Plans to turn the site of a mothballed shopping development into a temporary community garden were today described as “too little, too late” by Bradford’s Liberal Democrats and “second best” by Labour.

But traders who operate near the dormant Broadway site have welcomed the Tory-led Bradford Council’s plans to open it up for community use until Westfield is ready to restart its £320 million retail scheme.

The Council is proposing to move the hoardings back to the edge of the basement area that has been dug out, which would open up half the site for a raft of potential uses including grassed areas, footpaths, a wild flower meadow, seating areas and sculptures.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “While we welcome this last-ditch attempt to put something back into Bradford, it’s far too little far too late.

“A lot of businesses in the area have already gone.

“Quite frankly, if Westfield are to be believed, they said they would be on the site straight after the 2012 Olympics. Far from covering it up, they should be bringing it back into use now.

“We want to know exactly what Westfield are contributing because the council tax payer has already contributed £34m to that site.”

Councillor David Green, the Labour group’s spokesman for regeneration, said: “Any proposal that does not develop a decent shopping centre on that site is going to be second best.

“The Council has dragged its feet in trying to force this through, but clearly it’s better than having a hole in the ground.

“We would give it a cautious welcome but we are not going to stop pushing for the Council and Westfield to break the deadlock as soon as possible and get the real scheme up and running.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, the Council’s executive member for regeneration, cautioned that the temporary proposal had its own difficulties and would take careful planning.

He said: “This is not a simple open stretch of land that has no obstacles. It’s a building site and we have got to be extremely conscious of how we protect the public.

“On that basis, we have to look at how we can do something with the site that doesn’t slow down the development once the market picks up.

“This is something that will be there for a period of time – albeit temporarily – and I want the people of Bradford to feel they have the ability to contribute and benefit from the solution.”

Traders in the area have given a cautious welcome to the interim plans, with many saying they were happy that something was finally being done with the site while at the same time expressing disappointment that the shopping centre is not yet being built.

Annette Somerset, manager of the Fille Inns sandwich shop, at the bottom of Kirkgate, said: “It won’t bring the revenue back into Bradford city centre, which is what is really needed, but at least it will stop that site looking a mess.”

e-mail: will.kilner@telegraphandargus.co.uk

What the traders think:

I’ve been trying to sell up because my trade has been decimated, but this might just save my livelihood. I have been staring at these hoardings for five years, so I think this is brilliant news.

Keith Godbold, who runs the newsagent’s kiosk in Well Street, at the edge of Little Germany

It can’t happen soon enough. Let’s utilise this space. The ideal thing would have been to build the shopping centre, but we would be supportive of anything that increases footfall and customer flow through this area because this is a forgotten end of town.

Walter Lazoryk, manager of the Stead & Simpson shoe shop in Broadway

While a park will look lovely and we would like to see the fencing reduced, I don’t think it will bring people into Bradford. I would have liked to have seen it turned into a car park.

Michael Bennett, owner of Bennett’s Barbers in Bolton Road

This is fantastic news for us. It would be a worthwhile addition to Bradford city centre. You can’t over-estimate the negative effect that empty site has had on business.

Gary Peacock, general manager of the Midland Hotel,overlooking the site

Doing something with the site is better than doing nothing. Make use of it, make it into allotments, anything. I think this is a brilliant idea and it will certainly help.

Paul Moss, co-owner of Fowler & Oldfield jewellers, in Kirkgate

We would be very supportive of any positive use of the site because it’s not acceptable the way it is. As things stand, it’s not a good advert for Bradford. I’m glad something is finally happening.

Val Summerscales, of Bradford Chamber of Trade