & A reported recently shoplifting increasing at over 30%. . I'm sure the police are making efforts to tackle these problems but to say there are no crime problems in the centre in nonsense. . There have been huge drops in general anti social crimes but I think that could attributed to less footfall at the nightclubs.

I'm not at all surprised at an increase in theft. Thank Cameron for that. It will get worse too, what with people losing their jobs, homes, State Benefits. All thanks to the Tory spending cuts.

Now get real ! 1st thing I do not like cameron or tories but the reason it will get worse is that people have borrowed too much money without allowing for anything changing , vat, inflation, energy bills , etc. so people should not have borrowed what they cannot afford to pay back, the greedy banks should not have lent so much money to people. so yes it will get worse not because of cameron , brown or blaire, it is because of greedy banks and people borrowing too much ! put interest rates up force people to sell houses and cars they cannot afford and take the hit, and we will recover, but no government will ever do this

Outraged Citizen wrote:

MisterBD wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Outraged Citizen wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here!"

I choose not to "enter here" these days. The train to Leeds does me just fine. I would love to support Bradfords retailers but they simply don't have what I want.

What do you want that you can't get in Bradford?

A feeling of non-threatening appreciation.

The fact that you, and others, feel intimidated or threatened says more about you than Bradford. It's all in your mind. Fear nothing. You are just prejudiced by your own false assumptions. See a poor person, or a foreigner, and feel fearful. Why?

Unfortunately it's not in Albion's or anyone's mind. . You won't have seen a story hear as the police and council won't mention it, but robbery has increased 75% in Bradford centre based off the last published month which was December. . Much of the bag snatching has been from foreign gangs, typically Eastern European. . The T & A reported recently shoplifting increasing at over 30%. . I'm sure the police are making efforts to tackle these problems but to say there are no crime problems in the centre in nonsense. . There have been huge drops in general anti social crimes but I think that could attributed to less footfall at the nightclubs.

I'm not at all surprised at an increase in theft. Thank Cameron for that. It will get worse too, what with people losing their jobs, homes, State Benefits. All thanks to the Tory spending cuts.

Now get real ! 1st thing I do not like cameron or tories but the reason it will get worse is that people have borrowed too much money without allowing for anything changing , vat, inflation, energy bills , etc. so people should not have borrowed what they cannot afford to pay back, the greedy banks should not have lent so much money to people. so yes it will get worse not because of cameron , brown or blaire, it is because of greedy banks and people borrowing too much ! put interest rates up force people to sell houses and cars they cannot afford and take the hit, and we will recover, but no government will ever do this

I didn't borrow anything, nor do I own any cars or houses, yet I am affected just like everyone else with spiraling fuel costs and cost of living. Everything this government does is aimed at making ordinary people worse off.