WEST Yorkshire Police say they are "unable to support" controversial plans to use part of a former tramsheds site in Thornbury as a tyre disposal yard as the business poses a fire risk.

Jacks Tyres, one of the firms based on the 8,500sqm of land on Leeds Road, re-applied to Bradford Council for partly-retrospective planning permission earlier this month to bale tonnes of waste tyres on the site.

A different section of the yard was targeted by arsonists last month, with more than 1,000 tyres set alight in a huge blaze which forced residents to flee their homes, with some now campaigning against having a "tyre dump" on their doorstep.

Police were consulted on the original plans to expand the business, which were submitted in May, and suggested a number of proposals to improve safety on the site.

These included raising a perimeter fence from 1.8m to at least 2m, better lighting in the yard, and a secure metal outbuilding in which to store the waste tyres to prevent arson attacks.

In a consultation comment on the updated plans, Lisa Reardon, Bradford District crime prevention design advisor, refers to the fact that the suggested alterations have not been included.

She writes: "The design and access statement mentions that a 1.8m high palisade gate/fence will be installed to the delivery area, particular attention should be paid to the lock area/pad-bolt area to ensure that this doesn’t allow any climbing aids over the gate.

"There is no mention of lighting around the site? Or if any storage containers will be provided for the tyres.

"Whilst the recent fire didn’t occur at Jacks Tyres, my concern is that should tyres be left exposed these can be set on fire again.

"I patrolled this area several years ago and the run up to bonfire night, including bonfire night itself, is always problematic in that local youths obtain fireworks and find it fun to throw these at businesses, gardens, and at passing vehicles and pedestrians.

"Even if the fencing was installed so that there was no form of natural surveillance into the grounds, should a firework land over the top of the fencing, the tyres could easily be set alight and cause the same fire devastation as before.

"West Yorkshire Police are unable to support the proposal in its present form."

The developer acting for Jacks Tyres, the Baildon-based Fineline Architectural Design Ltd, declined to comment on whether the submitted plans could be altered.

It has previously stated that the fire had nothing to do with the firm, and that tyres on the site would be "kept safe and secure, not readily open to arson attacks."

Public consultation on the proposals is open until August 14, and the plans have attracted around 40 objections on-line, ranging from local Bradford residents to people in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany.

Justin Sullivan, who lives behind the former factory site on Rushton Terrace, said: "A tyre dump simply does not belong right next door to a residential area.

"There was a serious fire, local people had to be evacuated, and the damage to our homes and gardens was considerable.

"We find it absolutely extraordinary that the Council is now even considering a formal application for more of the same."