The prevalence of betting shops in Bradford city centre is something that the Telegraph & Argus has spoken out vociferously against in the past.

Now there is another growth industry which is moving into Bradford which – like gambling shops – is perhaps not the face of a regenerative city centre we might wish to project both to visitors and inhabitants.

A rapidly-expanding short-term high-interest loan company is hoping to set up shop in a former jewellery store right in the heart of the shopping district. These types of businesses have been burgeoning online and are strongly criticised for the huge interest rates they charge.

The industry says the loans companies provide are meant to be only for a month or two, and when broken down in that way the interest rates – which are calculated over a year – are not as bad as they appear.

As the debates rage over short-term loans and fresh regulation over their practices is due to come in next month, what is certain is that these are perhaps not the types of business that should be taking prime retail positions in the city centre.

It might well be that there are no real reasons to turn down their application under planning regulations, but there are more ethical arguments against having short-term loan companies filling up prominent stores in Bradford.

True, there are far more empty shops than we would like, and Bradford Council has been working hard on schemes to help fill them.

With construction on the Westfield site under way, the shopping streets around the centre should become more attractive to retailers – but let’s make sure we get the sort of businesses we want in Bradford.