Call for action after bleak week of shop closures in city (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

old pecker wrote:
yet another nail in the coffin for Bradford RIP

Historic wrote:
It's funny how its people in the council calling for change but its them that made Bradford what it is today,many historic buildings have been pulled down over the years,these buildings would have been used for many years if they were still there,unfortunately I can't ever see Bradford centre being what it once was evening if Westfield is built.i would just fill the hole in and then at least it would look better than it does now

BagOfMonkeys wrote:
Think of it this way, perhaps with everyone buying online, and more and more shops simply losing footfall custom, then Bradford is actually ahead of the game ....... even mighty Leeds will someday find all the shops shut. So Mr Green forget about Westfield, think leisure and entertainment think days out in Bradford, proper city parks with trees and meadows full of flowers, a bit of prairie planting perhaps ...... sports, tennis, crown green bowls, create somewhere to go and play!

Patrick Bateman wrote:
It seems contributor 'Rambo' was correct when he predicted this a few days ago (which is particularly concerning given he also suggested that Waterstones may also go to the wall soon too)

Save2020 wrote:
Bradford is a dump

Rambo wrote:

Patrick Bateman wrote:
It seems contributor 'Rambo' was correct when he predicted this a few days ago (which is particularly concerning given he also suggested that Waterstones may also go to the wall soon too)

Apparently the staff were told earlier this week, though I had known since last month.

In the article it says - "Up to 20 jobs are believed to be affected at Starbucks’ Waterstones branch"

Thats rubbish. Theres no more than 6, and they are all going to be transferred. Starbucks are opening 2 new stores in Leeds (one in the new shopping centre), its likely they will be moved there.

I genuinely don't know what to suggest for the city. As I've said for years, if you think of shops falling into upper, mid and low end, most large cities will have a majority of mid and lower, with some upper. Cities like Manchester and Leeds have a larger upper end, but most places do have a couple of high end shops, eateries, bars, maybe a decent department store.

But Bradford doesn't. Bradford is struggling with the mid-level shops - what I would class as a lot of the chain stores that are slightly more upmarket or smaller chains e.g. I go to places like O'Neill and Quiksilver, the other half goes to H&M and Monsoon.

Its the lack of those places that drives people to the White Rose and Leeds.

They are the sort of places that would admittedly go into Westfield. But even then, my worry is it will end up like Wakefield, where the new shopping centre has devastated some of the existing shopping areas by simply pulling shoppers away with an all-enclosed parking, shopping and eating area.

thatsnotmyname wrote:
The centre is depressing, thats the truth of it. Its also full of people who look like they've just been released.
Thats why I hop on the train (for less than a bradford bus) to Leeds.

thingybob68 wrote:

thatsnotmyname wrote:
The centre is depressing, thats the truth of it. Its also full of people who look like they've just been released.
Thats why I hop on the train (for less than a bradford bus) to Leeds.

you mean on probabtion ie the youths hanging around neart he greggs witha sign on the door reading youth rehabilitation - ive said it before, were either dealing with very clever and dark forces who have planned Bradfords anihalation to the last detail or we havea bewilderingly inept Council lead by a retired bus driver - i'm inclined to beleive the latter.

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

RollandSmoke wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

Whilst football still has a problem with certain elements seeing match day as a call to arms to battle rival fans I'm not sure that having those fans spill out into the city center is wise. Sure they've made progress in ending these violent incidents but there's a way to go before I would see this as a good and more importantly safe idea.

Albion. wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

Agree entirely.

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

Agree entirely.

The make up of Bradfords population means we have a large proportion who want to shop in areas that better reflect their culture and a low wage work force who can't afford higher end shops. Add to this those that won't work then Bradford city centre is what you get. I don't mean this to be offensive or inflammatory but it's the way I see it.

Albion. wrote:

thingybob68 wrote:

thatsnotmyname wrote:
The centre is depressing, thats the truth of it. Its also full of people who look like they've just been released.
Thats why I hop on the train (for less than a bradford bus) to Leeds.

you mean on probabtion ie the youths hanging around neart he greggs witha sign on the door reading youth rehabilitation - ive said it before, were either dealing with very clever and dark forces who have planned Bradfords anihalation to the last detail or we havea bewilderingly inept Council lead by a retired bus driver - i'm inclined to beleive the latter.

To be fair, the council leader has only come into that position very recently and was probably backslapped into position by long term council members who were much more responsible for the things that he frequently seems to be being blamed for.

OLDLAD wrote:
Returned to Bradford and on my first day walking around noticed lack of any decent shops and people drinking all over the place. Packs of feral kids being annoying. The one bright spot for the economy of Bradford, judging by the amount of chewing gum on every pavement, is the high sales of chewing gum. Amazed by the amount of vehicles with 4 way flashers on parked on double yellow lines and Community bobbies and traffic wardens just ignoring them. Especially around council buildings. Get the place cleaned up and maybe just maybe decent shops will be interested in Bradford. As it stands it looks like a massive recycling area!!

RollandSmoke wrote:

BD16 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

Agree entirely.

The make up of Bradfords population means we have a large proportion who want to shop in areas that better reflect their culture and a low wage work force who can't afford higher end shops. Add to this those that won't work then Bradford city centre is what you get. I don't mean this to be offensive or inflammatory but it's the way I see it.

Strange that you use a story about businesses closing as a platform to accuse Bradfordian's of being workshy. Low paid I will agree with as many businesses are exploiting the situation we find ourselves in and starving the local economy of disposable income thus hastening it's demise.

birday wrote:
Please, please, please close down the Bradford town centre and turn the area into residential housing/apartments - we can then all stop fretting about it and move on.
.
Oh and can we please have more bus routes with frequent buses from those parts of Bradford that don't currently have them to other towns and shopping centres - Keighley, Halifax, Skipton, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Leeds, Brighouse, Whiterose centre, Owlcotes etc.
.
Also, how about totally disbanding the City of Bradford ie dividing it up and attaching it to surrounding local local authorities such as Calderdale Coucil, Craven District Council, Leeds Council etc. Get rid of the name Bradford all together. Wibsey could become an additional area of Halifax, Bingley and Keighley could become part of Craven Council etc Is there anyone else out there who thinks could be a good idea? Just think about the impact on political power in the here and how this would be changed! Um?!

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/

Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

OLDLAD wrote:
Webes: Walk done the precinct area on the M&S side and tell me there is no chewing gum, name me 2 decent shops tell me the gangs inside Kirkgate and around the lake arent there. I write what I see not what I think I would like to see!!!

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/


Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

OLDLAD wrote:
Webes: Walk done the precinct area on the M&S side and tell me there is no chewing gum, name me 2 decent shops tell me the gangs inside Kirkgate and around the lake arent there. I write what I see not what I think I would like to see!!!

misterashraf wrote:
It's unfair to compare Bradford to Leeds, Leeds is number 1 or 2 outside London for shopping. As more commerce is attracted to Leeds, Bradford will continue to decline but one day when Leeds is full to the brim we may see an overflow effect that benefits Bradford. I think that's the social experiment being conducted by the powers that be.

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/



Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

I think you'll find there's still a Game in Bradford.

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/




Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

I think you'll find there's still a Game in Bradford.

Has the Darley Street one reopened as that did close?

misterashraf wrote:
It's unfair to compare Bradford to Leeds, Leeds is number 1 or 2 outside London for shopping. As more commerce is attracted to Leeds, Bradford will continue to decline but one day when Leeds is full to the brim we may see an overflow effect that benefits Bradford. I think that's the social experiment being conducted by the powers that be.

angry bradfordian wrote:
An excellent point by David Ward. George Galloway is the MP for the City Centre and he's saying the council should be lobbying parliament.

Isn't that what Galloway is paid to do as an MP. He seems to be too busy campaigning for the Middle East and Central American dictators to bother with his constituency.

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/



Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

I think you'll find there's still a Game in Bradford.

webshow wrote:
You will find there is still a large demand for the good shopping experience. Bradford has minimal to offer & whilst this can be laid mostly to blame on politicians weaknesses controlling the council I believe Bradford can bounce back with a large indoor shopping center & free parking. Free parking is the key to attract shoppers with families.

collos25 wrote:

webshow wrote:
You will find there is still a large demand for the good shopping experience. Bradford has minimal to offer & whilst this can be laid mostly to blame on politicians weaknesses controlling the council I believe Bradford can bounce back with a large indoor shopping center & free parking. Free parking is the key to attract shoppers with families.

Unfortunately you will not get either.

