Updated: Westfield reported to have sold Broadway shopping scheme (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Wasn't that the company that they were trying to get on board anyway?
If so, It would appear that little has changed.

The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

So they're not prepared to comment on speculation? It wouldn't exactly do them any harm would it? Their reputation among the residents of Bradford, the rest of West Yorkshire and even further afield is in tatters thanks to their total arrogance and incompetence in the last eight years.

It's all a bit cat and mouse now. Even an australian should be able to work out that if you build a brand new shopping centre in the UK, you'll sign up Next, M&S and Debenhams, but they're all being a bit cagey now as they've now been asked to sign up for a third time and still no construction has begun. Smaller shops can't commit to something which is at least three years away (more like seven), but then they're the shopping centre experts not me.

Prediction, in 10-15 years time standing on that site will be slum flats.
Other than that, why not build a mosque there - one way of getting people into Bradford, doubt they would spend anything though, unless we beef up the pound shop offering ?

The T&A with their finger on the button as always.
I can just picture them sat in the offices reading through all the national newspapers then copying any relevant stories onto their website.
The Times in the newspaper that ran the story this morning, and it seems since then the T&A have enquired and been fed the same rubbish that has been printed in here for years.
Debenhams extra space, M&S anchors, Next are on board, yadda yadda yadda.
What do the council think of this or are they as much in the dark too?

Exactly as I predicted!

Westfiled have well and truly lead our Council a good song and dance for over 10 years!

At the recent meeting with the Councils Committee did Westfield mention this?
If not they are not a very open company and to me can't be trusted as they apear to be dishonest.

We're not quite rd of Westfield, because under the under the agreement, Westfield will build the scheme and manage it for a fee once it has been completed.

Why is there a picture with debenhams in it when the only shops the shopping centre will house are poundland, poundworld and so on..

It was widely reported in August that Westfield we're mulling its sale...

"In an interview with the Sunday Express co-chief executive of Westfield Steven Lowy said: “We may sell it but it will play out in a way which pleases the people of Bradford.”

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads.

People want quality shops in a safe environment. At the moment a lot go to leeds for that type of shopping.

I somehow doubt that thet people of Bradford will not be too happy about Westfields fingers remaining in the pie and being paid for it!

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Get a life mate..

Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

Bone_idle18 wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote: The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads. People want quality shops in a safe environment. At the moment a lot go to leeds for that type of shopping.

"Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads."
You can't buy them in the City Center those shops have gone.

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

It was reported many months ago that Westfield wanted them to join up as financial partners, the partnership seem slightly different to what was first envisaged, but as far as the public is concerned very little has changed.

If and when this centre is completed, it will be the death of the top end of the city centre. Bradford has always struggled with its hilly split site. It's bad enough now with the number of empty shops - some empty since development a few years ago in the Rawson quarter. I walked up Ivegate for the first time in some years the other week and it was a pitiful sight.

I know of a city in the south which has recently built a similar development - plenty of affluent people happy to spend. Since it opened the centuries old High Street has become a ghost town with the shops that didn't re-locate struggling and in some cases closing down. The place used to host a thriving twice weekly street market which is now reduced to a very small collection of dismal stalls - it this progress?

Joedavid wrote:

Bone_idle18 wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote: The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads. People want quality shops in a safe environment. At the moment a lot go to leeds for that type of shopping.

"Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads."
You can't buy them in the City Center those shops have gone.

Now if you had said 'nicking' massive TV's and Laptops/Ipads, we would have belived you. Nobody in Bratfud buys owt these days its all knock off or carry off these days !

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

This must be one of the most ridiculous comments that I have ever read in a T & A forum. Doesn't Casual Observer understand that it is absolutely vital that Bradford gets this shopping mall up & running as soon as possible. The town centre is dying a slow death at the moment because there are very few decent stores left. Many Bradford based shoppers choose to shop in Leeds these days simply because they cannot find what they are looking for in our town centre.
For this reason I am sure that a new shopping mall would be well used and would help promote business in other parts of the centre of Bradford

Wanna Have wrote:
Prediction, in 10-15 years time standing on that site will be slum flats.
Other than that, why not build a mosque there - one way of getting people into Bradford, doubt they would spend anything though, unless we beef up the pound shop offering ?

You pathetic Islamophobe.

