Bradford Council last night admitted it has made mistakes over the delayed multi-million pound development of the city centre markets.

Councillor Dave Green, chairman of the regeneration committee, called together traders yesterday and promised them a clean start and full consultation.

The Council wants to move traders into the John Street Market, then turn Rawson Market into a retail centre specialising in foods from the Indian sub-continent.

At first, there was scepticism from the stall holders, who have seen Rawson Market lying waste for two years. David Brook, of Lincoln Florists, asked Coun Green why traders should enter into discussions when the Council had broken every previous promise and had not accepted any responsibility.

Coun Green replied: "The Council has responsibility for the mistakes we have made in the past. I am not trying to run away from that."

He appealed to them to put their trust in him and assured them of full consultation and co-operation at every stage, in the hope work could be started in spring 2000.

John Ackroyd, of John Street Traders' Association, told the crowd: "I am extremely pleased with the proposals that are being put forward now and it's a golden opportunity to grab the project by the throat.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.