SIR – Re Bradford’s Development Policy. Your front page and leader (February 10), provide cuttingly accurate reflection upon the state of Bradford’s city centre and how down-market, depressing and unfriendly it has become.
The Transport Study commissioned by Bradford Council (reporting October 2010) envisaged no substantial highways infrastructure projects. It noted severe congestion on many routes into the city, concluding that the Council should “manage” demand for car travel into the city by accepting the congestion, making it more expensive to travel by car, increasing parking charges and reducing the availability of parking spaces.
How will this help encourage retail or service businesses and regenerate the economy of the city?
One certain way to increase footfall for businesses is to construct eco-friendly family housing on the scores of derelict sites close to the city centre, many of which already have planning permission. That way, shops in the city will have customers close by who do not need to travel into the city by car.
Inner-city schools could thrive again. But instead, Bradford Council is pursuing a policy of pushing its population into suburban areas and greenfield sites, making travel into the city for work or for shopping unavoidable. Short-sighted or what?
Dr David Ingham, Apperley Lane, Rawdon
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