Pity poor Bfd! wrote:
If and when this centre is completed, it will be the death of the top end of the city centre. Bradford has always struggled with its hilly split site. It's bad enough now with the number of empty shops - some empty since development a few years ago in the Rawson quarter. I walked up Ivegate for the first time in some years the other week and it was a pitiful sight.

I know of a city in the south which has recently built a similar development - plenty of affluent people happy to spend. Since it opened the centuries old High Street has become a ghost town with the shops that didn't re-locate struggling and in some cases closing down. The place used to host a thriving twice weekly street market which is now reduced to a very small collection of dismal stalls - it this progress?

Perhaps the death of it for retail, but need to think about how else it could be developed. Westgate, the Rawson Quarter and the market would all probably struggle lots in the long term - and things would need to change in Kirkgate Centre.

Don't know if Meyer Bergman are a German/ German Jewish company originally, but if that is the case, the shopping mall will get built, there is a long history in regards those folk and the City of Bradford. This could be very good news. Of course a city of 522,500 folk are crying out for such a shopping experience locally. With a Bradford economy worth 7billion it's a no brainer.

Albion. wrote:

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

It was reported many months ago that Westfield wanted them to join up as financial partners, the partnership seem slightly different to what was first envisaged, but as far as the public is concerned very little has changed.

A lot has changed.

Bergman now own the scheme and Westfield whilst being the constructiion and management agent, can if they wish, walk away with a healthy profit after selling the scheme.
Should Bergman not be able to deliver on tenants (which has dogged this farce from the outset), then Westfield willsimply walk away with the scheme sale in hand.

The only winner here is Westfield!

Surely Westfield can build without worrying about who's signed up now... that will be down to Meyer/Bergman, so maybe Bradford also wins. Not sure if that is the dynamic in play now Westfield have sold the land, i guess it is if the constuction starts next year.

Avro wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

It was reported many months ago that Westfield wanted them to join up as financial partners, the partnership seem slightly different to what was first envisaged, but as far as the public is concerned very little has changed.

A lot has changed.

Bergman now own the scheme and Westfield whilst being the constructiion and management agent, can if they wish, walk away with a healthy profit after selling the scheme.
Should Bergman not be able to deliver on tenants (which has dogged this farce from the outset), then Westfield willsimply walk away with the scheme sale in hand.

The only winner here is Westfield!

I can't imagine how you dream't that one up.
To the man in the street "little has changed".
Bergman aren't Bradford Council, they won't simply hand the cash over and sit and wait.

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
For starters anyone living in Bradford but on a national wage (which is the case with many people round here), they'll enjoy quite a lot of disposable income.

Albion. wrote:

Avro wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

It was reported many months ago that Westfield wanted them to join up as financial partners, the partnership seem slightly different to what was first envisaged, but as far as the public is concerned very little has changed.

A lot has changed.

Bergman now own the scheme and Westfield whilst being the constructiion and management agent, can if they wish, walk away with a healthy profit after selling the scheme.
Should Bergman not be able to deliver on tenants (which has dogged this farce from the outset), then Westfield willsimply walk away with the scheme sale in hand.

The only winner here is Westfield!

I can't imagine how you dream't that one up.
To the man in the street "little has changed".
Bergman aren't Bradford Council, they won't simply hand the cash over and sit and wait.

The scheme has been sold and to someone who can now make it happen, because securing tenants is what Bergman do, or would you prefer that Westfield still had control?!

I told you this on this forum about a month ago! Westfield had wanted to sell it for months but it was all bus hush, even the fake meeting recently was to put people off scent. A total scam and conspiracy between Westfield and the council. Disgusting!

Avro wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Avro wrote:

Albion. wrote:

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Retail week are saying the deal will be completed in 2 weeks enabling work to start on the site.

I've heared froma reliable source that work was always going to start late this year of early next, and this is leading me to believe it is true.

It also suggests the council have known about this for quite some time, these sort of things don't happen overnight.

It was reported many months ago that Westfield wanted them to join up as financial partners, the partnership seem slightly different to what was first envisaged, but as far as the public is concerned very little has changed.

A lot has changed.

Bergman now own the scheme and Westfield whilst being the constructiion and management agent, can if they wish, walk away with a healthy profit after selling the scheme.
Should Bergman not be able to deliver on tenants (which has dogged this farce from the outset), then Westfield willsimply walk away with the scheme sale in hand.