Mr Bradford wrote:

collos25 wrote:

webshow wrote:
You will find there is still a large demand for the good shopping experience. Bradford has minimal to offer & whilst this can be laid mostly to blame on politicians weaknesses controlling the council I believe Bradford can bounce back with a large indoor shopping center & free parking. Free parking is the key to attract shoppers with families.

Unfortunately you will not get either.

There's Free parking at Forster Sq, and Little Germany on weekends.

mr-dog wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

collos25 wrote:

webshow wrote:
You will find there is still a large demand for the good shopping experience. Bradford has minimal to offer & whilst this can be laid mostly to blame on politicians weaknesses controlling the council I believe Bradford can bounce back with a large indoor shopping center & free parking. Free parking is the key to attract shoppers with families.

Unfortunately you will not get either.

There's Free parking at Forster Sq, and Little Germany on weekends.

People need to be very careful parking at Forster Square. They have automated cameras taking pictures of your registration plate as you enter and leave. Overstay your welcome and you will receive a fine in the post. Swines...

Mr Bradford wrote:

birday wrote:
Please, please, please close down the Bradford town centre and turn the area into residential housing/apartments - we can then all stop fretting about it and move on.
.
Oh and can we please have more bus routes with frequent buses from those parts of Bradford that don't currently have them to other towns and shopping centres - Keighley, Halifax, Skipton, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Leeds, Brighouse, Whiterose centre, Owlcotes etc.
.
Also, how about totally disbanding the City of Bradford ie dividing it up and attaching it to surrounding local local authorities such as Calderdale Coucil, Craven District Council, Leeds Council etc. Get rid of the name Bradford all together. Wibsey could become an additional area of Halifax, Bingley and Keighley could become part of Craven Council etc Is there anyone else out there who thinks could be a good idea? Just think about the impact on political power in the here and how this would be changed! Um?!

no that's a ridiculous and pointless idea.

birday wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

birday wrote:
Please, please, please close down the Bradford town centre and turn the area into residential housing/apartments - we can then all stop fretting about it and move on.
.
Oh and can we please have more bus routes with frequent buses from those parts of Bradford that don't currently have them to other towns and shopping centres - Keighley, Halifax, Skipton, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Leeds, Brighouse, Whiterose centre, Owlcotes etc.
.
Also, how about totally disbanding the City of Bradford ie dividing it up and attaching it to surrounding local local authorities such as Calderdale Coucil, Craven District Council, Leeds Council etc. Get rid of the name Bradford all together. Wibsey could become an additional area of Halifax, Bingley and Keighley could become part of Craven Council etc Is there anyone else out there who thinks could be a good idea? Just think about the impact on political power in the here and how this would be changed! Um?!

no that's a ridiculous and pointless idea.

It solves the Bradford problem if it no longer exists .... we can all move on! There's nothing left to save here. True Bradford's gone!

tyker2 wrote:
Waterstones is under pressure as it has been for a few years with corporation tax free Amazon taking an ever increasing percentage off book sales which are themselves under eve increasing pressure due to kindle and the likes.

In one respect the internet is a great benefit to many but at a great cost.

For example I need about £5.00 of DIY mastic the other day. On a rainy horrible day why get in the car, have a 10 mile round trip when I could sit at home,order in on line and have it delivered to me next day. However for larger items I still need to see the product and examine it so shops with good outlets and good internet presence are going to continue to flourish (except Comet which was badly run and managed per se).

Will the building of the Westfield site solve Bradford,s problems I now, for the first time have reservations. Will it be the panacea for all the city's problems.

Meanwhile though Westfield have London area completely covered with sites north , south , west and east of London packed so maybe retailing in big sites is far from dead.

mr-dog wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

collos25 wrote:

webshow wrote: You will find there is still a large demand for the good shopping experience. Bradford has minimal to offer & whilst this can be laid mostly to blame on politicians weaknesses controlling the council I believe Bradford can bounce back with a large indoor shopping center & free parking. Free parking is the key to attract shoppers with families.

Unfortunately you will not get either.

There's Free parking at Forster Sq, and Little Germany on weekends.

People need to be very careful parking at Forster Square. They have automated cameras taking pictures of your registration plate as you enter and leave. Overstay your welcome and you will receive a fine in the post. Swines...

Joedavid wrote:
No news on your Westfield then Mr Green? Mr Sutcliffe why the Odeon/New Victoria not on your list?

Joedavid wrote:
No news on your Westfield then Mr Green? Mr Sutcliffe why the Odeon/New Victoria not on your list?

Albion. wrote:

thingybob68 wrote:

thatsnotmyname wrote: The centre is depressing, thats the truth of it. Its also full of people who look like they've just been released. Thats why I hop on the train (for less than a bradford bus) to Leeds.

you mean on probabtion ie the youths hanging around neart he greggs witha sign on the door reading youth rehabilitation - ive said it before, were either dealing with very clever and dark forces who have planned Bradfords anihalation to the last detail or we havea bewilderingly inept Council lead by a retired bus driver - i'm inclined to beleive the latter.

To be fair, the council leader has only come into that position very recently and was probably backslapped into position by long term council members who were much more responsible for the things that he frequently seems to be being blamed for.

Avro wrote:

Albion. wrote:

thingybob68 wrote:

thatsnotmyname wrote: The centre is depressing, thats the truth of it. Its also full of people who look like they've just been released. Thats why I hop on the train (for less than a bradford bus) to Leeds.

you mean on probabtion ie the youths hanging around neart he greggs witha sign on the door reading youth rehabilitation - ive said it before, were either dealing with very clever and dark forces who have planned Bradfords anihalation to the last detail or we havea bewilderingly inept Council lead by a retired bus driver - i'm inclined to beleive the latter.

To be fair, the council leader has only come into that position very recently and was probably backslapped into position by long term council members who were much more responsible for the things that he frequently seems to be being blamed for.

I also belive the latter....an inept Council lead by a retired bus driver who lives in Cloud Cuckoo Land just like his predessor who now has a gong to show for it!

tyker2 wrote:
I have said build a multi purpose stadium in the city with cinemas,theatres and other facilities. Extend the train station at Forster Square into the stadium, Valley Parade and Odsal could be turned into secure park and rides with electronic tram systems into the stadium. A stadium used 365 days a year and 24 hours a day if necessary. This is the way forward but will need corporate/council funding. How much have the council wasted on Westfield over the years. The proposals are radical but something positive has to be considered and acted on sooner rather than later

Meerkat33 wrote:
Such a shame that Starbucks in closing, there is nothing like walking into Waterstones with the lovely smell of coffee wafting through the store. Unfortunatley it's not often I visit Waterstones as like a lot of people I shop online or in cheaper bookshops. As we were walking through town today my 7 year old asked why there were so many £ shops!

The Hump wrote:

Meerkat33 wrote:
Such a shame that Starbucks in closing, there is nothing like walking into Waterstones with the lovely smell of coffee wafting through the store. Unfortunatley it's not often I visit Waterstones as like a lot of people I shop online or in cheaper bookshops. As we were walking through town today my 7 year old asked why there were so many £ shops!

Theres so many £1 shops because this is Bradfordevery not your Knightsbridge sect everyone's SKINT!!!!

What now wrote:
How can you have a cross party task force, when this council has been responsible for the neglect so far.
.
Surely you should not use the same people.
.
Westfield's contract was signed off in 1999.
.
If they cannot get Shipley right, would you expect them to get Bradford right.
.
The best thing for this council to do, is to stand down, they are hopeless, and the present climate has proved to me that none of them are capable of managing a large society and its demands.
.
By keeping them in, the people of Bradford and surrounding area's are simple damaging their own future.
.
the readers and voters need to sit down and reflect on what i have said, we need to change how our area is run, after all, to me at least, it now seems that this council is telling us what to do, when surely they should be acting our our behalf.

Mr Perks wrote:

tyker2 wrote:
Waterstones is under pressure as it has been for a few years with corporation tax free Amazon taking an ever increasing percentage off book sales which are themselves under eve increasing pressure due to kindle and the likes.

In one respect the internet is a great benefit to many but at a great cost.

For example I need about £5.00 of DIY mastic the other day. On a rainy horrible day why get in the car, have a 10 mile round trip when I could sit at home,order in on line and have it delivered to me next day. However for larger items I still need to see the product and examine it so shops with good outlets and good internet presence are going to continue to flourish (except Comet which was badly run and managed per se).

Will the building of the Westfield site solve Bradford,s problems I now, for the first time have reservations. Will it be the panacea for all the city's problems.

