PLANS to turn a beauty salon in Great Horton into an emergency refuge have been approved, despite concerns that it would be in the "wrong area."

Not-for-profit organisation Strong Foundations applied to change the use of the property on Kingswood Terrace into a refuge with supported accommodation for four people.

But a number of residents had raised concerns over the impact the refuge would have on the area, and pointed out that a road already subjected to high levels of crime, anti social behaviour and drug dealing was not the ideal place for a refuge. A petition signed by 80 people was submitted to the Council opposing the plans.

Strong Foundations had launched a Change.org petition in favour of their plans, which was signed by 149 people.

This morning Bradford Council's Bradford Area Planning Panel met to discuss the application.

Members were told that refuges were normally opened in residential areas, so people living there were not isolated

Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton) spoke on behalf of the three ward councillors of the area, as well as the residents objecting to the scheme. She said: "As a council we have tried to deal with issues like fly tipping and drug dealing. Crime figures show violent crime in this area has sharply increased. We do recognise there is a need for hostels like this, but people need to be in a place of safety. We don't believe this area is a safe environment for vulnerable people."

She also raised issues of traffic in the area, saying most residents only had on street parking, and that the road was also used by people visiting local mosques, businesses and a pub.

Planning officer Amin Ibraham said: "The type of people who might use this facility isn't a planning matter. This is residential use, not a take away or other use that might attract anti social behaviour."

Chair Shabbir Hussain (Lab, Manningham) said: "I'm going to support this. Most of these places operate in the district without any issues, and most of use don't even know where they are."

Members then approved the application, with four voting for it and two against.

Cllr Hussain asked officers if it was right that details of the application had been made public, and whether it caused any data protection issues.

The planning team pointed out there were many refuges in the area, and this application had not included any details of which individuals would be based in this particular one. Mr Ibraham added: "The only alternative would be to bring you a planning application and not tell you what it is for."