[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4774250.Traders_threaten_to_quit_deserted_Bradford_market/T&A article[/url Is this just more proof that the Bradford public are an apathetic bunch, or with the commercial climate as it is are we just being thrifty ? I went to a market a couple years back, tho' I think then it was more of a "Euro Market" than specifically German but it seemed quite popular. I do agree that the food on sale was a bit pricey. /> From reading the article if youy havn't been yet you'd better get your skates on 'cos it may not be there much longer.

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4774250.Traders_threaten_to_quit_deserted_Bradford_market/T&A article[/url Is this just more proof that the Bradford public are an apathetic bunch, or with the commercial climate as it is are we just being thrifty ? I went to a market a couple years back, tho' I think then it was more of a "Euro Market" than specifically German but it seemed quite popular. I do agree that the food on sale was a bit pricey. /> From reading the article if youy havn't been yet you'd better get your skates on 'cos it may not be there much longer.

When I heard it was on for a full month, I did think that was wildly optimistic. That would need repeat business, in a place like Bradford, the centre of which hasn't got any business, in the first place. /> When I hear that there is nobody in town after 6pm well, hello, Council, don't any of you ever walk that way? The fact that the centre is dead as a dodo on an evening has been known to everyone else for years. /> I should imagine most people would call in there either on a lucnhtime or a weekend. I wouldn't have thought that many people would make a special trip on a night, and so it seems it is proving. /> I reckon it would do reasonable business the week before Christmas though. But if the prices are OTT then what do they expect? Why buy a German candle for a fiver when you might get 20 of them in a nearby pound shop?

When I heard it was on for a full month, I did think that was wildly optimistic. That would need repeat business, in a place like Bradford, the centre of which hasn't got any business, in the first place. /> When I hear that there is nobody in town after 6pm well, hello, Council, don't any of you ever walk that way? The fact that the centre is dead as a dodo on an evening has been known to everyone else for years. /> I should imagine most people would call in there either on a lucnhtime or a weekend. I wouldn't have thought that many people would make a special trip on a night, and so it seems it is proving. /> I reckon it would do reasonable business the week before Christmas though. But if the prices are OTT then what do they expect? Why buy a German candle for a fiver when you might get 20 of them in a nearby pound shop?

Neither Thrifty nor apethy - just a crap market thats scxheduled to be there too long

Quote ="Ferocious Aardvark"When I hear that there is nobody in town after 6pm well, hello, Council, don't any of you ever walk that way? The fact that the centre is dead as a dodo on an evening has been known to everyone else for years.'" /> Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.

Quote ="Ferocious Aardvark"When I hear that there is nobody in town after 6pm well, hello, Council, don't any of you ever walk that way? The fact that the centre is dead as a dodo on an evening has been known to everyone else for years.'" /> Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.

Quote ="Bullseye"Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.'" /> that'll be never then!

Quote ="Bullseye"Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.'" /> that'll be never then!

sadly. Bradford is a very poor place. I live in Wibsey and try and shop in bradford most weekends. however, I find myself fighting through hordes of the most stinking, inpolite people on this planet, most of which are indigenous, although some are not. /> I come in out of loyalty to my once proud home city, but end up at White Rose because the stuff on offer is either a poor imitation of what i need, or there is no shop selling what i want. /> even Hudds town centre is more vibrant tha Bradford

sadly. Bradford is a very poor place. I live in Wibsey and try and shop in bradford most weekends. however, I find myself fighting through hordes of the most stinking, inpolite people on this planet, most of which are indigenous, although some are not. /> I come in out of loyalty to my once proud home city, but end up at White Rose because the stuff on offer is either a poor imitation of what i need, or there is no shop selling what i want. /> even Hudds town centre is more vibrant tha Bradford

Quote ="Bullseye"Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.'" /> Too far gone. You'll not attract people back now. Bradford is a failing city. IMO.

Quote ="Bullseye"Exactly. The fact that there's nothing else to see in the town centre means it's shortcomings are all the more evident. There's fewer people working there so fewer shoppers and fewer shops. It's a pretty depressing place to put it mildly. /> Unfortunately I can only see things deteriorating until the Westfield centre is built and some life is breathed back into the city centre.'" /> Too far gone. You'll not attract people back now. Bradford is a failing city. IMO.

Has the city centre's decline anything to do with the develpoment of Forster Square / Canal Road, I must admit the very rare times I need to go into Bradford Shopping I go there.

Quote ="Adeybull"Too far gone. You'll not attract people back now. IMO.'" /> Sadly I fear you're right.

Quote ="Adeybull"Too far gone. You'll not attract people back now. IMO.'" /> Sadly I fear you're right.

