Protest over vacant shopping site ‘not helpful’

IN relation to the recent occupation of the vacant Bradford shopping site, while we understand the concerns and frustrations of the protesters that have been on the Westfield Bradford site, we believe that their actions could do more harm than good.

We met recently with several senior directors from Westfield, their marketing team and property agents, here in Bradford, and we are convinced that they are doing all they possibly can to secure retailers to sign up to the scheme.

Actions like those of the occupiers are counter-productive to those aims and undermine the activity being done to paint Bradford as a worthwhile place in which to invest. Yes, we would all like things to have happened sooner but the property sector has struggled more than most during the recession and is even now only slowly shaking off the difficulties.

However, now that Bradford has secured monies from central government’s Regional Growth Fund, it is looking at how that can be used to attract investment, including city centre retailers.

That funding needs to be allocated at some point and we believe that Westfield will be in a position soon to set out a clearer time-frame for construction to commence on site.

In the meantime, we ask that everyone get behind Bradford and cheer the many good things we have to offer and celebrate, such as the National Media Museum and the International Film Festival, the new City Park and Positive Bradford.