Meanwhile though Westfield have London area completely covered with sites north , south , west and east of London packed so maybe retailing in big sites is far from dead.

Even with 'larger items' physical shops are losing out to the internet. My mum needed a new fridge last summer, looked around a few shops in the district, saw the model she wanted and then I bought it on the internet. I still managed to get it £70 cheaper than the lowest price in any of the shops she visited. I don't know what the solution to this problem is, internet retailers will always have lower overheads than physical shops. People are being forced to shop around for the lowest price possible in this difficult economic climate and even when the situation improves I feel their 'shopping habits' may have permanently shifted to viewing in shops then buying online.

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa

terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa

terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

queensbury wrote:
just wonder how long it will be befor peopal of bradford to look around and say they is no shops in here i have just been to leeds today what diffrent place
last week i went in to bradford for coat was told by the shop keeper the only you get in bradford is drug and guns
every body speek to say bradford a dump what do we but nothing but mone
y dont we march to city hall and ask them this youer kidds city and jobs do sumthing about it get of youer back sides

queensbury wrote:
just wonder how long it will be befor peopal of bradford to look around and say they is no shops in here i have just been to leeds today what diffrent place
last week i went in to bradford for coat was told by the shop keeper the only you get in bradford is drug and guns
every body speek to say bradford a dump what do we but nothing but mone
y dont we march to city hall and ask them this youer kidds city and jobs do sumthing about it get of youer back sides

Avro wrote:
Going by the number of posts on this topic, it appears there is growing discontent with our Council and state of the City Centre.

But in reality is there enough support to hold a mass protest outside City Hall?

Mr Bradford wrote:
Why is it the councils or anybody's fault that hmv, jessops, millets, comet, clintons, game and the rest are closing down?
It's the same everywhere else!
Get a grip people! Even if Westfield was built they'd still be closing down!

tyker2 wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa


terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

how does she spend a load of cash in city centre shops? :bookies, pound shops etc abound.

Unless,of course, she spends a load in the pound shops so she can sell the same items on ebay at a profit LOL----IT DOES HAPPEN

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa


terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa



terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

The facts about footfall were based on figures and a league table published about three years ago by the government, not a buch of cranks who just run the city down, and i'm not talking about the council...it showed that the money spent in Bradford city centre had pushed the city up five places in that particular table of town and city centres throughout the UK.....then take into account what the folk running the Kirkgate centre had said regarding footfall since the City Park had opened... i myself who shop regularly in Bradford had noticed a large increase of folk in the city centre and it's shops over the last 36 months but especially the last eighteen months. It's you who churn the same old tripe out...the folk on this web site do not represent any kind of scientific cross section of Bradford shoppers and no one in their right mind would think it does. You would think some were working for Leeds City Council though.

bcfc1903 wrote:
LOL...that should have been tyker2 who's the buffon....

collos25 wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
Why is it the councils or anybody's fault that hmv, jessops, millets, comet, clintons, game and the rest are closing down?
It's the same everywhere else!
Get a grip people! Even if Westfield was built they'd still be closing down!

Because the council have not made with public money an environment that will persuade people to come into the city.
They have been very busy patting themselves on the back and pocketing public money if they worked for a private firm they would have all been sacked long ago.

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa




terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

The facts about footfall were based on figures and a league table published about three years ago by the government, not a buch of cranks who just run the city down, and i'm not talking about the council...it showed that the money spent in Bradford city centre had pushed the city up five places in that particular table of town and city centres throughout the UK.....then take into account what the folk running the Kirkgate centre had said regarding footfall since the City Park had opened... i myself who shop regularly in Bradford had noticed a large increase of folk in the city centre and it's shops over the last 36 months but especially the last eighteen months. It's you who churn the same old tripe out...the folk on this web site do not represent any kind of scientific cross section of Bradford shoppers and no one in their right mind would think it does. You would think some were working for Leeds City Council though.

The evidence (as in this report) suggests different, perhaps all that "footfall" was disbelieving onlookers on their way for a bus to elsewhere?

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

loftyme wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

absolutely spot on mate, the shops reflect the people who shop there, druggies, drinkers, inbreds, eastern european beggers, loads of ugly people, where do they all come from!!, much prefer keighley, or a trip into huddersfield, a trip into bradford is very rare for me these days.

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa





terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

The facts about footfall were based on figures and a league table published about three years ago by the government, not a buch of cranks who just run the city down, and i'm not talking about the council...it showed that the money spent in Bradford city centre had pushed the city up five places in that particular table of town and city centres throughout the UK.....then take into account what the folk running the Kirkgate centre had said regarding footfall since the City Park had opened... i myself who shop regularly in Bradford had noticed a large increase of folk in the city centre and it's shops over the last 36 months but especially the last eighteen months. It's you who churn the same old tripe out...the folk on this web site do not represent any kind of scientific cross section of Bradford shoppers and no one in their right mind would think it does. You would think some were working for Leeds City Council though.

The evidence (as in this report) suggests different, perhaps all that "footfall" was disbelieving onlookers on their way for a bus to elsewhere?

Regarding the money spent in town and city centre shops...it was government figures you MORON, you know official figures..unlike the crap spouted on here...hopefully i spelt MORON correctly.

bcfc1903 wrote:

loftyme wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

absolutely spot on mate, the shops reflect the people who shop there, druggies, drinkers, inbreds, eastern european beggers, loads of ugly people, where do they all come from!!, much prefer keighley, or a trip into huddersfield, a trip into bradford is very rare for me these days.

Except the great majority of thousands of folk who shop in Bradford city centre are nothing like those people you mentioned...Surely most folk who live in Hudds shop in Wakefield lol there is a reason for that. I actualkly live on the outskirts of Keighley..enough said.

loftyme wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

absolutely spot on mate, the shops reflect the people who shop there, druggies, drinkers, inbreds, eastern european beggers, loads of ugly people, where do they all come from!!, much prefer keighley, or a trip into huddersfield, a trip into bradford is very rare for me these days.

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

loftyme wrote:

chard501 wrote:
Bradford is what you get with the free market economy and the way society changes. 20 years ago you had rubbish and run down parts of towns but now with the way house prices have gone you just have rubbish towns. The people who have the money to spend in the shops we'd all like to see in Bradford upped and left a long time ago. The shops we now have reflect the people of who shop there (pound shops, bookies, charity shops). Bradford isn't the only town/city in this position but in the UK it is the largest and most high profile.

As for making it a city of culture etc. Errr, didn't we just blow all our money on a fountain rather than say a music arena. If you want to get footfall in the city centre then introduce zero tolerance policing around it so that people can go to the media museum and alhambra without being worried about their safety. Also, I'm not into sports much but an obvious thing to me would be to put the bulls and the football club in the one stadium in the centre.

absolutely spot on mate, the shops reflect the people who shop there, druggies, drinkers, inbreds, eastern european beggers, loads of ugly people, where do they all come from!!, much prefer keighley, or a trip into huddersfield, a trip into bradford is very rare for me these days.

Except the great majority of thousands of folk who shop in Bradford city centre are nothing like those people you mentioned...Surely most folk who live in Hudds shop in Wakefield lol there is a reason for that. I actualkly live on the outskirts of Keighley..enough said.

"actualkly"? Oh dear! :-)

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa






terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

The facts about footfall were based on figures and a league table published about three years ago by the government, not a buch of cranks who just run the city down, and i'm not talking about the council...it showed that the money spent in Bradford city centre had pushed the city up five places in that particular table of town and city centres throughout the UK.....then take into account what the folk running the Kirkgate centre had said regarding footfall since the City Park had opened... i myself who shop regularly in Bradford had noticed a large increase of folk in the city centre and it's shops over the last 36 months but especially the last eighteen months. It's you who churn the same old tripe out...the folk on this web site do not represent any kind of scientific cross section of Bradford shoppers and no one in their right mind would think it does. You would think some were working for Leeds City Council though.

The evidence (as in this report) suggests different, perhaps all that "footfall" was disbelieving onlookers on their way for a bus to elsewhere?

Regarding the money spent in town and city centre shops...it was government figures you MORON, you know official figures..unlike the crap spouted on here...hopefully i spelt MORON correctly.

And you obviously choose to believe them....bcfc1903 fiddles while Bradford burns!
So everyone with opposing views to your own is either a buffoon or a moron? Right, well you won't want to be associated with us again and will presumably ignore our comments?
Meanwhile the city dies! but it's all OK as there is increased footfall, did both Ladbrokes and Betfred report increased business?

bhuna156 wrote:
Same stores are closing in Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax.... this is a sign of the times and they'll be a lot more to follow!