I was going to post on this very subject after going to the Bradford German Market this Sunday. I was astonished to find just me, the missus and the kids wondering around it. What made it all the more stark was that I'd been at the German market in my own city of lids (thats how its pronounced) the week before and I literally couldn't move for people. /> There's something very very wrong with the city of Bradford. Someone must have put a curse on the place or maybe the curse was the 1960s. It strikes me as an outsider that you have a bumbling shambolic, never-make-a-decision style council, wholly incapable of leading any meaningful regeneration of Bradford. /> Theres an irony that Halifax fans have, in the recent past, had a bit of a chip on their shoulder about their big city neighbours, when in fact, when I look at the commercial heart of Halifax it seems much the same size or bigger and with a healthier buzz about it than Bradford. Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.

I was going to post on this very subject after going to the Bradford German Market this Sunday. I was astonished to find just me, the missus and the kids wondering around it. What made it all the more stark was that I'd been at the German market in my own city of lids (thats how its pronounced) the week before and I literally couldn't move for people. /> There's something very very wrong with the city of Bradford. Someone must have put a curse on the place or maybe the curse was the 1960s. It strikes me as an outsider that you have a bumbling shambolic, never-make-a-decision style council, wholly incapable of leading any meaningful regeneration of Bradford. /> Theres an irony that Halifax fans have, in the recent past, had a bit of a chip on their shoulder about their big city neighbours, when in fact, when I look at the commercial heart of Halifax it seems much the same size or bigger and with a healthier buzz about it than Bradford. Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.

Quote ="Shaggoth" Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.'" /> Defo won't - like nearly everybody else with any sense (Provident being one of the few exceptions) they moved to the outskirts - and to as near Leeds or the motorways as possible.

Quote ="Shaggoth" Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.'" /> Defo won't - like nearly everybody else with any sense (Provident being one of the few exceptions) they moved to the outskirts - and to as near Leeds or the motorways as possible.

I walked round this "market" last week, its a poor effort on Leeds to be honest. /> Its got mainly food stores with some little chinsy shopd and its spread over centenary square, and tyrell street. /> Bradford City Centre is hardly the most welcoming place in the day time let alone the night, it doesnt have the big indoor place like in leeds, what did Bradford council expect. /> anyone who sees it wil lagree

I walked round this "market" last week, its a poor effort on Leeds to be honest. /> Its got mainly food stores with some little chinsy shopd and its spread over centenary square, and tyrell street. /> Bradford City Centre is hardly the most welcoming place in the day time let alone the night, it doesnt have the big indoor place like in leeds, what did Bradford council expect. /> anyone who sees it wil lagree

Bradford's town centre is now way behind towns like Hudders, Halifax and even Keighley is a nicer place for a night out. Bradford has degenerated massively in the past 10 years, things have been slipping since the 60s but the past 10 years has been a steeper decline IMO. The only reason to venture into Bradford is to go to the excellent Pictureville cinema or the media museum. Without those Bradford town centre has nothing.



I wonder how much worse it can get.

It's a smaller, less complete version of something that has been happening on a larger scale in more attractive neighbouring towns for some time. My reaction on seeing it was laughter.

Quote ="Shaggoth"I was going to post on this very subject after going to the Bradford German Market this Sunday. I was astonished to find just me, the missus and the kids wondering around it. What made it all the more stark was that I'd been at the German market in my own city of lids (thats how its pronounced) the week before and I literally couldn't move for people. /> There's something very very wrong with the city of Bradford. Someone must have put a curse on the place or maybe the curse was the 1960s. It strikes me as an outsider that you have a bumbling shambolic, never-make-a-decision style council, wholly incapable of leading any meaningful regeneration of Bradford. /> Theres an irony that Halifax fans have, in the recent past, had a bit of a chip on their shoulder about their big city neighbours, when in fact, when I look at the commercial heart of Halifax it seems much the same size or bigger and with a healthier buzz about it than Bradford. Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.'" /> I have to agree, i moved to halifax and enjoy the town centre its a nice place to shop and walk around and apart from the abscence of a few big name shops it is all tjheir, unfortunately Bradford has gone the opposite way, you have Kirkgate, Joh nStreet and the shops down the side bthat are steadily declining into bargain basement outlets...

Quote ="Shaggoth"I was going to post on this very subject after going to the Bradford German Market this Sunday. I was astonished to find just me, the missus and the kids wondering around it. What made it all the more stark was that I'd been at the German market in my own city of lids (thats how its pronounced) the week before and I literally couldn't move for people. /> There's something very very wrong with the city of Bradford. Someone must have put a curse on the place or maybe the curse was the 1960s. It strikes me as an outsider that you have a bumbling shambolic, never-make-a-decision style council, wholly incapable of leading any meaningful regeneration of Bradford. /> Theres an irony that Halifax fans have, in the recent past, had a bit of a chip on their shoulder about their big city neighbours, when in fact, when I look at the commercial heart of Halifax it seems much the same size or bigger and with a healthier buzz about it than Bradford. Maybe The newly merged Yorkshire building society will bring in a bit of oomph but I doubt it.'" /> I have to agree, i moved to halifax and enjoy the town centre its a nice place to shop and walk around and apart from the abscence of a few big name shops it is all tjheir, unfortunately Bradford has gone the opposite way, you have Kirkgate, Joh nStreet and the shops down the side bthat are steadily declining into bargain basement outlets...

