The master plan which could take a new dynamic Bradford into the Millennium has been described as one of the best long term strategies ever produced for the district by Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood.

He said although the realistic study had found weaknesses - including lack of competitiveness - there was a lot for Bradford to be optimistic about and plenty to build on.

Highly experienced researchers who produced the master plan taking a new, highly charged Bradford into the year 2020 believe the city centre is at the heart of the district's economy.

But the centre comes in for criticism in the report, despite the millions of pounds spent on its regeneration.

The consultants concluded that Bradford had a poor image outside and the city centre had a poor image.

The Local Futures Group drew up its major regeneration plan for the district after extensive interviews and workshops across the area earlier this year.

The cost of the project itself, and people's time amounted to £100,000. It took 2,000 man hours to produce it.

It will replace and refine the previous regeneration strategy, drawn up by Bradford Congress - which is made up of all the district's main organisations - in 1996.

Dr Mark Hepworth, Director of the Local Futures Group, who led the study, said: "We see the city centre as the key to drive the economy forward."

But Dr Hepworth said he believe it was also important to link the town centres and city centre into each other in a more purposeful way.

He stressed the city centre's weaknesses were in line with the rest of the country, however.

And he added the future looked brighter because the Government was now in a bid to get the centres running again and recognised their importance.

Dr Hepworth said today they interviewed more than 40 people from the district - getting the biggest range of opinion than in any other study they had carried out..

"The workshops were very well attended. I think Bradford very clearly has got an all round commitment from all the stakeholders."

He said the district was well ahead of many areas because it had a firm foundation in partnerships which had been built up over the last ten to 15 years.

But he said the partners had come to the end of the century in their forward planning and wanted to reach out to more opportunities in view of the new regional structures, and changes in Europe.

"We enjoyed coming to the area. Whoever you talk to is quite lively."

He said there were tangible things which could be taken forward strongly in Bradford.

"There is the electronic development and tourism could be developed much more."

The group is a research based constancy working in both the public and private sectors.

It has carried out a major study on the future of London and for British Telecom about bringing telecommunications into the regions.

Simon Bray, TEC Marketing Director said they would now focus on the opportunities identified by local people in the study, build on their strength and look for innovation.

He said implementation of the plan would show Europe, the regions and the Government that Bradford could not be ignored.

Secretary of Bradford Congress Charles Forgan said the plan was a fair reflection of a very extensive public consultation exercise.

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