The only winner here is Westfield!

I can't imagine how you dream't that one up.
To the man in the street "little has changed".
Bergman aren't Bradford Council, they won't simply hand the cash over and sit and wait.

The scheme has been sold and to someone who can now make it happen, because securing tenants is what Bergman do, or would you prefer that Westfield still had control?!

No I most certainly wouldn't! But even if they secure an adequate number of tenants, it is still several years away from opening (and that is "if"), meanwhile the crumbling continues, will it end up being an oasis in the desert I wonder?
I suspect that after the initial flood of interest when and if it opens, a lot of shoppers will resume their current habits of going elsewhere. Despite such doubts, I still hope it proves to be a success, funny though how Westfield have had fewer problems with their developments elsewhere.

webess wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
For starters anyone living in Bradford but on a national wage (which is the case with many people round here), they'll enjoy quite a lot of disposable income.

You're living in a different world to me. The vast majority of Bradfordians are either existing on Min. Wage or State Benefits, as is clearly demonstrated by all the boarded-up shops in the city centre, and all the businesses currently going bust. There are already sufficient shops and the local economy cannot support any more.

Bone_idle18 wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Plenty of money, have you ben down to Foster park recently and seen all the people buying massive TV's and Laptops/IPads.

People want quality shops in a safe environment. At the moment a lot go to leeds for that type of shopping.

What type of shopping? I don't know anyone who goes to Leeds. I can get mostly all I need right here in Bradford, apart from a few things like Incense and Vegan shoes that I buy occasionally on the internet. For all the everyday stuff there are more than enough shops.

Why does everybody castigate Westfield they cannot build without a guaranteed return on their investment it would be financial suicide,its the Councillors and those appointed by them who have been telling porkies for years and getting rich into the bargain all from the tax payers of Bradford.

Gosh doesn't casual observer talk rubbish. I think the new mall will marry nicely with the retail parks a short walk away. You can keep your cr@ppy market at the top.

Poor old Casual - One lone left wing voice being shouted down, day after day, by a nasty mob of braying Tories.

You know who you are.

Webwitch, for one.

And King of the Nutters, that joker who calls himself Albion. I guess you're not a West Brom fan? No?

Albion, then, in the sense of that ancient, cheesy, "poetic" name for England - a mythical England that never did exist anyway, and never will, except in your ludicrous daydreams.

Time to even up the balance on here.

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

I believe you are correct. I have family in Derby and exactly what you describe happened there once the new Westfield opened, yet Derby had better shops before Westfield was built than Bradford does now. The last I heard there are also empty units in Westfield itself.

I'm also not sure why people are so desperate for Bradford to become like Leeds. I used to live in Leeds when it had really interesting independent shops. Sadly these have all been replaced by identikit chain stores, I never shop in Leeds now.

'Speciality shops'? So it's going to be a bazaar then. Sigh.

vikksy wrote:
Gosh doesn't casual observer talk rubbish. I think the new mall will marry nicely with the retail parks a short walk away. You can keep your cr@ppy market at the top.

Gosh!?

You sound like someone who's just escaped from a 1950's public school. No wonder you don't want to breath the same air as the hoi polloi up the top of town. Plebs to you, are they?

Tyke69 - spot on, mate.

Why all these deluded drones on here are slavering after some flat-pak mall, I don't know.

Some nice shopping at Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, anywhere else, i've forgot to mention.

A Casual Observer wrote:

webess wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
For starters anyone living in Bradford but on a national wage (which is the case with many people round here), they'll enjoy quite a lot of disposable income.

You're living in a different world to me. The vast majority of Bradfordians are either existing on Min. Wage or State Benefits, as is clearly demonstrated by all the boarded-up shops in the city centre, and all the businesses currently going bust. There are already sufficient shops and the local economy cannot support any more.

That is absolute tosh, the city of Bradford has a population of 522,500, the vast majority of those are home owners with cash to spend. Bradford has always thrived with both well off and poor residents. The local economy is worth 7billion and with well over half a million folk in it, Bradford could easily support some more up market shops.

vikksy wrote:
Gosh doesn't casual observer talk rubbish. I think the new mall will marry nicely with the retail parks a short walk away. You can keep your cr@ppy market at the top.

