Plans to bus traders a mile and a half to a planned Asian bazaar in Idle Road have got the go-ahead from Bradford Council officers.

The scheme is to transform the former Morrisons in Bolton into a magnet for shoppers, with 50 stalls selling fashion and fancy goods.

But parking wrangles have led to the applicant linking up with East Ward Labour Club, which has agreed to allow traders to use its car park in Otley Road with a shuttle bus service to the bazaar, thus freeing-up on-site parking space for customers.

Following yesterday’s story in the Telegraph & Argus, when Bradford East MP David Ward branded the scheme as “outrageous”, a Bradford Council spokesman said: “The owner of the former QLM building on Idle Road has submitted revised parking arrangements detailing the proposed level of on-site parking in conjunction with trader parking that will take place off-site.

“These plans have been confirmed as acceptable by the Council’s highways department and subject to the applicant satisfying the other terms and conditions we have imposed, then a market licence will be issued for a maximum period of six months.”

The revised plans include a total of 64 customer car parking spaces on-site, 36 spaces on the roof of the QLM building accessed from Idle Road and 28 spaces in the rear servicing area accessed from Bolton Road, as well as the trader parking at the East Ward Labour Club.

Bolton and Undercliffe ward councillor Howard Middleton has campaigned with residents against the bazaar in the belief it will bring traffic chaos to the area. Last night he blasted this latest development.

“I am amazed by the decision. This proposal was objected to by most local residents, the local councillors, local businesses and Bradford Chamber of Commerce. The only voices in favour are the applicant and Bradford Council,” said Coun Middleton (Lib Dem).

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat Group leader on the Council, Coun Jeanette Sunderland, has written to the council’s markets manager Colin Wolstenholme to ask for precise details of the bazaar planned for the building which was most recently a QLM store.

Coun Sunderland has asked for a copy of the East Ward Labour Club agreement and how it is to be implemented and managed.

She has also requested a copy of the arrangements for the shuttle bus as to how often will it run and where will it park and aspects of all other related parking matters.