Shopkeepers concerned over impact of roadworks

Full road closures began in the city centre on Sunday with bus stops and taxi ranks moved

Shopkeepers are being asked to be patient after some traders claimed roadworks in Bradford led to an immediate drop in trade.

The second phase of a £43m scheme to pedestrianise parts of the city centre began on Sunday.

Bradford Chamber of Trade said it was aware of the issue and said the council and others involved in the project were doing their best to minimise disruption.

The work is scheduled to be completed by spring next year with Halls Ings and Market Street among those which will be permanently closed to traffic.

Newsagent Arif Ayyub said some of his older customers will not come into the city centre during the work

Arif Ayyub has run his newsagents on Bridge Street, next to Hall Ings, for 26 years.

"We've already had a few elderly customers come in and say that they will come, but not as regularly as they used to because the journey is too long for them now," he said.

"They will be looking at other avenues to get their papers and whatever else they used to get from me."

He said if independent businesses were still wanted in the city centre then some "major financial help" would be needed during the work.

Market Street is now closed to buses and will eventually be fully pedestrianised

Many bus routes in and out of the city centre have been changed to allow the work and bus stops have been moved.

Mel McMahon works at an independent cafe in Bank Street and like many of her customers relies on buses.

"All of the buses are now delayed, or they're either not running or on changed routes, especially with the Interchange being closed," she said.

She added the changes meant slower buses and getting dropped off "quite far from the centre".

"Especially with our customers, a lot of them are old and disabled, that's going to be a lot harder for them to actually get here."

Aidan Quinn said there had already been a fall in the number of customers in the morning

Aidan Quinn is assistant manager in a national chain's coffee shop in Market Street.

"It has decreased in the morning, certainly, very quiet but during lunchtime it's been steady as usual."

He said he believed trade would increase in time.

"We don't know what it's going to be like immediately, but long-term I think it's [(the scheme] going to be alright."

Bradford Council, which is leading the project, has been approached for comment, however it has already thanked people for their "patience" during the work.

Extensive work is taking place on Market Street

Mike Cartwright, from the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce based in Little Germany, said they recognised there had been "additional disruption".

"That’s not ideal for traders, visitors or residents," he said.

"But we know that the council and others involved are doing their best to minimise any inconveniences caused."