Yes vikksy, some of this stuff above must be written by Leeds City Council. I too look forward to shopping in a new mall built in Bradford. Hopefully Meyer/Bergman has a German/German Jewish history as i believe if that is the case they will get the job done just like the late great German Jewish city fathers did all those years ago.

They don't deserve to have their name emblazoned in this city!

Get Hammerson in!

We have to replicate Sheffield's Seven Stones project as it is better suited to this city and I imagine Barra Mac Ruairi will be very familiar with it.

“This town, is coming like a ghost town – Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? – We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown”

June 1981, The Specials.

Wow, for a company which is "totally committed" to Bradford and building it a new shopping centre, it yet again has shown how useless and uncaring it is!

Yes we've known for months that Westfield were considering selling the site, we've all known they've been running circles, so how many flagship stores is M&S gonna have in the centre? By my count at lest 4 already!

Again people please sign this petition!
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/34836

Still only 245 signatures, we need 100,000!! nothing will be done if we just shout in these forums and to our mates, sign the petition and get something done!

I for one would like to hear about the last meeting the council had, does the council even have a brain cell between all it's members? The whole Bradford District knew Westfield are scum, yet they denied everything and shoved their heads in the ground.

Bradford hasnt won anything, nor will it win anything. It lost over 5 years ago!

It lost it's shopping centre,
Lost all the shops which closed to make space for the Hole,
Lost visitors who went to Leeds as Bradford no longer offers anything except poundstores
Lost numerous small businesses around the Hole as people no longer visited the area
Lost jobs as those small businesses closed down.

Bradford has already lost, that £200mil should be paid to the people of Bradford as compensation, but thanks to the council not setting any deadlines or fines, Westfield are laughing their heads off, not only ruining our city, but making a nice profit from it.

And to top it off even though they have now sold the site, they are happy to build it for the new owners and run it for them!

Westfield should no longer be welcomed in our district, they should be forced to pay for ruining our city further instead of making it better. Nothing will please the people of Bradford than seeing Westfield compensate it for running a mockery of this site.

And isnt Wesfield one of the largest shopping centre contractors in the world? So what happened here? We need answer and the company held responsible for this farce! So sign that petition!

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

OMG,mate stop watching Jeremy Kyle and get out,you'd be suprised!!!ss

But apparently Hammerson have also mothballed it . . oh dear

I really don't think high street shopping can compete in the long term with internet shopping.

As the internet savvy generation grow older the high street is going to go into further decline.

I would much prefer a more innovative idea than more shops.

What now wrote:
Some nice shopping at Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, anywhere else, i've forgot to mention.

yes Huddersfield & Pontefract

vaildpoint wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

OMG,mate stop watching Jeremy Kyle and get out,you'd be suprised!!!ss

Totally support CO, if you want to tell us we will be suprised then go on! I see lots of city centres every day and Bradford is a mess and I have lived in a BD postcode for 43 years. Westfield is not the issue! Empty buildings and shops should be number 1 not shopping centres! Westfield site - landscape it properly and make it accessable for all caring communities.

People want to feel safe whilst shopping, Bradford is definitely not safe to go shopping in.

A new clean, open and secure shopping centre is needed, TBH the entire area needs to be knocked down and rebuilt into a friendly place for people to be.

As for the sopping area being cut off due to a hill, why not build an underground escalator, or even an overground one, or a series of escalators going from one area to another. Sounds silly but Hong Kong has two 700m+ systems and another place has one going up a mountain.

Just look at Leeds, it's better off due to being flatter and the hilly bits are a not too steep, but look at the walkways between each row of shops, enough space to fit a motorway in.

So if Bradford doesnt want to redevelop the current site, might as well relocate the chopping district of Bradford to a more suitable and attractive location.

Avro wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Get a life mate..

A Casual Observer says...
11:25am Thu 18 Oct 12

The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Casual observer you don't have a clue what you are on about....What would you all want us to do look at a huge massive hole for the rest of our lives or for Westfield to take a chance on Bradford and hopefully boost the economy up in the area and give people jobs who live in Bradford....we all know how difficult it is to get a job this will be the best thing what will happen to Bradford go and stick your negativity some where else because I can say for most people who have commented we don't care it will do Bradford some good instead of looking at a huge hole!!!! Get real and rethink Bedford you post a comment on here

yorkshiredude wrote:

Pity poor Bfd! wrote:
If and when this centre is completed, it will be the death of the top end of the city centre. Bradford has always struggled with its hilly split site. It's bad enough now with the number of empty shops - some empty since development a few years ago in the Rawson quarter. I walked up Ivegate for the first time in some years the other week and it was a pitiful sight.

