The long-running saga of the empty site at the top of Bradford which once housed the Rawson Market appears to go on and on. Latest setback is a delay to the start of work on the Rawson Quarter project which is due to replace it. And this time the problem which has caused it cannot be blamed on anyone in Bradford.

It is very unfortunate that the London-based Designer Company Ltd., which was due to open a 22,000 square foot department store as the biggest tenant in the planned development, has gone into administration and closed 17 of its branches nationwide. Even though it continues to operate 29 other stores, in the circumstances it could hardly be expected to open another.

This latest stumbling block for the development comes nearly a decade after the decision was taken to demolish most of the market hall in preparation for a £6 million scheme which never happened because of Council funding problems.

Given the long delay and the blight it caused to the top end of the town, there was understandable relief when the £8 million Rawson Quarter scheme was finally announced. At last, it seemed, that part of the city centre could be brought fully back to life, with the new shopping complex nicely complementing the refurbished Oastler Centre (formerly John Street Market).

Now the developers have announced that the work will start in January rather than next month, to give them time to sign up an alternative tenant. It is to be hoped they are successful soon and that the project can go ahead as rescheduled, without any further delays.