The thing is, who'd want to go shopping in Bradford? There's virtually no shops, and the ones that are there aren't very good. Westfield is a complete disaster area and a perfect example of the failures of Bradford council. Plenty of pie in the sky ideas (remember the city of culture bid?) but no actual ability or understanding of how to make these ideas a reality. /> Bradford, as a city, is dying and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. The city needs serious investment and it needs that investment to be handled by people who know HOW to handle a project of that scale.

The thing is, who'd want to go shopping in Bradford? There's virtually no shops, and the ones that are there aren't very good. Westfield is a complete disaster area and a perfect example of the failures of Bradford council. Plenty of pie in the sky ideas (remember the city of culture bid?) but no actual ability or understanding of how to make these ideas a reality. /> Bradford, as a city, is dying and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. The city needs serious investment and it needs that investment to be handled by people who know HOW to handle a project of that scale.

Bradford's day commercially will come again. Plenty of cheap office and warehouse space and proximity to major transport links are already there. The University is well respected and the business school there is excellent. The only problem is that the city centre isn't attractive to people who could come and live there. At least it would be if it hadn't been reduced to a large hole in the ground, There are some real gems in the city though and the borough as a whole and it often gets a bad rap that isn't needed. Quite often these things just need one thing to act as a catalyst (look at Manchester before the late 80's/nineties) and the council need to get on with what that one thing might be. The odd ball over ambitious stuff need to go on the back burner really.

MBBB I admire your optimism and I have tried my best to be positive for years, but really you don't need to do anything but walk for 10 mins around Bradford to see the grossest of dereliction of duty that the council has been guilty of, the place is a deadhole and they did nothing to prevent it, indeed by committing the biggest crime of all (the crater) compounded by the Odeon farrago, they have made it terminal. All they ever do is talk, and it's all bullcrap.



Even if by some miracle over the next 10 years someone pulled it out of the fire, this would in no way at all excuse or mitigate the disastrous mismanagement we've seen.

Quote ="Ferocious Aardvark"MBBB I admire your optimism and I have tried my best to be positive for years, but really you don't need to do anything but walk for 10 mins around Bradford to see the grossest of dereliction of duty that the council has been guilty of, the place is a deadhole and they did nothing to prevent it, indeed by committing the biggest crime of all (the crater) compounded by the Odeon farrago, they have made it terminal. All they ever do is talk, and it's all bullcrap. Even if by some miracle over the next 10 years someone pulled it out of the fire, this would in no way at all excuse or mitigate the disastrous mismanagement we've seen.'" /> Oh the council are a dead loss that's without question. Far too much money has been peed up the wall. Maybe the Odsal Sporting Village if completed will act as some sort of catalyst? If you look at Huddersfield two major factors have contributed to it's rennaisance. 1. The expansion of the University which is now the towns biggest employer and the de-centralisation of financial and legal industries to Leeds bringing people to live in the town due to it's cheaer housing costs. /> Where are the students at Bradford Uni living and going out?

Quote ="Ferocious Aardvark"MBBB I admire your optimism and I have tried my best to be positive for years, but really you don't need to do anything but walk for 10 mins around Bradford to see the grossest of dereliction of duty that the council has been guilty of, the place is a deadhole and they did nothing to prevent it, indeed by committing the biggest crime of all (the crater) compounded by the Odeon farrago, they have made it terminal. All they ever do is talk, and it's all bullcrap. Even if by some miracle over the next 10 years someone pulled it out of the fire, this would in no way at all excuse or mitigate the disastrous mismanagement we've seen.'" /> Oh the council are a dead loss that's without question. Far too much money has been peed up the wall. Maybe the Odsal Sporting Village if completed will act as some sort of catalyst? If you look at Huddersfield two major factors have contributed to it's rennaisance. 1. The expansion of the University which is now the towns biggest employer and the de-centralisation of financial and legal industries to Leeds bringing people to live in the town due to it's cheaer housing costs. /> Where are the students at Bradford Uni living and going out?