I know of a city in the south which has recently built a similar development - plenty of affluent people happy to spend. Since it opened the centuries old High Street has become a ghost town with the shops that didn't re-locate struggling and in some cases closing down. The place used to host a thriving twice weekly street market which is now reduced to a very small collection of dismal stalls - it this progress?

Perhaps the death of it for retail, but need to think about how else it could be developed. Westgate, the Rawson Quarter and the market would all probably struggle lots in the long term - and things would need to change in Kirkgate Centre.

It worked pretty well twenty years ago with food and markets at the top of town (the 'hilly' bit) and the major stores down on Broadway - until some blinkered idiot decided to sell off the Rawson market...!

A Casual Observer wrote:

webess wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
For starters anyone living in Bradford but on a national wage (which is the case with many people round here), they'll enjoy quite a lot of disposable income.

You're living in a different world to me. The vast majority of Bradfordians are either existing on Min. Wage or State Benefits, as is clearly demonstrated by all the boarded-up shops in the city centre, and all the businesses currently going bust. There are already sufficient shops and the local economy cannot support any more.

It's subjective, and Bradford indeed hosts many worlds - most of the Bradfordians that I know these days have an income.

Personally I resent having to go into Leeds to buy clothes and shoes for work, because the clothes shops in Bradford only carry stock suitable for the under-25s to wear for clubbing (and the décolleté little number in see-thru synthetic chiffon with gilt trim just doesn't seem right for a business meeting, somehow..)

With a clean and interesting shopping area, a zero-tolerance policy towards antisocial behaviour - eg street-drinking, aggressive begging etc - and a revamped Odeon as a modern music venue overlooking the Puddle, we'd have the foundations for a pretty fantastic city centre.

Storms. wrote:
I really don't think high street shopping can compete in the long term with internet shopping.

As the internet savvy generation grow older the high street is going to go into further decline.

I would much prefer a more innovative idea than more shops.

Precisely.

For Bfd to be delayed, amid vastly changing retail trading patterns, only to revert to an archaic method clearly dying, would be suicidal but the a boarded up wastefield, wouldn't that be a cruel irony!

RuggerTyke wrote:

Storms. wrote:
I really don't think high street shopping can compete in the long term with internet shopping.

As the internet savvy generation grow older the high street is going to go into further decline.

I would much prefer a more innovative idea than more shops.

Precisely.

For Bfd to be delayed, amid vastly changing retail trading patterns, only to revert to an archaic method clearly dying, would be suicidal but the a boarded up wastefield, wouldn't that be a cruel irony!

Just a matter of time.

justjustice wrote:
People want to feel safe whilst shopping, Bradford is definitely not safe to go shopping in.

A new clean, open and secure shopping centre is needed, TBH the entire area needs to be knocked down and rebuilt into a friendly place for people to be.

As for the sopping area being cut off due to a hill, why not build an underground escalator, or even an overground one, or a series of escalators going from one area to another. Sounds silly but Hong Kong has two 700m+ systems and another place has one going up a mountain.

Just look at Leeds, it's better off due to being flatter and the hilly bits are a not too steep, but look at the walkways between each row of shops, enough space to fit a motorway in.

So if Bradford doesnt want to redevelop the current site, might as well relocate the chopping district of Bradford to a more suitable and attractive location.

What complete rubbish, people are safe shopping in Bradford, good god, i've shopped in the city all my life and have never felt the least bit threatened. My son had his car broken into while shopping in Leeds is that the norm Leeds of course not, you'll get the same in Bradford isolated incidents. Bradford is as safe a large city can get in regards to shopping and other venues you may go to in the city. Simply look at the overall crime figures, you'll find Bradford well below similar sized cities such as Manchester and Leeds in regards to overall crime rates.

Wanna Have wrote:
Prediction, in 10-15 years time standing on that site will be slum flats.
Other than that, why not build a mosque there - one way of getting people into Bradford, doubt they would spend anything though, unless we beef up the pound shop offering ?

Yes indeed. The mosque could tap into the market. As quite obviously the Cathedral near the site seems to be minted from trade n bursting in profits each week. Oh sorry is that grant funded by the state. ??

