Shopping centre demolition 'death knock' for city

For decades, the Ridings Shopping Centre has anchored Wakefield - hailed as a pioneering vision of modern retail. Now its planned demolition has marked the end of an era and stirred up mixed reactions from shoppers in the city.

As well as proposals to replace the 1980s mall with a new development, including housing, green spaces and leisure facilities, the council plans to knock down four nearby tower blocks.

While some people agree the struggling centre, which is less than two-thirds occupied, has had its time, others have insisted not enough has been done to save the once-thriving landmark.

Speaking to the BBC, Doreen Moffat described the decision as "the death knock for Wakefield".

She said: "I'm very, very disappointed.

"Someone needs to get their thinking cap on and forget about this city living idea. We need shops that bring revenue in to Wakefield."

The 81-year-old, who said she had been shopping at the Ridings since it first opened in 1983, said: "The council should keep the building but modernise it, then they might get something right."

Taking four years to complete, the centre was one of the first American-style shopping malls in the UK with a unique design so shoppers could enter and exit from all three levels.

It was famed for its glass wall climber lift as well as its expansive food court on the ground floor.

Electrcian David Brailsford said he remembered the centre being built and described the planned closure as "very sad".

"But it's outdated and needs a lot of money spent on it. It feels dilapidated.

"It's a big redevelopment so let's get on with it and get going so we can get more investment.

The 70-year-old added: "I think it will look good for the city in the long term."

The council's decision to buy the site and demolish it follows the announcement that Marks & Spencer were relocating their store to City Fields.

The Cathedral Quarter development will include a new public square and green spaces aimed at families and children.

There will also be a cinema, new library, museum, and extensive car parking.

Kirsty Jones said the Ridings was "a staple of Wakefield" but said she believed the opening of the nearby Trinity Walk shopping centre had contributed to its demise.

"All of the shops that were here when I was growing up have all gone.

"It's an end of an era but it can happen anywhere, not just here."

Philip Shelton, who used to work in the food court as a teenager, said the council had been "too quick" to rip it down and needed to "come up with better ideas to make it work".

"They have taken their eye off the ball with it. Why do other shopping centres like Meadowhall and the Trafford Centre work?"

The 55-year-old said: "Why doesn't the council collaborate and go and visit these places to see what they're dong to bring the people in.

"These places have got free parking, why isn't that the case with the Ridings."

Meanwhile Edith Thompson said she had been left "absolutely gobsmacked" by the news.

The 84-year-old said: "Things happen here and a gang of us meet up regularly for a chat and coffee and it gets you out of the house.

"They didn't need to build Trinity. This would have been adequate.

"We don't need outside space, we need somewhere warm and where things are going on."