Roadworks to be finished in time for Bradford 2025

Bradford Council said it had decided to complete the bulk of the roadworks in one year rather than spreading them out across three years

A council has explained why it has chosen to carry out three years' worth of roadworks in just one year after complaints about the disruption they have caused.

Bradford Council opted to ensure the large-scale pedestrianisation project was completed before the start of City of Culture in 2025.

The city is expected to welcome more visitors for the programme of cultural events, but business owners said they had lost income because of route closures and diversions.

The £45m scheme will see a number of roads in the city centre closed to traffic and buses re-routed through special corridors, and work is still ongoing.

Ann Fawcett, who runs Blooms on Market Street, said her florist's had experienced a 40% drop in trade since the construction work began in the spring.

“We opened three days before the lockdown, so it was a struggle for a couple of years. In 2023 we started to pick up, and then all of a sudden we’ve had this come in since April, and it’s just taken a nose-dive this year because people don’t want to chicane around the roadworks.

“It will look nice, but I am not convinced a pedestrian boulevard will attract people into the city to go shopping."

Ann Fawcett claims her floristry business has seen a 40% drop in trade due to the construction work

Funding for the scheme came from the government’s Transforming Cities pot and the council said the improvements would eventually reduce congestion and air pollution and increase the amount of green space.

Bradford Council's leader Susan Hinchliffe admitted the work had been "frustrating" for people.

"It is all part of the investment that we’re bringing in," she said.

"Bradford has not had this sort of investment for decades and I am confident people will see that benefit.

“You can see it taking shape now with lots of new paving, green space and cycle ways, so yes we’re going to have completed much of the works by 2025."

Hairdresser Lisa Hanson said she was not convinced the scheme will improve business in the city centre

Other city centre businesses have also voiced doubts about the project.

Lisa Hanson, who runs Mario’s Hair, said custom had also dropped at her salon and she remained unconvinced new civic spaces would reinvigorate the city centre.

"It’s alright putting a bench there and a tree, but what else are they going to put there to encourage people to come back to Bradford?

"They need other things to encourage people to come back to Bradford."

The closure of Bradford Interchange's bus station has also had an impact on the city centre.

It was forced to shut in January due to safety concerns after concrete fell from the roof of an underground car park.

This has meant bus routes being altered and bus stops moved to new locations.

A decision on the long-term future of the 1970s interchange will be taken by West Yorkshire Combined Authority in September.

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