Quote ="Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza"Oh the council are a dead loss that's without question. Far too much money has been peed up the wall. Maybe the Odsal Sporting Village if completed will act as some sort of catalyst? If you look at Huddersfield two major factors have contributed to it's rennaisance. 1. The expansion of the University which is now the towns biggest employer and the de-centralisation of financial and legal industries to Leeds bringing people to live in the town due to it's cheaer housing costs. /> Where are the students at Bradford Uni living and going out?'" think part of the development they want to put on odeon site or behind it was linked it uni for student accomodation although that might have changed. These schemes go through so many re-inventions its hard to keep track. www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />

Quote ="Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza"Oh the council are a dead loss that's without question. Far too much money has been peed up the wall. Maybe the Odsal Sporting Village if completed will act as some sort of catalyst? If you look at Huddersfield two major factors have contributed to it's rennaisance. 1. The expansion of the University which is now the towns biggest employer and the de-centralisation of financial and legal industries to Leeds bringing people to live in the town due to it's cheaer housing costs. /> Where are the students at Bradford Uni living and going out?'" think part of the development they want to put on odeon site or behind it was linked it uni for student accomodation although that might have changed. These schemes go through so many re-inventions its hard to keep track. www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_wink.gif" alt="icon_wink.gif" title="Wink" />

So, even having a seasonal German market in Bradford punters still wont visit the city centre. Is it because:



Everything they desire can be bought at any of numerous Tescos' scattered around the city ?



"Well I stopped going into Bradford two years ago and wild horses wouldn't get me to go back"



"What the hell would I want from a German market anyway?"

Quote ="Bullseye"Bradford's town centre is now way behind towns like Hudders, Halifax and [size=150even Keighley is a nicer place for a night out[/size. '" www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> really? where?

Quote ="Bullseye"Bradford's town centre is now way behind towns like Hudders, Halifax and [size=150even Keighley is a nicer place for a night out[/size. '" www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> www.rlfans.com/images/smilies//icon_eek.gif" alt="icon_eek.gif" title="Shocked" /> really? where?

Quote ="Steam Pig"So, even having a seasonal German market in Bradford punters still wont visit the city centre. Is it because: Everything they desire can be bought at any of numerous Tescos' scattered around the city ? "Well I stopped going into Bradford two years ago and wild horses wouldn't get me to go back" "What the hell would I want from a German market anyway?"'" A German market means nothing in isolation that seems to be the issue. Taking Leeds again as an example, the German market is next to a new multi-million pound museum and a myriad of vibrant bars. And then around the corner a vast array of shops. /> The aproach to the regeneration of Bradford needs to be holistic and en-masse. The best German Market in the world offering £1 a pint Warsteiner isn't going to attract you if you know all there is apart from that is a few hills full of closed shops. /> Whenever I visit your city I mooch around in a near suicidal state before ending up in the Titus Salt to drown my sorrows.

Quote ="Steam Pig"So, even having a seasonal German market in Bradford punters still wont visit the city centre. Is it because: Everything they desire can be bought at any of numerous Tescos' scattered around the city ? "Well I stopped going into Bradford two years ago and wild horses wouldn't get me to go back" "What the hell would I want from a German market anyway?"'" A German market means nothing in isolation that seems to be the issue. Taking Leeds again as an example, the German market is next to a new multi-million pound museum and a myriad of vibrant bars. And then around the corner a vast array of shops. /> The aproach to the regeneration of Bradford needs to be holistic and en-masse. The best German Market in the world offering £1 a pint Warsteiner isn't going to attract you if you know all there is apart from that is a few hills full of closed shops. /> Whenever I visit your city I mooch around in a near suicidal state before ending up in the Titus Salt to drown my sorrows.

Quote ="Shaggoth"A German market means nothing in isolation that seems to be the issue. Taking Leeds again as an example, the German market is next to a new multi-million pound museum and a myriad of vibrant bars. And then around the corner a vast array of shops. /> The aproach to the regeneration of Bradford needs to be holistic and en-masse. The best German Market in the world offering £1 a pint Warsteiner isn't going to attract you if you know all there is apart from that is a few hills full of closed shops. /> Whenever I visit your city I mooch around in a near suicidal state before ending up in the Titus Salt to drown my sorrows.'" You wouldn't have to walk far from the German market.

Quote ="Shaggoth"A German market means nothing in isolation that seems to be the issue. Taking Leeds again as an example, the German market is next to a new multi-million pound museum and a myriad of vibrant bars. And then around the corner a vast array of shops. /> The aproach to the regeneration of Bradford needs to be holistic and en-masse. The best German Market in the world offering £1 a pint Warsteiner isn't going to attract you if you know all there is apart from that is a few hills full of closed shops. /> Whenever I visit your city I mooch around in a near suicidal state before ending up in the Titus Salt to drown my sorrows.'" You wouldn't have to walk far from the German market.

I think I have to decide whether hosting this market is to boost Bradford city centre, or as a revenue generating scheme. Either way it looks as tho' it's going to fail. It would have been a greater success if it had been staged around the city culminating in a final fling in the centre. A couple of days in Idle / Undercliffe a couple of days in Shipley / Baildon, etc.