Shopping at Monks Cross, then pop into York for a wild boar sandwich by the river, job done.

Outraged English Subject wrote:
Shopping at Monks Cross, then pop into York for a wild boar sandwich by the river, job done.

Wild boar? no thanks!

dannyzuco wrote:

Avro wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Get a life mate..

A Casual Observer says...
11:25am Thu 18 Oct 12

The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

Casual observer you don't have a clue what you are on about....What would you all want us to do look at a huge massive hole for the rest of our lives or for Westfield to take a chance on Bradford and hopefully boost the economy up in the area and give people jobs who live in Bradford....we all know how difficult it is to get a job this will be the best thing what will happen to Bradford go and stick your negativity some where else because I can say for most people who have commented we don't care it will do Bradford some good instead of looking at a huge hole!!!! Get real and rethink Bedford you post a comment on here

I dunno what you all want more shops for, there's tons already, and I blummin hate shopping! They could of built a new library there instead, or something better than a shopping mall anyway.

mrs walker wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:

webess wrote:

A Casual Observer wrote:
The last thing Bradford needs is a new shopping mall. There isn't enough money about to support the shops we have. There are more than enough shops already. If it all goes ahead it will be boarded-up and derelict within a couple of years anyway.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
For starters anyone living in Bradford but on a national wage (which is the case with many people round here), they'll enjoy quite a lot of disposable income.

You're living in a different world to me. The vast majority of Bradfordians are either existing on Min. Wage or State Benefits, as is clearly demonstrated by all the boarded-up shops in the city centre, and all the businesses currently going bust. There are already sufficient shops and the local economy cannot support any more.

It's subjective, and Bradford indeed hosts many worlds - most of the Bradfordians that I know these days have an income.

Personally I resent having to go into Leeds to buy clothes and shoes for work, because the clothes shops in Bradford only carry stock suitable for the under-25s to wear for clubbing (and the décolleté little number in see-thru synthetic chiffon with gilt trim just doesn't seem right for a business meeting, somehow..)

With a clean and interesting shopping area, a zero-tolerance policy towards antisocial behaviour - eg street-drinking, aggressive begging etc - and a revamped Odeon as a modern music venue overlooking the Puddle, we'd have the foundations for a pretty fantastic city centre.

Rubbish! you can easily buy work clothes anywhere in Bradford, lots of places sell suitably boring shirts/suits/trouser
s/etc for office type workers etc. no probs. Marx n Sparks, Mattalan, Tesco, Asda, top shop/man....and many more. You don't need to go to Leeds just for sh1ite like that!

Fiery Jack wrote:
Poor old Casual - One lone left wing voice being shouted down, day after day, by a nasty mob of braying Tories. You know who you are. Webwitch, for one. And King of the Nutters, that joker who calls himself Albion. I guess you're not a West Brom fan? No? Albion, then, in the sense of that ancient, cheesy, "poetic" name for England - a mythical England that never did exist anyway, and never will, except in your ludicrous daydreams. Time to even up the balance on here.

your quite right it will be the further death of the rest of the dying city.

I have predicted this for some time but the councillors seem hell bent on no return.or should i say some. some are changing.

alfucham wrote:

Fiery Jack wrote: Poor old Casual - One lone left wing voice being shouted down, day after day, by a nasty mob of braying Tories. You know who you are. Webwitch, for one. And King of the Nutters, that joker who calls himself Albion. I guess you're not a West Brom fan? No? Albion, then, in the sense of that ancient, cheesy, "poetic" name for England - a mythical England that never did exist anyway, and never will, except in your ludicrous daydreams. Time to even up the balance on here.

your quite right it will be the further death of the rest of the dying city. I have predicted this for some time but the councillors seem hell bent on no return.or should i say some. some are changing.

sorry fiey wrong quote.

but glad of you joining to face up to some of these toffy tory monsters.

They all live in the past.

coffin dodgers

one wines on all the time about blood y germans.

Stated supporting bradford city in 1903 just after his beloved german jews finished building little germany.

now they could build unlike these westfield idiots.

most commenters say that westfields elsewhere have killed off the cities other shopping areas.

our lot think it will kick start it.madness.

city shopping is dying anyway.

galloways revamp the rest of the city shopping makes more sense.