I'd rather the Westfield site was used for a museum or another sort of visitor attraction, cos the downward trend of physical shopping is only going to continue.

Mike Strutter wrote:
Dave Green needs to get his head out of his **** ! Yes the national situation doesn't help but rather than blame it why doesn't he try do something about it ? And I don't mean more pound shops or bookies !!

Mike Strutter wrote:
Dave Green needs to get his head out of his **** ! Yes the national situation doesn't help but rather than blame it why doesn't he try do something about it ? And I don't mean more pound shops or bookies !!

Albion. wrote:

bhuna156 wrote:
Same stores are closing in Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax.... this is a sign of the times and they'll be a lot more to follow!

I'd rather the Westfield site was used for a museum or another sort of visitor attraction, cos the downward trend of physical shopping is only going to continue.

That has already been covered here.

watcher22 wrote:
Let's all move to Rio

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/





Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

I think you'll find there's still a Game in Bradford.

Has the Darley Street one reopened as that did close?

Gamestation never closed, and it's now called Game.

Albion. wrote:
"individuel" Hahahaha! No I'm not sad.....it cheers me up every time I read your delusions of grandeur.
As I indicated earlier, you can produce all the figures that you can conjure up, and pull the wool over many an eye.....meanwhile (as reported here) yet more businesses in Bradford have closed and the great saviour (pond) has failed to create anything of any significance.

Rambo wrote:
In case you can't be arsed going through 130+ comments, it was me who commented last week I think Starbucks was going to shut as I knew already.

What I said was their rent was tiny in comparison to their other unit at Centenary Sq (took 5 years to make a profit) as it was a long-term contract that was based on a low percentage of their takings.

One of my theories is they are preparing for Waterstones closing, and Starbucks as a company are putting more effort into new stores in Leeds that are opening. As I said above, the staff in Bradford will be moved to Leeds.

I actually just realised out of the 4 jobs I've had in Bradford in 7 years, 2 have shut down (Starbucks being one), one has relocated to the centre of Leeds and only one remains open. And that was only a temporary one.

And did you know they are looking at converting more apartments at Forster Sq? One was that large abandoned mill on the Subway side, the other a smaller one behind the Travel Lodge. The latter though fell through last week.

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:
People love to make out that it's only in Bradford this is happening, but HMV/Jessops/Millets/






Comet etc have closed down or are closing down in every town and city in the country.

You'll find Game has stayed open in busier cities and is even considering a bid for HMV's successful stores.

I think you'll find there's still a Game in Bradford.

Has the Darley Street one reopened as that did close?

Gamestation never closed, and it's now called Game.

There was a Game also on Darley St and Broadway, they both closed, the same group owned Gamestation so has clearly renamed it to keep a single brand.

6teddies wrote:
Pity poor Bradford Mr Gallowaste oops i mean galloway will never do anything for bradford, i wish he had never set foot here get back on tv. sorry to see all the empty shops in bradford maybe they will be filled by mobile phone shops or many more pound shops as we are all saying so whats next to close M&S maybe had enough of blandford head back to leeds?

Not so simple wrote:
Courtesy of the rumour mill at the Varsity. Without prejudice of course!

Did I mention that Olicana House in little Germany is also going to be empty soon. Telegraph needs to start paying me for these breaking news.

I also understand that Incommunities maybe considering its position at the Headquarters at Augustus house.

Not so simple wrote:

6teddies wrote:
Pity poor Bradford Mr Gallowaste oops i mean galloway will never do anything for bradford, i wish he had never set foot here get back on tv. sorry to see all the empty shops in bradford maybe they will be filled by mobile phone shops or many more pound shops as we are all saying so whats next to close M&S maybe had enough of blandford head back to leeds?

It's not Gorgeous George's fault the city centre is a ghost town. It's your fault,citizens of Bradford you allowed your council and it's departments to do this to the city centre. Stop moaning and start searching for answers to your questions rather then blind finger pointing.

Want to make a change? Start with speaking out and attend council meetings.

Meanwhile i'll stick to the pubs whilst we still have them.

Clowny wrote:
Don't act so smart my question was about the original Game stores, Gamestation closed down for the rebranding. There are examples I could point out like T J Hughes which saved branches in other cities. Many of the smaller shops, plus some pubs and clubs, have already closed, without an article in this paper.

Mr Bradford wrote:
Things could be a lot worse.
There's only one empty unit in the Kirkgate centre - that's rare for a shopping centre these days. And there's only the Comet unit empty at Forster Square. Both of these shopping destinations always seem to be busy and the Kirkgate centre is enjoying increased numbers of footfall.
This proves a lot of people still shop in Bradford, despite what you want to believe.....

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote:
Don't act so smart my question was about the original Game stores, Gamestation closed down for the rebranding. There are examples I could point out like T J Hughes which saved branches in other cities. Many of the smaller shops, plus some pubs and clubs, have already closed, without an article in this paper.

You mentioned nothing about original Game stores originally.
Bradford still has a Game store. end of.
In Halifax both Game and Gamestation have closed down, whith signs in the window saying the nearest one is in Bradford.
Many peacocks have closed down, but there's still one in Bradford.

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Clowny wrote: Don't act so smart my question was about the original Game stores, Gamestation closed down for the rebranding. There are examples I could point out like T J Hughes which saved branches in other cities. Many of the smaller shops, plus some pubs and clubs, have already closed, without an article in this paper.

You mentioned nothing about original Game stores originally. Bradford still has a Game store. end of. In Halifax both Game and Gamestation have closed down, whith signs in the window saying the nearest one is in Bradford. Many peacocks have closed down, but there's still one in Bradford.

According to the Game's website they changed the Southgate Gamestation to a Game in Halifax like they did in Bradford, unless you're saying that has closed down since? The fact remains in the last 3-6 months the city centre has lost some independent retailers, at least 1 pub and 1 night club on top of national closures. A lot more could be done and to even suggest the park has turned around the city centre into a trading hot bed of activity as some have suggested is far from the truth.

Clowny wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote: Things could be a lot worse. There's only one empty unit in the Kirkgate centre - that's rare for a shopping centre these days. And there's only the Comet unit empty at Forster Square. Both of these shopping destinations always seem to be busy and the Kirkgate centre is enjoying increased numbers of footfall. This proves a lot of people still shop in Bradford, despite what you want to believe.....

The Kirkgate's website has 7 shops listed empty, with a further 2 also empty but with potential offers.

Pondlover wrote:
I take heart from the amount of posters who genuinely care about Bradford. Retail might not be the future, it probably isn't, so any cultural, leisure or sporting suggestions are interesting to me. To go forward though, people need to accept reality. Bradford is not ok, getting better, hanging in there, increasing foot fall and there is not one shred of evidence or government stats to support that, it is utter nonsense, mostly from bcfc 1903.nonsense. Bradford's retail is suffering a very long term and accelerating decline, it is very nearly finished. Anybody over 40 years of age can quite clearly see that. Anybody who eyes are deceiving them need only look through our own councils report to find all the evidence you need.......... http://www.investinb radford.com/Resource s/Invest%20In%20Brad ford/Bradford%20Econ omy/Documents/Bradfo rd_District_Quarterl y_Economic_Update_Au gust_2011.pdf.

Pondlover wrote:
Mr Bradford, I should have said..............I don't believe Bradford center is full of drunks and pound shops and has no hope, far from it. But your attitude is just as daft as those who spout the above. There is a middle ground where sense reigns, too many talk it down but some just don't want to aknowledge the truth.

Mr Bradford wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
I take heart from the amount of posters who genuinely care about Bradford. Retail might not be the future, it probably isn't, so any cultural, leisure or sporting suggestions are interesting to me. To go forward though, people need to accept reality. Bradford is not ok, getting better, hanging in there, increasing foot fall and there is not one shred of evidence or government stats to support that, it is utter nonsense, mostly from bcfc 1903.nonsense. Bradford's retail is suffering a very long term and accelerating decline, it is very nearly finished. Anybody over 40 years of age can quite clearly see that. Anybody who eyes are deceiving them need only look through our own councils report to find all the evidence you need.......... http://www.investinb radford.com/Resource s/Invest%20In%20Brad ford/Bradford%20Econ omy/Documents/Bradfo rd_District_Quarterl y_Economic_Update_Au gust_2011.pdf.

That report is from August 2011.

There has been an increase of footfall in the Kirkgate centre since City Park opened last year. This was confirmed by the shopping centres manager - but she got branded a liar because it was not what some people wanted to hear - which was quite embarrassing to read!

