BRADFORD'S Broadway shopping centre is set to make an ambitious bid to bring in late-night shoppers to help boost the night-time economy.

Broadway manager Sue Anderson-Brown says the new shopping centre will open from 9am to 9pm, six days a week, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays, in the run-up to Christmas.

Normal opening times will include shopping until 8pm on Thursdays and 7pm on other days, except Sunday when it will close at 5pm.

She told retailers that the city sometimes resembled a "ghost town" during the early evening.

The experienced retail manager suggested that rival shopping centres such as the White Rose in Leeds might hit back by extending their own opening times.

Mrs Anderson-Brown, speaking at a business meeting, said the aim was to be "so much better than Leeds".

She said The Broadway - due to open November 5 - would win back Bradfordians who shopped in Leeds, a city which had "completely reinvented" itself, along with Wakefield, by opening major shopping centres.

Research suggested The Broadway would pull in around eight million new visitors, she added.

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However, market traders in the Oastler shopping centre told the meeting they were not convinced that The Broadway would benefit them.

They were told that signposts inside The Broadway would encourage shoppers to visit markets, the Media Museum, theatres and so on.

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Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, executive member for education, skills and culture, said the process of regenerating the city centre would not stop.

"We are never going to stop regenerating the city centre. We are never going to finish this (process of regeneration). In spite of the difficult economic times affecting local government we are focusing on the city centre."

Colin Philpott, of networking group Bradford Breakthrough, said: "I'm pleased that the new manager of the Westfield Broadway Centre is taking an ambitious approach and I am delighted that the new centre will open in the evenings.

"This will provide a great opportunity for the growing number of new bars, cafés and restaurants already established in the city centre to capitalise on attracting business from shoppers coming to Westfield.

"Westfield's opening will also hopefully encourage more new cafés, bars and restaurants.

"Bradford Breakthrough has played a key in developing the city centre food and drink offer and more still needs to be down but things are improving and the night time economy is starting to rebuild."

The suggestion that Bradford resembled a "ghost town" in the evening has annoyed bar owner and entrepreneur David Robertson-Brown who said: "It’s a shame the new boss at Broadway felt the need to make such comments at such a positive time and I politely suggest she keeps her ear closer to the ground of what’s already going on."

Mr Robertson-Brown, who has been involved in the successful city centre Growth Zone, said the project had attracted new independent businesses and started the long process of "rebuilding the night-time economy."

"We already enjoy the new cluster of bars on North Parade. It’s become a destination in its own right and more investments are going into the area to further support independents."

His own bar at Glyde House had seen a growth in visitors, he said, and other new attractions included the shopping and bar complex of Sunbridge Wells.

Mr Robertson-Brown said he would be delighted to show the Broadway manager around the city centre.

"I know that people are already coming back into the city centre and I’d be delighted to take Sue out and about to show her. I expect visitor figures to continue to rise over the summer and Broadway will undoubtedly give us a very welcome boost later in the year. But we’re certainly not hanging around waiting for them."

He said he had lived and worked in Bradford for over 25 years and felt that people in the city remained a "friendly, humorous and forgiving bunch" despite the time it had taken for Westfield to bring its shopping centre to fruition.

"So rather than ignore what’s already happening, Broadway should support it and use its leadership and vast resources to launch a major charm offensive to our neighbours across West Yorkshire and encourage many more to come and share the city centre, champion our independents and enjoy our top attractions," added Mr Roberston-Brown

A spokesman for the White Rose centre said it would be opening until 10pm on week nights in the run up to Christmas, and until 9pm on Thursdays during normal opening hours.