Occupy Westfield protesters have called for Bradford Council to hold a public inquiry to answer its questions about the development agreement for the Broadway shopping centre.

They have demanded to know who signed off the deal with Australian company Westfield and who will be held accountable for businesses in the city centre suffering due to the stalled project.

The group, which has been camped out at the site for more than a week, met Council leader David Green at City Hall yesterday to discuss their concerns.

But Councillor Green described the group’s demand as “nonsensical”.

“It (the inquiry) would cost Council taxpayers money when we said we would find the information out already,” Coun Green told the Telegraph & Argus after the meeting.

“If the Occupy Westfield people and their legal advisers want a second opinion they can always approach a commercial solicitor and ask whether they would expect a penalty clause in a development agreement signed between Westfield and the Council. I have never seen a development agreement with a penalty clause in it.”

Yesterday’s meeting was arranged so Council officials could hear the group’s concerns about the site and when Westfield might start work again.

Occupy Westfield’s legal adviser, Alias Yousaf, of Chambers Solicitors, Bradford, described the meeting as ‘hopeful’ but added that he was still calling for a public inquiry. “We want to push for the inquiry into why the site has remained as it is and who should have been held to account for tens of businesses suffering,” he said.