The footfall figures in that report only include certain areas of the city centre. It does not include Forster Square shopping park, Centenary Square, or around the Alhambra/Media Museum... obviously the figures would be much higher if these places were included.

Tthe figures do however include Broadway... and obviously you'd expect a huge drop of footfall compared to over 10 years ago due to most of it not being there anymore!

Anyway, there was some promissing bits in that report.
"Bradford ranks joint 6th highest in Yorkshire and the Humber by retail
expenditure at £470 million. However, Bradford had the second highest increase in retail expenditure
between 2008 and 2010 of the top ten retail centres across Yorkshire and the Humber, both in
percentage terms and absolute numbers. This suggests the city centre has been resilient in the face
of recession."

So that means there's more money being spent in Bradford city centre than Harrogate, Wakefield, Doncaster and Halifax... that goes agains twhat a lot of people on these pages have said.... (lol).

Albion. wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote: It's odd that Starbucks in Waterstones is closing as it's always doing good business....more sinister goings on in Bradford along with Sunwin House closing a few years ago when it was making a large year on year trading profit. Gutted..Starbucks/Wa terstones... our favourite place for a coffee after the wife spends a load of cash in Bradford city centre shops. Simply cannot understand some shops such as the two i mentioned closing when quite obviously footfall has increased greatly in Bradford city centre over the last three years.

Well it all goes to prove what nonsense you have been churning out for the last few months, you might stop disregarding the opinions of others who disagree with you now.

tyker2 wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote: LOL...that should have been tyker2 who's the buffon....

is that some sort of hairstyle:if you are throwing insults around at least get it right: you BUFFOON

Andy2010 wrote:

Mr Bradford wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
I take heart from the amount of posters who genuinely care about Bradford. Retail might not be the future, it probably isn't, so any cultural, leisure or sporting suggestions are interesting to me. To go forward though, people need to accept reality. Bradford is not ok, getting better, hanging in there, increasing foot fall and there is not one shred of evidence or government stats to support that, it is utter nonsense, mostly from bcfc 1903.nonsense. Bradford's retail is suffering a very long term and accelerating decline, it is very nearly finished. Anybody over 40 years of age can quite clearly see that. Anybody who eyes are deceiving them need only look through our own councils report to find all the evidence you need.......... http://www.investinb radford.com/Resource s/Invest%20In%20Brad ford/Bradford%20Econ omy/Documents/Bradfo rd_District_Quarterl y_Economic_Update_Au gust_2011.pdf.

That report is from August 2011.

There has been an increase of footfall in the Kirkgate centre since City Park opened last year. This was confirmed by the shopping centres manager - but she got branded a liar because it was not what some people wanted to hear - which was quite embarrassing to read!

The footfall figures in that report only include certain areas of the city centre. It does not include Forster Square shopping park, Centenary Square, or around the Alhambra/Media Museum... obviously the figures would be much higher if these places were included.

Tthe figures do however include Broadway... and obviously you'd expect a huge drop of footfall compared to over 10 years ago due to most of it not being there anymore!

Anyway, there was some promissing bits in that report.
"Bradford ranks joint 6th highest in Yorkshire and the Humber by retail
expenditure at £470 million. However, Bradford had the second highest increase in retail expenditure
between 2008 and 2010 of the top ten retail centres across Yorkshire and the Humber, both in
percentage terms and absolute numbers. This suggests the city centre has been resilient in the face
of recession."

So that means there's more money being spent in Bradford city centre than Harrogate, Wakefield, Doncaster and Halifax... that goes agains twhat a lot of people on these pages have said.... (lol).

If theres one thing Ive learnt over the years about "reports" (I know because I write a lot of them) is you can change the figures to show exactly what the recipient wants to here without actually changing the findings

The truth behind this matter is quite simple. Stand in Kirkgate for 1/2 hour on a Saturday then stand at the White Rose for half an hour the Saturday after...If you cant notice a difference then you are stupid. Bradford City Centre is not only dead but its long gone

alfucham wrote:

tyker2 wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote: LOL...that should have been tyker2 who's the buffon....

is that some sort of hairstyle:if you are throwing insults around at least get it right: you BUFFOON

Ha Ha

Yes lets all gang up on this pompous living in the past nob.

Keep playing your Delius dear !903.

Probably the year he was born.

A dreamer of epic proportions who will not now be able to wake up and smell the coffee.

RIP Starbuck

alfucham wrote:
Are Mr Bradford and BCFC 1903 related?

The majority see it for what it is.

A dump frequented by scum that do nothing to encourage the likes of our mums and dads to return even if retailers were there in abundance.

So the economy retail was worth £400 plus million last year.

A couple of weeks ago this paper reported the betting industry turnover last year at........£400 million.

So all the drug dealing crime rich scum put mor in Phillip Davies pet industry coffers than normal shoppers do ijn all the retail outlets put together.

Says it all really.

what a s***ole its become.

Why not make Starbucks a methodone bar?

And Brown Muffs a whorehouse.
There seem to be more East European and other delightfull scum practically jumping in front of your car for trade these days.

At least the whore house has a ready made name.

Brown Muffs.

that"ll do nicely.

I"ll have the one in the funny window.

If its still there.

Ten bob down and ten bob when I pick up my winnings

Mr Bradford wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
I take heart from the amount of posters who genuinely care about Bradford. Retail might not be the future, it probably isn't, so any cultural, leisure or sporting suggestions are interesting to me. To go forward though, people need to accept reality. Bradford is not ok, getting better, hanging in there, increasing foot fall and there is not one shred of evidence or government stats to support that, it is utter nonsense, mostly from bcfc 1903.nonsense. Bradford's retail is suffering a very long term and accelerating decline, it is very nearly finished. Anybody over 40 years of age can quite clearly see that. Anybody who eyes are deceiving them need only look through our own councils report to find all the evidence you need.......... http://www.investinb radford.com/Resource s/Invest%20In%20Brad ford/Bradford%20Econ omy/Documents/Bradfo rd_District_Quarterl y_Economic_Update_Au gust_2011.pdf.

That report is from August 2011.

There has been an increase of footfall in the Kirkgate centre since City Park opened last year. This was confirmed by the shopping centres manager - but she got branded a liar because it was not what some people wanted to hear - which was quite embarrassing to read!

The footfall figures in that report only include certain areas of the city centre. It does not include Forster Square shopping park, Centenary Square, or around the Alhambra/Media Museum... obviously the figures would be much higher if these places were included.

Tthe figures do however include Broadway... and obviously you'd expect a huge drop of footfall compared to over 10 years ago due to most of it not being there anymore!

Anyway, there was some promissing bits in that report.
"Bradford ranks joint 6th highest in Yorkshire and the Humber by retail
expenditure at £470 million. However, Bradford had the second highest increase in retail expenditure
between 2008 and 2010 of the top ten retail centres across Yorkshire and the Humber, both in
percentage terms and absolute numbers. This suggests the city centre has been resilient in the face
of recession."

So that means there's more money being spent in Bradford city centre than Harrogate, Wakefield, Doncaster and Halifax... that goes agains twhat a lot of people on these pages have said.... (lol).

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote: Are Mr Bradford and BCFC 1903 related? The majority see it for what it is. A dump frequented by scum that do nothing to encourage the likes of our mums and dads to return even if retailers were there in abundance. So the economy retail was worth £400 plus million last year. A couple of weeks ago this paper reported the betting industry turnover last year at........£400 million. So all the drug dealing crime rich scum put mor in Phillip Davies pet industry coffers than normal shoppers do ijn all the retail outlets put together. Says it all really. what a s***ole its become. Why not make Starbucks a methodone bar? And Brown Muffs a whorehouse. There seem to be more East European and other delightfull scum practically jumping in front of your car for trade these days. At least the whore house has a ready made name. Brown Muffs. that"ll do nicely. I"ll have the one in the funny window. If its still there. Ten bob down and ten bob when I pick up my winnings

Alf...Alf Alf tut tut..Surely if it was just frequented by scum..you'd be an expert on those folk would you?...let me turn your ludicrous assumption around...are YOU related to any of the other cranks on here who do nothing but spout untruths and total exaggerations regard the folk who shop in Bradford city centre...the city centres imminent death and all the other complete tosh rolled out...take my mother for instance...she's 85 but still get's her hair done in Bradford city centre ...coming all the way from Sutton in Craven....there is a very unsavory tone to your posts....

alfucham wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote: Are Mr Bradford and BCFC 1903 related? The majority see it for what it is. A dump frequented by scum that do nothing to encourage the likes of our mums and dads to return even if retailers were there in abundance. So the economy retail was worth £400 plus million last year. A couple of weeks ago this paper reported the betting industry turnover last year at........£400 million. So all the drug dealing crime rich scum put mor in Phillip Davies pet industry coffers than normal shoppers do ijn all the retail outlets put together. Says it all really. what a s***ole its become. Why not make Starbucks a methodone bar? And Brown Muffs a whorehouse. There seem to be more East European and other delightfull scum practically jumping in front of your car for trade these days. At least the whore house has a ready made name. Brown Muffs. that"ll do nicely. I"ll have the one in the funny window. If its still there. Ten bob down and ten bob when I pick up my winnings

Alf...Alf Alf tut tut..Surely if it was just frequented by scum..you'd be an expert on those folk would you?...let me turn your ludicrous assumption around...are YOU related to any of the other cranks on here who do nothing but spout untruths and total exaggerations regard the folk who shop in Bradford city centre...the city centres imminent death and all the other complete tosh rolled out...take my mother for instance...she's 85 but still get's her hair done in Bradford city centre ...coming all the way from Sutton in Craven....there is a very unsavory tone to your posts....

