A Bradford gym owner said today that uncertainty surrounding the future of a city centre street had forced him out of business.

Paul Gale, who ran Cardio Caf in Petergate, said membership began to plummet following reports last year of a new £200 million shopping centre being planned for that part of the city.

Bradford Council has granted outline planning permission for the scheme which would involve demolishing existing 1950s office blocks and pedestrianising the area.

He said there were rumours that his own block was to be compulsorily purchased and demolished - but he could not find out if and when that was to happen.

"People just stopped joining because they didn't know how long we would be here for. From around August, the business just died," he claimed.

Eight months earlier Mr Gale said he had spent £20,000 on refurbishing the gym.

"If I had known what was going to happen there is no way I would have spent this money. Nobody in their right mind would have," he added.

Despite numerous calls to Bradford Council and the building's landlords, Mr Gale said he could not get a straight answer about its future.

"It just seemed that nobody was able to tell me what was going on," he said. "If they would have said the building was going on a specific date I could have informed my customers and made plans for the future.

"But this is not just my plight. There are lots of other businesses there that still don't know what is going on."

He said he had negotiated a deal for his existing members at Body Balance Gym, Sunbridge Road, Bradford.

Mr Gale added: "I am trying to do the right thing. If people are not happy I have left a forwarding address at the gym and they can write to me. I will go through the letters and attempt to provide refunds."

Bobby Dev, who owns Babyland in Petergate, said: "I really sympathise with Paul. There seems to be a different story every month. The Council needs to be more open and honest. Traders need to know where they stand."

Azra Nasir, who owns the neighbouring Karrotz Caf Bar, said: "There seems to be a lot of dragging of heels. We were told we would hear something by the end of January but that didn't come."

A Bradford Council spokesman said negotiations are still continuing and added: "Our planning department will shortly be writing to all occupiers affected by the scheme."

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