PLANS to build a supermarket on an old industrial site in a town centre have been refused.

Lidl had applied to the local authority to open a 2,345 sq m store with 140 parking spaces on the auction mart site in Keighley Road, Bingley.

But the proposal was refused by Bradford Council’s regulations and appeals committee today as it would have an adverse impact on existing and committed investment in Bingley town centre, including the redevelopment of the former Bradford & Bingley Building Society site.

Committee members also said the development would fail to make a "positive contribution to the area" and would have an adverse effect on the character and appearance of the Bingley Conservation Area.

The proposal would have created up to 40 jobs at the site which has been largely vacant since the market moved out in 1995.

Committee chairman Councillor David Warburton said: "This is not the appropriate thing to put on this site."

Councillor John Pennington (Con, Bingley) said the proposed store would increase traffic in the town.

He said: "The road is already congested. I’m afraid that traffic is a big problem.”

Gina Zernous, of Lock View, Bingley, also spoke out against the application at the meeting.

She said: "It would make it a lot busier by my road and also Keighley Road. I think it would also be dangerous for schoolchildren.

"It would also be a lot noisier."

CDP jointly submitted plans for the store with Lidl last October.

James Marshall, from the company, said: "This application can only be good investment to the town.

"This site has been vacant for 20 years, that’s a long time."

Thirteen letters supporting the application and 16 letters against it were submitted to Bradford Council.

The Lidl proposal was backed by Howard Martin, president of Bingley Chamber of Trade, who said it would have helped keep money in the town and provide jobs.