Its called cynicism.

you started it and I"ll finish it Oh Mighty one slagging everyone as bufoons and other choice language.

When all they comment is wehat they see.

The truth.

as to how far the place has fallen from grace.

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote: Are Mr Bradford and BCFC 1903 related? The majority see it for what it is. A dump frequented by scum that do nothing to encourage the likes of our mums and dads to return even if retailers were there in abundance. So the economy retail was worth £400 plus million last year. A couple of weeks ago this paper reported the betting industry turnover last year at........£400 million. So all the drug dealing crime rich scum put mor in Phillip Davies pet industry coffers than normal shoppers do ijn all the retail outlets put together. Says it all really. what a s***ole its become. Why not make Starbucks a methodone bar? And Brown Muffs a whorehouse. There seem to be more East European and other delightfull scum practically jumping in front of your car for trade these days. At least the whore house has a ready made name. Brown Muffs. that"ll do nicely. I"ll have the one in the funny window. If its still there. Ten bob down and ten bob when I pick up my winnings

Alf...Alf Alf tut tut..Surely if it was just frequented by scum..you'd be an expert on those folk would you?...let me turn your ludicrous assumption around...are YOU related to any of the other cranks on here who do nothing but spout untruths and total exaggerations regard the folk who shop in Bradford city centre...the city centres imminent death and all the other complete tosh rolled out...take my mother for instance...she's 85 but still get's her hair done in Bradford city centre ...coming all the way from Sutton in Craven....there is a very unsavory tone to your posts....

Its called cynicism. you started it and I"ll finish it Oh Mighty one slagging everyone as bufoons and other choice language. When all they comment is wehat they see. The truth. as to how far the place has fallen from grace.

Really....I'd call it something else ...and so would most other folk...i don't think you'd know the truth even if it came knocking at your thick skull...you actually trott out the same lies as many do on this thread regarding Bradford city centre....I actually do comment on what i see lol...you make it up as you go along. Since this thread started there's another two grand going into Bradford shops with a coffee for four after we've spent it...keep up the good work lol

alfucham wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote: Are Mr Bradford and BCFC 1903 related? The majority see it for what it is. A dump frequented by scum that do nothing to encourage the likes of our mums and dads to return even if retailers were there in abundance. So the economy retail was worth £400 plus million last year. A couple of weeks ago this paper reported the betting industry turnover last year at........£400 million. So all the drug dealing crime rich scum put mor in Phillip Davies pet industry coffers than normal shoppers do ijn all the retail outlets put together. Says it all really. what a s***ole its become. Why not make Starbucks a methodone bar? And Brown Muffs a whorehouse. There seem to be more East European and other delightfull scum practically jumping in front of your car for trade these days. At least the whore house has a ready made name. Brown Muffs. that"ll do nicely. I"ll have the one in the funny window. If its still there. Ten bob down and ten bob when I pick up my winnings

Alf...Alf Alf tut tut..Surely if it was just frequented by scum..you'd be an expert on those folk would you?...let me turn your ludicrous assumption around...are YOU related to any of the other cranks on here who do nothing but spout untruths and total exaggerations regard the folk who shop in Bradford city centre...the city centres imminent death and all the other complete tosh rolled out...take my mother for instance...she's 85 but still get's her hair done in Bradford city centre ...coming all the way from Sutton in Craven....there is a very unsavory tone to your posts....

Its called cynicism. you started it and I"ll finish it Oh Mighty one slagging everyone as bufoons and other choice language. When all they comment is wehat they see. The truth. as to how far the place has fallen from grace.

Really....I'd call it something else ...and so would most other folk...i don't think you'd know the truth even if it came knocking at your thick skull...you actually trott out the same lies as many do on this thread regarding Bradford city centre....I actually do comment on what i see lol...you make it up as you go along. Since this thread started there's another two grand going into Bradford shops with a coffee for four after we've spent it...keep up the good work lol

Your on yer own pal.

birday wrote:
Disband Bradford! We do it with failing schools why not with failing towns?!
.
The perfect solutions ... it would desolve power in Bradford that isn't working and there'd be no need to carry putting effort into forcing politicans to build the town centre. The populaton could be turn to face their most local town or city and begin to feel part of a place again eg Skipton, Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax etc

bcfc1903 wrote:

birday wrote:
Disband Bradford! We do it with failing schools why not with failing towns?!
.
The perfect solutions ... it would desolve power in Bradford that isn't working and there'd be no need to carry putting effort into forcing politicans to build the town centre. The populaton could be turn to face their most local town or city and begin to feel part of a place again eg Skipton, Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax etc

Of course Bradford's working...it has the third biggest economy in the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside....around 7billion....just behind Sheffield and miles behind Leeds. Some of the schools are great some are not...you find the same sort of problems in Birmingham...should we disband that city also lol

Pondlover wrote:
Hasn't this got muddled up now? Bradford as a City has a lot going for it but, however, it's centre is not one of those things, it is dying, it's offering is constantly downgraded, decent chains will not open here, shops are closing, the and footfall is dropping. (The latter 2 things go go hand in hand)


What's the answer? Retail? No! Of course not, that's a long term proven failure. What else can there be fro a defunct centre but with space and beautiful architecture?

bcfc1903 wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
Hasn't this got muddled up now? Bradford as a City has a lot going for it but, however, it's centre is not one of those things, it is dying, it's offering is constantly downgraded, decent chains will not open here, shops are closing, the and footfall is dropping. (The latter 2 things go go hand in hand)


What's the answer? Retail? No! Of course not, that's a long term proven failure. What else can there be fro a defunct centre but with space and beautiful architecture?

Footfall has not been dropping in the last three years...previously..

.yes it looked like Bradford was seriously struggling. No one is saying everything in Bradford city centre is rosey...but this stuff about recent footfall is ludicrous...the last figures published showed that more money was being spent in Bradford city centre shops...a rise of five places in the table produced at that time ...those figures came out around three years ago...if you think footfall has fallen since then in Bradford city centre....that simply is not the case, there has been a significant rise.

bcfc1903 wrote:
Goverment figures say otherwise in Bradford .....only three years ago...Bradford city centre moved up the retail sales table by five places...obviously the Kirkgate centre has also said it's footfall has increased since City Park opened...the Media Museum has seen a large increase in folk visiting it over the last six months. I'm not making this stuff up...my own eyesight says there are far more folk in Bradford city centre shops than three years ago. Make of that what you will...i guess until more government figures are released it's all speculation. By the way most of the recent shop closures have nothing to do with Bradford...they are decisions taken by companies on a national basis.

pweibj67 wrote:
BCFC 1903 the Government must love you .. hey get excited we have never had it so good! i look forward to reading more of their clap trap and spin you can get excited to! ps are you off to Iraq to kick ****! over the Weapons of mass destruction!

pweibj67 wrote:
BCFC 1903 the Government must love you .. hey get excited we have never had it so good!

i look forward to reading more of their clap trap and spin you can get excited to!

ps are you off to Iraq to kick ****! over the Weapons of mass destruction!

alfucham wrote:

pweibj67 wrote:
BCFC 1903 the Government must love you .. hey get excited we have never had it so good! i look forward to reading more of their clap trap and spin you can get excited to! ps are you off to Iraq to kick ****! over the Weapons of mass destruction!

