Fresh objections have been raised about plans to build a new car park in Saltaire.

Members of the village’s angling association think the site should be put back to its original use rather than turned into 52 parking spaces.

The criticism of the planning application, submitted by the Hartley Property Trust, follows concerns from senior Bradford Council officer Anne Heeley. Last month she said the idea was questionable and thinks a pay and display car park next to Roberts Park could ruin the habitat of wildlife.

Long-term member of Saltaire Angling Association, David Brazendale, said the land was scruffy.

“It used to be a rose garden, but it’s been left to go to rack and ruin. It’s like a jungle. It looks dreadful,” he said.

Mr Brazendale said he and other anglers regularly fished on the canal in Saltaire and thought the land needed something doing to improve it, but that it should not be made into a car park.

“I’d like to see it turned back to its original use as an ornamental garden,” he said. “It would be brought back into a state that’s compatible with the heritage of the park.”

Mr Brazendale said he would be more supportive of the scheme if it offered free car parking.

“The edges would still need to be landscaped though to make it compatible with the heritage status of the area,” he added.

The Hartley Property Trust wants to build the car park on its land between the Boathouse pub and the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

It thinks the development would benefit shoppers, businesses and users of Saltaire train station.

Bosses also say the car park would boost the number of tourists visiting the World Heritage Site by making parking easier.

But the application has been widely criticised by community groups and residents who are worried about the effect on World Heritage Site status of the village, traffic congestion and fumes and the location of the car park.

It was thought a decision would be made on the plans at the end of this month, but the application has not yet been putting on a planning panel agenda.

Mr Brazendale has not formally objected to the plans, but said he intended to go to any meetings where it was due to be discussed.