SALTAIRE will get a new supermarket after planners backed a controversial plan to replace a car wash.

The proposal by Sainsbury's to build a local store in Bingley Road at the junction with Grosvenor Road was met by an intense protest with 340 written objections sent to Bradford Council and only 12 letters of support.

But at a meeting today members of Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Committee felt there were not grounds to go against the recommendation by planning officers' to approve the 360 square metre shop store on what is an existing retail site.

However, City Hall's conservation officers were criticised for not giving alternatives to its design - which denied councillors ammunition to use against the scheme, which sits just outside the World Heritage Site boundary.

Committee member, Councillor Martin Love (Green, Shipley), repeatedly stressed the negative impact of a Sainsbury's at that site, saying it would cause major traffic problems and badly hit trade for existing retailers.

He said the 13-space car park would be inadequate and raised concerns about where the 25 full and part-time workers were expected to leave their cars.

Councillor Abid Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central) raised concerns that the success of the Saltaire junction improvement scheme might be wrecked because increased use of pedestrian crossings could cause major road tailbacks.

Councillor Malcolm Sykes (Con, Thornton and Allerton) said while the building would be an improvement on the hand car wash, he was disappointed City Hall's conservation officers had merely stated it could be of higher quality - without saying how.

He also made the point that the committee could not refuse on the grounds of any financial impact on surrounding businesses.

Councillor Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley) urged the committee to vote against the plan and said the store would take some £50,000 a week.

"It's reasonable to assume a lot of that will be drawn from nearby independent businesses such as the baker, greengrocer and butchers.

"We have a duty to keep alive our strong and vibrant community," he said.

But committee chairman, Councillor Shabir Hussain, supported the application "This is an ugly car wash and I wouldn't want it on my doorstep. I think what we have here is an enhancement of the area" he said.

Councillor Glen Miller (Con, Bingley Rural) also voted in favour of the application although he warned a proposed new layby in Bingley Road for eight daily delivery lorries could cause chaos.

"Human beings are lazy and someone will park there and a big lorry is not going to be able to park and it will cause gridlock," he said.

The committee voted four to two in favour.

Afterwards, objector Jackie Mulligan, who spoke at the meeting, said hundreds of people would be disappointed their opinions had been ignored.

"We feel crushed and disappointed. It's a disgrace," she said.

Vanessa Pilny, of Saltaire Village Society, said: "Planning law needs to change to reflect local wishes."

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: “We are pleased to be granted planning permission and will now continue to develop our plans for a Sainsbury’s Local in Saltaire.”