Well said.

Theres a word for people who believe all the claptrap spin that this report and that report state to win votes.

Or retain position power and corruption.

8 years ago I was told I needed my gallbladder out.

Pain excrutiating similar to heart attack I am told.

Told NHS target was 10 months wait but they would expedite due to pain threshold.
That was january.

Rang Otley hospital professor Mc Mahons office in following December.

professor McMahon invented the keyhole op for gallbladder removal.

His PA told me I was not even on the computer.But not to worry.NHS trust managers liked to input these things in batches as they knew the stastistics would look poor otherwise.

The NHS employs more hospital administraters than there are members of the chinese army.

To do precisely this.Cook the books whilst front line care staff weep.

I got my op on emergency short notice call up on new years day.A month after my call when the rest of the world was recovering from a hangover.

As I was wheeled down with Otley Hospital been part demolished everywhere I put my trust in god.

And the quite brilliant professor McMahon.

He incidently also invented key hole surgery for removal of the spleen something the size of a cricket ball.

The method insert a bag wrap round the spleen through small incision.Probe in a food processor type whisk.Pulp it.Pull back of liqified spleen gently out.Simple.Made in Britain.were still good at something.

All hospital administraters should be cut.There hopeless.

Moral of the story.

do not believe official reports.

Everyone else is right.

BCFC 1903 (thank god we"ll get respite as his beloved City have a very important date over the next couple of hours)your wrong.very wrong.And we all know it.

Bradford is with the dogs

Pondlover wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
Goverment figures say otherwise in Bradford .....only three years ago...Bradford city centre moved up the retail sales table by five places...obviously the Kirkgate centre has also said it's footfall has increased since City Park opened...the Media Museum has seen a large increase in folk visiting it over the last six months. I'm not making this stuff up...my own eyesight says there are far more folk in Bradford city centre shops than three years ago. Make of that what you will...i guess until more government figures are released it's all speculation. By the way most of the recent shop closures have nothing to do with Bradford...they are decisions taken by companies on a national basis.

I am only interested in retail, Bradford's centre, not the media museum, Bradford has quite few things going for it, that is one of them.

I don't go often, maybe once a month, tbh I always astonished at how quiet it is, if you use it regularly then perhaps you become accustomed to the the decline? Reduced choice + reduced shops cannot result in increased footfall. IMO it's got quieter, year on year, we'll have to wait for a report!

I agree, the very recent shop closures are not specific to Bradford, but long term losses of Bradford's quality independents are. Nothing has or will replace either so it's lose-lose and so it continues........

I am always open to any suggestion about how to bring "life" into the centre, I just believe that the longer the hope for a (impossible IMO) retail regeneration, at least one of which we've been used to, will just prolong the decline.

For starters the council should bring every sphere of their operation, that it is possible to do so, into the centre, occupying premises and introducing footfall.

Not so simple wrote:
How much are those Bradford tinted blinker shades and how to I get some? The city centre is a joke, the suburbs are dirty and overcrowded. Criminal gangs operate openly throughout the city. Gangs of various youths from various ethnic backgrounds roaming the city. Sick paedophiles in the paper every week.

Now where do I get those Bradford blinkers.
Wake up idiots

alfucham wrote:
A one man campaigner for sticking up for Bradford Council claims that all in the pond is rosy.

Good old BCFC 1903.

Thank god my old pal Mark Lawn has something to smile about after all these years of seeing his family life savings slowly drip down the drain for several years mirroring the city fortunes.

I gues City"s success is why good old BCFC 1903 refuses to see the deriliction we all do with gangs everywhere.

Another trial reporting today of alleged grooming rape of more 14 year old schoolgirls.

The sort of behaviour your very own Great Mp Anne Cryer was decrying 10 years back BCFC 1903.

And social Services and the police stated official statitistics and records did not supoort.

Just as with Jimmy Saville ity shows the records were there.But were shuvvled under"t carpet.For fear to bring out and face the truth.

As Hillsbrough victims have waited 23 years for truth and justice denied by lying police officers who released nonsense to the press that fans from Liverpool were seen urinating on bodies and stealing the wallets of the dead and dying.

Dont talk to mea bout official reports BCFC 1903.

There not worth the paper there written on.

Society will always be controlled by the establishment.

Cronies as you are easily fooled

alfucham wrote:
A one man campaigner for sticking up for Bradford Council claims that all in the pond is rosy.

Good old BCFC 1903.

Thank god my old pal Mark Lawn has something to smile about after all these years of seeing his family life savings slowly drip down the drain for several years mirroring the city fortunes.

I gues City"s success is why good old BCFC 1903 refuses to see the deriliction we all do with gangs everywhere.

Another trial reporting today of alleged grooming rape of more 14 year old schoolgirls.

The sort of behaviour your very own Great Mp Anne Cryer was decrying 10 years back BCFC 1903.

And social Services and the police stated official statitistics and records did not supoort.

Just as with Jimmy Saville ity shows the records were there.But were shuvvled under"t carpet.For fear to bring out and face the truth.

As Hillsbrough victims have waited 23 years for truth and justice denied by lying police officers who released nonsense to the press that fans from Liverpool were seen urinating on bodies and stealing the wallets of the dead and dying.

Dont talk to mea bout official reports BCFC 1903.

There not worth the paper there written on.

Society will always be controlled by the establishment.

Cronies as you are easily fooled

Not so simple wrote:

alfucham wrote:
A one man campaigner for sticking up for Bradford Council claims that all in the pond is rosy.

Good old BCFC 1903.

Thank god my old pal Mark Lawn has something to smile about after all these years of seeing his family life savings slowly drip down the drain for several years mirroring the city fortunes.

I gues City"s success is why good old BCFC 1903 refuses to see the deriliction we all do with gangs everywhere.

Another trial reporting today of alleged grooming rape of more 14 year old schoolgirls.

The sort of behaviour your very own Great Mp Anne Cryer was decrying 10 years back BCFC 1903.

And social Services and the police stated official statitistics and records did not supoort.

Just as with Jimmy Saville ity shows the records were there.But were shuvvled under"t carpet.For fear to bring out and face the truth.

As Hillsbrough victims have waited 23 years for truth and justice denied by lying police officers who released nonsense to the press that fans from Liverpool were seen urinating on bodies and stealing the wallets of the dead and dying.

Dont talk to mea bout official reports BCFC 1903.

There not worth the paper there written on.

Society will always be controlled by the establishment.

Cronies as you are easily fooled

Right on. Now where's them mail order Bradford blinkers!

6teddies wrote:
Remember the leaflets that went about or was it a magazine? Anyhow it said Bradford Bouncing Back and yes they got it right =Bouncing back into the gutter!!. I wonder if the councilors shop in Bradford?

Pondlover wrote:
Going back to retail, because that was what the debate was originally about.

IMO footfall is still dropping, I suppose at some point when it reaches it's nadir and hardly anybody at all is there, some will be able to confidently and correctly claim that footfall is no longer dropping but has stabilised!

I am prepared to accept (but still doubt it) that the Kirkgate centre may well have had an increase in footfall, but would suggest that that would be down to the lessening of shopping opportunities outside of it. It is having a long overdue makeover so that is some good news.

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible! The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible!

The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

alfucham wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible! The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

We all agree noone wants to have to rubbish our home city.

But you correctly point out everything is closing and if starbucks and waterstones goes how can any major multiple retailer have any confidence to return or set up in the city

Things have now fallen to almost that nadir point you refer to.

We can have our history and wonderfull architecture that is indeed everywhere still but that counts for little when things have got so bad.

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible! The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

We all agree noone wants to have to rubbish our home city.

But you correctly point out everything is closing and if starbucks and waterstones goes how can any major multiple retailer have any confidence to return or set up in the city

Things have now fallen to almost that nadir point you refer to.

We can have our history and wonderfull architecture that is indeed everywhere still but that counts for little when things have got so bad.

Alf...i see your off the pipe...that post was almost worth reading...still crap mind...

**

Th Bradford City Region has been given the accolade of being the first UNESCO CITY of FILM.
*
The BRADFORD Media Museum is the most visited museum outside London

*
Bradford has a lower crime rate ion percentage terms than Manchester or Leeds.
*
Bradford is the Birth Place of the Bronte Sisters,the house being located on Market Street in Thornton,it's a grade 2 listed building..


*
They wrote their books while living at Haworth Parsonage which is within the Bradford City Region.Haworth is trying to get UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE RECOGNITION.
*
JB Priestley the novelist.
*
Sir William Rothenstein (29 January 1872 – 14 February 1945) was an English painter, draughtsman and writer on art.

