Plans to demolish Odsal police station and snooker club and replace it with a modern restaurant and bar complex have been put on hold.

Councillors at Bradford Area Planning Panel decided they could not approve the development at Wiltex House at Odsal Top - even though outline permission had already been granted four years ago and renewed just last year.

Planning officers recommended the plans should be passed but their advice was ignored after members heard Odsal Labour councillor David Green warn them that circumstances in the area had changed since the scheme last came before them.

He said since the panel had given and renewed outline permission to demolish the red-brick buildings and replace them with a new bar/restaurant, manager's flat and children's play area, the Bradford Bulls had returned to the nearby stadium.

He said: "I appreciate the pub has already been given outline planning application but it doesn't address changes in circumstances. The Bulls are back with no parking facilities and the roads are busier than ever before. People in the area already have enough problems with traffic and parking, especially on match days when it's horrendous.

"It wasn't an issue at the time outline permission was given and renewed but it is now. I would argue that this is a flawed plan which would save up problems for further down the track if it is passed now."

Coun Green also told of his and residents' fears that extra traffic from the new development would cause chaos on the roads, putting more pressure on the roundabout - one of the busiest in Bradford.

He also questioned the access and exit arrangements to and from the complex and said some vehicles including delivery lorries might be tempted to turn up Wibsey High Street from the site, which already suffers from congestion and has a weight restriction.

Councillor Paul Flowers (Lab, Great Horton) also described the Odsal roundabout as being "deeply precarious" and said more work needed to be done on highways issues first to make sure the public was not put at risk.

Three councillors voted for the plans to be deferred for more highways consultation - two voted against and one abstained.

Odsal Police Station is leased from a private owner and by the end of 2005, operations from there will be transferred to a newly-built four-storey site in Nelson Street, next to the existing fire station.