SIR – It’s bad enough that Bradford Council ruined a once lively city centre by charging extortionate rates over the years driving businesses into closure.

Now they have the audacity to attempt to syphon off even more money from shoppers by installing parking meters and permit parking signs at the back of the Oastler Centre.

These meters are springing up all over the city.

I have also noticed there is a large group of traffic wardens everywhere to enforce fixed penalty fines.

For as long as I can remember there has always been free street parking all around this market. The few market traders left depend on our custom. This is why everyone uses the supermarkets complexes like Forster Square more now because of the free parking.

Many market stalls are closing down in Kirkgate and the Oastler Centre. We don’t even have an open-air market. Leeds and Huddersfield put Bradford to shame. Only charity and £1 discount shops are springing up here!

Isn’t it ten years since Broadway was knocked down, and what has this Council done? Yet they can spend millions on a desperately-needed water park!

Angela Anderson, Harehills Avenue, Leeds