A powerful plea for a piece of Bingley's heritage to be left intact fell on deaf ears as plans to demolish some of the town's best loved buildings got the go-ahead.

Protestor Christine Guirao, of Stockbridge, Keighley, is angry about the Bradford & Bingley Building Society's scheme to knock down buildings at 45-51 Main Street and 1-3 Commercial Street to make way for a temporary car park.

She told yesterday's meeting of the Town and Country Planning (Shipley Area) Sub-Committee of her fears. The land includes an area of cleared land formerly occupied by Woolworths and a number of unsightly vacant shops and derelict buildings. The idea is for Bradford Council to lease the site for four years which will cater for between 50 to 60 vehicles.

She said: "Over the past 30 years Bingley has had its heart torn out. The Old Smithy and adjoining buildings to me represent the last straw.

"If they are allowed to be demolished it is one of the last remaining parts of old Bingley gone and gone forever.

"The Old Smithy should be preserved for future generations. During the wars it is said that people retired to the Old Smithy. It could be renovated and restored as it used to be."

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