Anger at proposed site for Ladbrokes

Plans for a new Ladbrokes bingo hall in one of Bradford city centre’s busiest shopping streets have sparked anger. Bradford City Centre Management, part of Bradford Council’s Department of Regeneration and Culture, has decided to opposed the plans which would see the former Woolwich bank in Kirkgate, currently occupied by fashion store Glance, turned into a bingo hall.

The building’s owners, London Investments, has applied to the Council for a change of use to allow it to be turned into a licensed bingo hall, to be occupied by “one of the UK’s leading bingo operators”. Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “Kirkgate is one of the main shopping thoroughfares in the city centre and I believe the shops there should be used for retail. There are more than sufficient bingo and amusement centres in the city centre and if we are to continue working to revive the retail offer in Bradford it is important that we try and bring as many of the empty units back into use as shops rather than amusement arcades or bingo halls, because I think it would be a lost opportunity for the city centre.”

The proposed site, currently occupied by fashion store Glance.