What next for The Ridings after council's switch to Reform?

In April, the then Labour-run Wakefield Council bought The Ridings shopping centre for £11m. But, just a month later, Reform UK swept to power in the borough and promised a review of the plans and to ask people what they thought about the proposed regeneration of the Merrie City's centre.

Labour's plan to gobble up the central shopping space looked on track when they announced the deal, paid for by a government grant.

The proposal was to demolish the distinctive 1980s structure and replace it with a multimillion-pound development scheme over the coming 10 to 15 years.

A public consultation was planned for the summer but just a few weeks later, after May's election win, Reform launched a review of the plans and arranged 11 drop-in sessions at the mall throughout July to ask the public about their views on the regeneration of the centre and surrounding area.

The original plans for the Cathedral Quarter project, as it is known, included a public square, cinema, new library, museum and a sculpture park.

Wakefield Council's Reform leader Karl Johnson has yet to reveal his party's vision for the city centre but said its proposals would be released later in the year.

"I think it's all right as it is, myself," trucker Kevin Ruding explained.

The 34-year-old, originally from Holme Wood in Bradford, has lived in Wakefield for the last four years and has been in The Ridings plenty of times.

"Every time I've come in with my wife, we come in on a weekend, it's fine for me.

"There's a fair lot of homeless sitting about, but you get that everywhere."

He said his home city was "a dumping ground", but highlighted Wakefield's outdoor markets.

"When you go out on a weekend and you see all the pop-up tents, selling the sweets, the dog treats.

"I like to see all those, the little independent traders - you don't see that in Bradford."

Phillip Davies, 76, from Normanton has been a regular visitor to the shoping centre for a long time.

"I think they've just let it get worse over the years. At one time this was the main place that we used for our shopping on a weekend.

"The only thing I've come in for today is I'm meeting my mate that I used to work with for a latte, instead of a beer. I'm afraid that's the only time I come in it now."

He said the White Rose Centre near Leeds was now a bigger draw.

Opened in 1983, The Ridings was one of the first American-style shopping malls in the UK and became an attraction for shoppers across the north.

It is now less than two-thirds occupied.

Launching the sessions, councillor and cabinet member for regeneration Matthew Pinder said the city had "a huge amount of potential".

"It's clear that regeneration is required to offer renewed economic opportunity for business, provide homes, and attract more people to our fantastic city.

"We want to make sure our city thrives for the current and next generation.

"The best way to do that is to make sure it is centred around the public's needs.

"That's why the council's new administration is asking for your views openly and transparently, as we promised we would."

Market trader Lindsey Mosley, 54, worked in a men's designer wear shop in the centre two decades ago.

"It's nothing compared to like what it used to be. It used to be packed. Saturday in Hype years ago you couldn't get in the shop, it was that busy.

"I think they should leave the shopping centre as it is but try and promote it," she mused.

"Cheaper rent would be better... then they'd get more shops in here.

"Maybe independent shops would be better, something that would actually fetch people into the city."

The Hype shop she metioned is still on Bishopgate Walk.

Owner Irfan Mohammed first opened it in 1998 and believes The Ridings has a future.

"I would like the centre to stay. If you walk round you'll see it's still being used by the public," he said.

"People care about it because it's part of where they've grown up.

"The centre could regenerate, but it needs a lot of money. That is the big question mark.

"I'm not sure where that money is going to come from as well."

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