Keep the Ridings Shopping Centre

Sadly, it has come to my attention that after over four decades of the Ridings Shopping Centre being here, it will be demolished. The once vibrant, hustle and bustle of busy shops and shoppers alike is soon to be nothing but a distant memory, to be forgotten as if it were never there to begin with. It’s hard to understand why this happening. It’s not only the shop owners that are being thrown out on their ear but also the individuals, single mums and the families with their children, living in the flats above. These poor people were barely given a day’s notice before this was announced. No indication of re-homing, temporary accommodation, nothing, just a cold harsh black and white neatly typed generic letter with no remorse, compassion or feeling of regret with what is about to happen to these people.  

It’s hard to think that a place that for so long had given people warmth and safety from the harsh weather, not to mention being part of our local heritage, will just be destroyed for no good reason. It is a safe place for people to raise their children. A place where people can meet their friends for coffees, go see a movie, shopping spree or do their usual groceries. A place that did not discriminate based on age, ethnicity or wealth. There was always something for everyone. I remember walking through the Ridings not so long ago, spending time and money at the craft fayres; and just genuinely enjoying myself a long with my friends. Imagining what interesting things I could buy them for Christmas, trying unique ethnic foods from all over the world. But, in the next two years it will be destroyed and become nothing but an eye sore. 

My friend overheard a disabled girl say “Where can I go when this is no longer here? I feel safe because it’s indoors”. It’s sad to say it will soon be no longer indoors, it will be exposed, open space and houses replacing the ones already there. No more safe, warm shelter for the disabled, the elderly or those suffering with anxiety in this location. Not everyone likes or can handle open spaces like we already have at the Trinity Shopping Centre, myself included.  

I must admit that I have a nagging thought running through my head. Where are the shop owners going to go if they can’t relocate? What will happen to the employees of the shops? Unemployment is already bad enough without hundreds of people and dozens of businesses closing because, “we want to build more homes in this location, even though we already have some”. People go to these shops, support these businesses, which in turn employ people because they are central, somewhere familiar, easy access for people in wheelchairs, etc. now they will be scattered all over the place. Not everyone can walk or drive to numerous locations all around Wakefield to visit the places they are used to going, a journey that could take less than two minutes between shops, could now take hours, assuming they are able to.  

It feels like this is more about a huge organisation making money out of the taxpayer, than supporting small businesses and people. Almost feels like an oxymoron kicking people out of their homes to make new ones they don’t need or can’t immediately be moved into. Who are these homes to be made for? I have heard, it won’t be the current tenants. They say this project will take between ten to fifteen years to complete. It starts in 2028. Roughly, two years from now, the safe, warm place, this thriving business location, this home. It won't be there anymore.  

I understand that it may look a little tired and weathered. Surely it would be more cost effective to revamp, freshen up the place, rather than destroy it. May even be worth restoring it back to its former glory. Some people have said the black and gold of the eighties did make it look like it you were visiting a glamorous American Mall straight out of the movies. But is this a bad thing? I believe its design was based on something like this? Some people don’t always like ultra modern, some people like nostalgia. It's surely more cost effective to breathe some new life in to the place and bring hope and optimism to people and businesses alike.  

How far will people take this? What is next for the chopping board in our historical Wakefield? What other part of our heritage is to be dismantled so a corporate organisation can make a few quid? The Hepworth? Cathedral? The Rugby grounds we are so famous for?  

The Ridings is our Meadow Hall, our White Rose, our Bloomingdale’s. 

Please help keep our Heritage and sign this petition.