SIR – Having told the Council’s Scrutiny Meeting and Coun Dave Green that two sources had told me the ‘hole in the ground’ will not happen and having much comment from the property world outside Bradford to the same end, I attended the recent Bradford Property Forum full of new enthusiasm.

To say we now have a new scheme, the presentation from Westfield had no punch, no drive, no enthusiasm and, most importantly, still no commitment.

We were told that Westfield have pulled out of Nottingham where they had started work; they have bought a centre in Croydon; there was no confirmation that the new Joint Venture with a Dutch organisation had been signed, and, despite comment to the contrary, Marks and Spencer have not signed their Agreement to Lease, tying them to the scheme and Debenhams have signed, but like all other tenants will have a get-out clause if Westfield fail to progress.

Are other tenants in place? “No comment”, came the reply. No change all round.

Oh yes, Fabric, the arts organisation were reported as having their contract for the Urban Garden extended to the end of 2012. No start soon, then.

No wonder Barra MacRurri and several others were looking glum at the end of the session.

Roger A Owen, Heritage Park, Bingley