Better odds now for good shops (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Better odds now for good shops

8:34am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Our View By Telegraph & Argus

The decision by a Government planning inspector to turn down an appeal against Bradford Council’s refusal of a city centre betting shop is a brave and welcome one.

The applicants, BetFred, point to the investment and the five jobs it says would have been created if it had been allowed to develop the site on Kirkgate.

And no one could argue against the fact that it would be one fewer empty shopfront in the heart of Bradford.

But the long-term impact of allowing more and more bookies, along with the increasing number of amusement arcades and bingo halls, would be to the city centre.

Yes, in the short term it would create jobs, and it would fill an empty space, but we would end up with even fewer people wanting to come into Bradford to buy goods, making it even more difficult for retailers to survive.

As the inspector said in her report rejecting the appeal, this proposal would have adversely affected the character of Kirkgate, making it less attractive to shoppers.

We have to see a mix of different types of shops and businesses in the city centre if it is to become a more vibrant shopping area.

The Council was absolutely right to take a stand against this plan, and the fact that the planning inspector has, perhaps surprisingly, supported its decision must be welcomed.

Hopefully this will serve as a line in the sand against future bids by bookies, which have their place on our High Streets, but have surely reached their optimum number or, arguably, gone well beyond that in Bradford.

It is vital, though, that the Council now encourages other businesses, hopefully innovative and unusual individual retailers and other firms, to take up some of these empty shops.