AN ANGRY MP has urged a supermarket giant to sort out an “eyesore” area in Bingley.

Shipley MP Philip Davies has said it is not good for the town’s economy that the former Bradford & Bingley site in Main Street remains undeveloped, adding it is an “absolutely ridiculous” situation.

He has invited site owners Sainsbury’s to a meeting in the town in February, to which they have agreed.

If no deal is stuck with a new buyer in the meantime, the meeting will be held at Bingley Methodist Church, on February 17.

Sainsbury’s said it was in talks with an unnamed business about buying the site and would give an update to residents on any sale when they could.

The site is currently surrounded by wooden boards covered in a green plant-style design.

Sainsbury’s bought the site in 2010 and won planning permission to demolish the building and construct a new store in 2011.

But in April last year, as demolition was going ahead, the chain decided to put the site on the market.

Mr Davies insisted he would keep up the pressure on the supermarket until the site was sold.

He said: “I have been told that Sainsbury’s are actively seeking a purchase and hoping to make an announcement before the end of the year.

“While I hope this is the case, I have asked Sainsbury’s to come to a meeting in February at Bingley Parish Church as a fall-back plan, in case things have not moved on, and they have agreed.

“It is not good for our local economy for the site to be sitting undeveloped when jobs could be created and it needs to be sorted as soon as possible – it has been too long, it’s absolutely ridiculous.

“We need them to pull their finger out, as it is far too an important site to just be left.”

A spokesman for the chain confirmed it would be up to the new site owners to undertake its demolition and said said it understood Mr Davies’ view on the development.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We understand the MP’s concerns, and have recently updated him and the town council on our plans.

“We’re in discussions with a business about buying the site and once we are in a position to do so will update the local community.”

Last month, Terry Brown, chairman of Bingley Town Council, urged Sainsbury’s to landscape the site, which he branded an eyesore.

The supermarket chain says it has been in contact with Bingley Town Council over its concerns.

The town council is also investigating if it can ask Bradford Council to use legal powers to issue a notice to order that the property be repaired and made more presentable.

Sainsbury’s installed a new substation on the site as part of its planning agreement. The old transformer was relocated from the site by Northern Power in May. A small structure which housed the old transformer remains on the site and has been included by Sainsbury’s in the sale of the land.

The tiered Bradford & Bingley headquarters, built in the 1970s, was designed to reflect the Five Rise Locks. It had long been considered a blight on Bingley.

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