SIR – I was delighted to read about the possibility of Bradford’s markets combining on one site to help them prosper and to take account of the Westfield scheme.

My wife and I regularly shop at the Oastler Centre, where the food quality, prices and overall friendly atmosphere make it a pleasure to visit. However, I was dismayed to find that the traders knew nothing about this proposal and had not been consulted on the options under consideration.

If a new combined market is to succeed, the best-placed people to comment are the traders. This needs to happen now.

With regard to a possible new location, might I suggest the following – 1. Build Westfield! 2. Marks & Spencer’s old shop on Darley Street becomes vacant – can a deal be fashioned whereby using the Regional Growth Fund this prominent building is converted into the new combined markets? 3. The Oastler Centre is sold to Morrisons, providing them with the opportunity to build a larger up-to-date supermarket.

Result – Westfield is built, the markets are combined in the centre, a modern, larger supermarket serves the city centre and space is created in the Kirkgate Centre which has potential for a variety of new uses. But it starts with engagement with the market traders.

Dave West, Peckover Street, Little Germany