Bradford is, quite rightly, working towards creating a thriving city centre in the leisure and social sense. We have an outstanding museum, a famous and much-envied theatre and a growing number of caf-bars and pubs. An essential part of that package, though, is about to go missing.

A successful city centre needs a major cinema, yet Bradford has just learned that it is to lose its triple-screen Odeon, which is to close in favour of the new Odeon multiplex at Thornbury. That is doubly depressing news, because it means that a major Bradford landmark will now be standing empty after 70 years of making an important contribution to the life of the city. It also comes hard on the heels of the closure of the Shipley Flix at The Branch.

For a while at least, those who now want a wider choice of films other than those being screened at Pictureville or the Priestley Centre for the Arts will have to head for Thornbury or Birstall.

There is nothing wrong with major multi-screen cinemas on the outskirts. They offer a good choice of programmes and excellent facilities, particularly parking. But many people prefer a city cinema close to somewhere they can have a drink or a meal - and to which they can travel by public transport.

So it is encouraging, then, that there is at last some firm news about the plans for a cinema on the Vicar Lane site. Let us hope that work on that entire on-off development can go ahead with the minimum of delay. Bradford now needs it more than ever.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.