SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's has hit out in defence of its plans to build a new store on busy Bingley Road in Saltaire by sending a tough-talking letter to 525 residents.

It has resubmitted plans for the controversial new Local store on the site of a hand car wash on the corner with Grosvenor Road.

And ward councillors have led opposition by publicly stating what they see as key flaws in the proposal.

But yesterday, Sainsbury's letters were sent to those most likely to be affected by the shop, tackling each of the major concerns raised.

"We want ensure that local residents are given all of the facts," the letter states.

"Two of your Ward Councillors, Cllr Hawarun Hussain and Cllr Kevin Warnes, have objected to our plans. We want to directly address their points, as we disagree with a number of their claims."

It then addresses the central objections, the first being the new business would likely add to local noise pollution:

"We see no such likelihood – after all, the site is currently a car wash that generates noise," writes Sainsbury's

"Our plans will have little impact on existing noise levels.

"We have designed our store to minimise any risk of noise pollution, for example making sure the nearest parking space is 25 metres away from houses on Grosvenor Road."

Adverse impact on Saltaire's economic viability and independent traders is similarly dismissed:

"We completely disagree. Sainsbury’s has years of experience in operating stores like the one we are proposing for Saltaire.

"Our experience shows us that our stores attract shoppers – but they also visit local independent traders. Saltaire is home to many great independent traders, and we are sure that people will not stop shopping with them just because a Sainsbury’s Local has opened."

Potential parking problems in Grosvenor Road were also issues by Cllrs Hussain and Warnes (Green, Shipley).

"This is not reasonable. Our assessment, and experience from operating stores across the country, demonstrates that 15 spaces will be more than enough to cater for a store of this size.

"We completely reject the idea that we have designed a store with inadequate parking, and we are confident shoppers would prefer to park in the store’s car park, or walk to the store, rather than park further away on Grosvenor Road."

The letter also says the shop's design has been altered to be more in keeping with the area, as requested by Bradford Council planners.

"It's a robust response and what I'd expect from a large corporate retailer used to getting its own way," said Cllr Kevin Warnes.

"Expansion of supermarkets has cost thousands of jobs in the British grocery sector.

"Local councillors and residents understand Saltaire and objections are currently running at some 150, with a grand total of two letters in support - which is all you need to know.

"People do not want this store," Cllr Warnes said.

Cllr Hussain praised local people for lodging so many objections: "It’s great that residents are voicing their opinion on how they feel about a multi-national supermarket taking over yet another high street," she said.