Critics blast 'chaos' in Bradford - but others praise pedestrian zones

The video walk-through of the city centre, produced by the Telegraph & Argus on October 4, has been viewed 94,000 times and prompted more than 1,000 comments, including 987 on Facebook and 79 on the T&A website.

It also sparked 624 Facebook reactions, including 390 thumbs up emojis, 102 angry faces and 73 laughing faces. Others reacted with shocked emojis, crying faces and the loveheart symbol.

Many were sceptical about the cost of the work and the level of disruption, with some lambasting 'poor planning' and 'total chaos.'

Others defended the work, urging critics to reserve judgement until the project is finished and saying "it's going to look great."

Plenty of people feel the work will improve the look of the city centre, but fear the improvements could be overshadowed by other problems, including crime, anti-social behaviour and vacant shop units.

Commenting on the T&A website, reader Chris Tee4 said: "Having spent a few hours in Bradford centre Thursday evening I can say it looks quite nice, or will when finished, the problem is Centenary Square is so dimly lit, and full of youths loitering about wearing £20 tracksuits and backwards baseball caps like a budget New Kids on The Block tribute act. Where are police patrols? Because if Bradford wants to attract decent people back into the centre once it's all finished, these rats don't make it seem inviting."

Some of the work taking place within the last week (Image: T&A) On the T&A Facebook page, Anthony Cookson said: "Money should have been invested in policing the city centre moving on the street drinkers and spice head crews. That way, people might feel safer in Bradford centre and may go down there before wasting money on pedestrian zones when it’s a ghost town."

Expressed a point raised by many of the commenters, Denise Sunter said: "What’s the point of pedestrian zones, when there aren’t any pedestrians ?"

Sue Mackrill said: "It is absolutely awful! Can’t drive or park anywhere! Better off going to Halifax."

Andy Holdsworth retorted: "Funny that – we have friends in Halifax that love coming over to Bradford. The grass is always greener as they say."

Work at the junction of Hall Ings and Bridge Street (Image: T&A) Pat Sleigh said: "We visit sometimes on a weekend and there’s always plenty of people around. It looks like the work is going to take some time to complete. It can only be a good thing though in the long term.

Vanda Greenwood said: "This is really coming along, it already looks so much better, can't wait to see the finished product."

Saffy Saffron agreed, saying: "It’s looking amazing. With the work still in progress you need to have the vision to see the end result not will be brilliant.

"But the moaning myrtles will moan no matter what."

Many branded the work a waste of money, but Kevin Wright fired back: "Why is it a waste of money? People keep saying the centre is no longer attractive, they are making it attractive?"

One of the areas that will be planted up (Image: T&A)

Fiona Evans said: "I honestly think it's because historically and especially the last 20 or 30 years, Bradford Council have seriously neglected the city centre. People can argue that they haven't but they definitely have let the City become a really sad state.

"The knock on from that is that because it's neglected the public don't look after it either (wrongly).

"Now something is being done to improve the City, people are sceptical about what it will bring. Like the Broadway shopping centre, people were promised all sorts and look what they were left with for years, a pile of earth and some wooden hoardings.

"I think the public need to see good results in a reasonable amount of time and how nice Bradford really could be. It also needs to be seen to being well maintained and kept clean.

"Once people see this happening they will have more faith in 'progress'."

Nigel Pogson said: "Demolishing everything, concreting over it and calling it pedestrianisation doesn't pass for improvements. Let alone making it attractive!"

Daksha Harkishan Mistry said: "Too far to walk for elderly & disabled people. Ridiculous. Need the bus stops more central."

New seating is being installed (Image: T&A)

Dora Sofe said: "I agree, but it's not just that. There's total chaos with the buses as they are running from different stands than displayed. People are getting confused, the directions are poorly marked, and many were asking others where the stops are now. Since most people were also looking for the bus stops, it became complete chaos. Very poor planning.

Jess Louise said: "I’m disabled and I think it’ll be easier and much safer with less traffic."

Tracy North said: "It's a shambles for pedestrians. I've seen loads of elderly and disabled people struggling to walk those long paths just to reach a bus stop."

Liz Austin said: "This worries me for the future. All the West Yorkshire councils doing exactly the same thing, is going alienate anyone who is less mobile. Some days walking 50 metres is difficult, these works and similar in Calderdale make me feel like I may end up being a recluse with nowhere to go."

One of the features taking shape within newly-pedestrianised streets (Image: T&A)

Chris Virr said: "It's going to look great, but unfortunately that will not stop the decline in footfall in Bradford city centre. With every year that passes more and more people are doing their shopping online and with each generation the comes up behind, that will only increase meaning even less footfall in the city centre.

"The older generation still like to go to the banks and will do a bit of shopping while they are in town but 10 or 20 years from now when they are gone it will be a ghost town, just like Godwin Street and Westgate are now. And of course you have the anti social behaviour that also adds to the problem. Bradford Council you not only have to clean up the streets you have to clean up the people too."

Moira Martin said: "If the headline had not said Bradford I would not have recognised it. Born and bred in Bradford. This work has spoilt it.

Andrew Chilton said: "Towns have changed for a host of mainly economic reasons... they can still become beautiful and well visited places.. wait and see. No 'city of culture' place in the past started without the usual naysayers and doom bringers... those places are now much better as a result. Hull, Glasgow, Liverpool, Coventry have all been hugely improved."

Neil Grooby said: "I just really don’t see the point . What has been gained by doing this?"

Sean Murphy said: Hahahaha. Why would you be against a multi-million pound regeneration of a dead city centre?"

Ali Parkes said: "It was lovely to see some of the pedestrian zones completed last week . I could see there being put too good use already. Especially as one man pulled down his child’s pants in the middle of one and had her have a wee in the middle of the street. Don’t know why they bother in Bradford."

Hamzah Ansari said: "Final Nail in the Coffin for Bradford."

Jo Woodhead said: "Seriously hope it will be worth it after so much inconvenience."

James Patterson said: "Hate to think the crime rate at night once no cars buses near to run for help in an emergency, muggers paradise on their electric scooters."

Jane Phaff said: "Can't wait to see all those hundreds of cyclist making use of cycle lanes."

Andy Lee said: "Looking great. Can’t wait to see it when completed."

Mark McCormack branded the scheme 'Stupid and ridiculous' while Jennifer Jones bemoaned a 'horrendous, soulless wasteland '

Alex Pearson said; "Oh stop complaining! It will look wonderful when it is finished."

Who what when said: "Now all they need are shops,customers and pedestrians. Failing that the yobs on e-bikes and quads etc will have a nice new track to race around."

Northern Soul said: "One thing is for sure nobody will be going anywhere near the place unless they are scrotes or lowlife. It's finished!"

Kitty Kat said: I'll be going there and I'm neither a scrote or a lowlife. I'm a woman who walks through Bradford regularly without being raped, murdered or robbed every time. I think it will be lovely when it's finished