'This market was once so busy - but things have changed'

Times are changing in Bradford's markets, and this weekend marks the final day of trading for the stallholders in the Kirkgate and Oastler halls.

Kirkgate Market opened in the 19th Century and Oastler Market in the 1930s, and both were important destinations in the years before online shopping saw footfall decline.

On 28 June, they will shut and will eventually be demolished to make way for 1,000 new homes as part of a regeneration scheme.

Traders have instead been offered stands at the new Darley Street Market, and many told the BBC they were optimistic about moving to a more modern space.

Kamran Ali, 35, has been repairing watches at Finesse Jewellers for the last 12 years.

The jewellers has been based at Kirkgate Market for more than 30 years, but will move to Darley Street after the weekend.

"Bradford needs something to bring people back," Mr Ali said. "The new market is, hopefully, going to help.

"At the same time I'm sad, because some people here are not going to go to the new market."

This sentiment was echoed by Lynn Hodgen, who was teasing her neighbour Mr Ali from her perfume stall while he was being interviewed.

"They are your family, at the end of the day," Ms Hodgen, 59, said.

"It's sad they're not coming with us, but it's still exciting to go and be in the new one."

One of those not joining Mr Ali and Ms Hodgen is 67-year-old Altaf Hussain.

He started selling children's clothes at Kirkgate Market in 1973, shortly after arriving in the UK from Pakistan.

Mr Hussain was offered a spot in Darley Street, but said it was too small for his business.

"It was so busy at one time," he told the BBC, reflecting on the market's glory days in the 1970s and 80s.

"It was good before, but gradually after the 90s it started changing a lot, because everything was going online."

Halimah Patel, 23, grew up playing around Kirkgate Market while her parents ran Essentials Hardware.

"It was always a nice place to come, a nice environment. It was really busy and it's really sad that it's quietened down in the last few years."

Many of the stores that her family used to own have closed, but have not been replaced.

She said that the closure of a café across from the shop in December saw footfall drop dramatically.

Their family has now taken over a launderette, which they said was a more reliable source of income.

At Oastler Market, the views of the traders were similar.

Vinesh Chauhan, 33, works at A&J Shoe Repairs, a family business based at the market since 1987. It was set up by his parents.

"I've got mixed emotions really," Mr Chauhan said. "I am looking forward to a new fresh start in the new market.

"Since I've been a little boy, I've known this place A-Z really.

"There's been a lot of shops here, but slowly they've all just gone.

"It's sad to be leaving because I've known this place all my life."

Khalid Mahmood, 68, set up Solly's Fruit and Veg - named after his father - in 1994.

"It's sad," he said. "I'm really going to miss it here.

"We've been here 31 years and since starting here we've had really good days.

"But now it's very quiet here and we have to go to the new site, where it will hopefully be more busy because it's near to the banks and the Broadway shopping centre."

His son Imti, 42, who has been working at the market for more than 15 years, added: "It's quite odd really, because we've been here for so long and serviced the community for such a long time.

"But, as traders, I think we're all very excited to go to a brand new market, which is a little bit more central in location to the city.

"Over the years, we've found the top end of the centre, where this market is, has been quite difficult for consumers to get to.

"All the consumer and retail interest has shifted towards Broadway and the bottom end of town, so I think it's quite an exciting prospect that we are going to be more central."

The Darley Street Market scheme was approved by Bradford Council in July 2018, but has since been beset by delays.

After seven years, the market is set to open for its first weekend on 12 July.

It has been designed with spaces for eating, drinking and live entertainment as well as traditional stalls.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "Darley Street Market has always been significantly more than a simple like-for-like replacement of the markets it's replacing.

"It helps modernise our retail offer, but it also reshapes the city centre with a new market square."

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