BRADFORD Council are objecting to plans to build a KFC take away and a coffee shop at a leisure park, because the buildings would give a poor first impression of Bradford.

A planning application for a new KFC and a Costa Coffee to be built at Gallagher Leisure Park in Thornbury has been submitted to Leeds City Council.

Applicants Urban & Civic (Bradford) Ltd purchased the park, which includes a gym and Odeon cinema, last year, and said at the time the site was in an "uncertain" position due to a lack of investment and competition from similar developments in Bradford and Leeds.

The group's application says: "The first intervention that Urban & Civic is seeking to make at the park are proposals to enhance the range of food and drink attractions and to make better use of under-utilised car parking by developing two free-standing units for operation as a KFC restaurant and a Costa coffee shop."

It says the development will create up to 60 jobs.

Due to the site's location, between Leeds and Bradford, Bradford Council has been asked to comment. A response from Julian Jackson, Assistant Director for Planning, Transportation and Highways in Bradford, said: "The appearance of the principal transport entrances to the Bradford District, which carry the bulk of visitor and business traffic, is critical in promoting a positive image of Bradford to visitors and potential investors, and is often the first impression which a visitor will gain of the District.

"It is suggested that the proposal offers a fairly mundane approach to the design of the buildings providing a commonplace solution that takes little influence from the District's local character. The development does not seek to

provide high quality contemporary design to complement its setting."

Leeds City Council are expected to decide on the application later this month.