*
Frederick Delius the composer.

*
Bradford has the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AT SALTAIRE.
*
The world renowned artist David Hockney a Bradfordian has paintings displayed in Salts Mill.
*
Bradford and it's region has 5,800 listed buildings,and Bradford City centre has some beautiful buildings.The Wool Exchange and City Hall being prime examples
*

Just how much culture and superb countryside can one city and it's region have,in Bradford's case it has plenty.
*
The picture painted by some on here is not a true reflection of either the City of Bradford or it's surrounding region.
*
St Georges Hall is the oldest concert hall in the UK AND THE THIRD OLDEST IN THE WHOLE OF EUROPE

bcfc1903 wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible!

The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

Yes you have got to be sensible...try being.....Obviously if you take in the government figures of three years ago..they simply do not lie...add in what the Kirkgate centre said recently about footfall and the retail outlets...the idea that the City Park wouldn't have any bearing on Bradford city centre foofall is ludicrous and thats being kind to your thin argument which is backed by nothing as far as i can see. Yes some shops have gone to the wall...but those for the most part are national footfall problems not specific to Bradford.

Andy2010 wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

alfucham wrote:

Pondlover wrote:
But then we go back to square one............if money spent in retail outlets was really rising, the shops would not be closing and other chains would view Bradford as an "opportunity" and open here. In reality the opposite is happening. I am trying to come towards you as I don't like the "Bradford is 100% rubbish" posts but you ahve got to be sensible! The Kirkgate makoever is very good news, I have heard that the exterior (which is dismal)is to be vastly improved, that will be good news for Godwin/Darley St as well as Kirkgate.

We all agree noone wants to have to rubbish our home city.

But you correctly point out everything is closing and if starbucks and waterstones goes how can any major multiple retailer have any confidence to return or set up in the city

Things have now fallen to almost that nadir point you refer to.

We can have our history and wonderfull architecture that is indeed everywhere still but that counts for little when things have got so bad.

Alf...i see your off the pipe...that post was almost worth reading...still crap mind...

**

Th Bradford City Region has been given the accolade of being the first UNESCO CITY of FILM.
*
The BRADFORD Media Museum is the most visited museum outside London

*
Bradford has a lower crime rate ion percentage terms than Manchester or Leeds.
*
Bradford is the Birth Place of the Bronte Sisters,the house being located on Market Street in Thornton,it's a grade 2 listed building..


*
They wrote their books while living at Haworth Parsonage which is within the Bradford City Region.Haworth is trying to get UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE RECOGNITION.
*
JB Priestley the novelist.
*
Sir William Rothenstein (29 January 1872 – 14 February 1945) was an English painter, draughtsman and writer on art.

*
Frederick Delius the composer.

*
Bradford has the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AT SALTAIRE.
*
The world renowned artist David Hockney a Bradfordian has paintings displayed in Salts Mill.
*
Bradford and it's region has 5,800 listed buildings,and Bradford City centre has some beautiful buildings.The Wool Exchange and City Hall being prime examples
*

Just how much culture and superb countryside can one city and it's region have,in Bradford's case it has plenty.
*
The picture painted by some on here is not a true reflection of either the City of Bradford or it's surrounding region.
*
St Georges Hall is the oldest concert hall in the UK AND THE THIRD OLDEST IN THE WHOLE OF EUROPE

Wonderful history lesson but doesnt change the fact its a dump

bcfc1903 wrote:

Not so simple wrote:

alfucham wrote:
A one man campaigner for sticking up for Bradford Council claims that all in the pond is rosy.

Good old BCFC 1903.

Thank god my old pal Mark Lawn has something to smile about after all these years of seeing his family life savings slowly drip down the drain for several years mirroring the city fortunes.

I gues City"s success is why good old BCFC 1903 refuses to see the deriliction we all do with gangs everywhere.

Another trial reporting today of alleged grooming rape of more 14 year old schoolgirls.

The sort of behaviour your very own Great Mp Anne Cryer was decrying 10 years back BCFC 1903.

And social Services and the police stated official statitistics and records did not supoort.

Just as with Jimmy Saville ity shows the records were there.But were shuvvled under"t carpet.For fear to bring out and face the truth.

As Hillsbrough victims have waited 23 years for truth and justice denied by lying police officers who released nonsense to the press that fans from Liverpool were seen urinating on bodies and stealing the wallets of the dead and dying.

Dont talk to mea bout official reports BCFC 1903.

There not worth the paper there written on.

Society will always be controlled by the establishment.

Cronies as you are easily fooled

Right on. Now where's them mail order Bradford blinkers!

Th Bradford City Region has been given the accolade of being the first UNESCO CITY of FILM.
*
The BRADFORD Media Museum is the most visited museum outside London

*
Bradford has a lower crime rate than Leeds.
*
Bradford is the Birth Place of the Bronte Sisters,the house being located on Market Street in Thornton,it's a grade 2 listed building..


*
They wrote their books while living at Haworth Parsonage which is within the Bradford City Region.Haworth is trying to get UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE RECOGNITION.
*
JB Priestley the novelist.
*
Frederick Delius the composer.

*
Bradford has the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AT SALTAIRE.
*
The world renowned artist David Hockney a Bradfordian has paintings displayed in Salts Mill.
*
Bradford and it's region has 5,800 listed buildings,and Bradford City centre has some beautiful buildings.The Wool Exchange and City Hall being prime examples
*

Just how much culture and superb countryside can one city and it's region have,in Bradford's case it has plenty.
*
The picture painted by some on here is not a true reflection of either the City of Bradford or it's surrounding region.
*
St Georges Hall is the oldest concert hall in the UK AND THE THIRD OLDEST IN THE WHOLE OF EUROPE.e

Not so simple wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:

Not so simple wrote:

alfucham wrote:
A one man campaigner for sticking up for Bradford Council claims that all in the pond is rosy.

Good old BCFC 1903.

Thank god my old pal Mark Lawn has something to smile about after all these years of seeing his family life savings slowly drip down the drain for several years mirroring the city fortunes.

I gues City"s success is why good old BCFC 1903 refuses to see the deriliction we all do with gangs everywhere.

Another trial reporting today of alleged grooming rape of more 14 year old schoolgirls.

The sort of behaviour your very own Great Mp Anne Cryer was decrying 10 years back BCFC 1903.

And social Services and the police stated official statitistics and records did not supoort.

Just as with Jimmy Saville ity shows the records were there.But were shuvvled under"t carpet.For fear to bring out and face the truth.

As Hillsbrough victims have waited 23 years for truth and justice denied by lying police officers who released nonsense to the press that fans from Liverpool were seen urinating on bodies and stealing the wallets of the dead and dying.

Dont talk to mea bout official reports BCFC 1903.

There not worth the paper there written on.

Society will always be controlled by the establishment.

Cronies as you are easily fooled

Right on. Now where's them mail order Bradford blinkers!

Th Bradford City Region has been given the accolade of being the first UNESCO CITY of FILM.
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The BRADFORD Media Museum is the most visited museum outside London

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Bradford has a lower crime rate than Leeds.
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Bradford is the Birth Place of the Bronte Sisters,the house being located on Market Street in Thornton,it's a grade 2 listed building..


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They wrote their books while living at Haworth Parsonage which is within the Bradford City Region.Haworth is trying to get UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE RECOGNITION.
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JB Priestley the novelist.
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Frederick Delius the composer.

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Bradford has the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AT SALTAIRE.
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The world renowned artist David Hockney a Bradfordian has paintings displayed in Salts Mill.
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Bradford and it's region has 5,800 listed buildings,and Bradford City centre has some beautiful buildings.The Wool Exchange and City Hall being prime examples
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Just how much culture and superb countryside can one city and it's region have,in Bradford's case it has plenty.
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The picture painted by some on here is not a true reflection of either the City of Bradford or it's surrounding region.
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St Georges Hall is the oldest concert hall in the UK AND THE THIRD OLDEST IN THE WHOLE OF EUROPE.e

May I borrow your tinted shades, cheers

Pondlover wrote:
1903, I quoted from and attached a link from Bradford council, if you want to claim "facts" from a link, you should at least be able to provide it!

This thread shows why Bradford will never motivate enough public spirit to effect change.

Some are saying Bradford centre is a dump, beyond hope and some are saying "There is nothing much wrong with it". It's incredible and of course, both points of view are as stupid as the other.

There is big middle ground if everybody would like to meet in it......... before it really is finished.