A RETAILER whose Bradford stores have been beset by robberies and raids says it will “explore it options” after plans to install security shutters on one shop were refused.

Planning officers at Bradford Council have refused a planning application by the Co-Operative group to refurbish its store in Thorp Garth, Bradford Road, Idle - including adding roller shutters to the front.

They said the shutters went against Council policy, and would be “harmful” to the street scene of the area.

In the past year there has been almost a dozen raids and robberies involving Co-Op food stores across the Bradford District.

Cash machine 'explosion' was 11th serious raid or robbery at a Bradford Co-Op in just 10 months

Some of the incidents have seen criminals using vehicles to pull out cash machines, while others have involved robbers threatening staff with weapons.

The company told the Telegraph & Argus that safety was a “top priority” and would work with the Council to “explore options available” after the refusal.

The application would also have seen a new aluminium shopfront added to the store, a new sliding entrance door and a new external storage area.

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In the application the company said: “In terms of impact, the scale of the proposed replacement plant, storage enclosure and new shopfront / roller shutter is very small, and as such, its impact on the surrounding town and local centres would be negligible.”

But planning officers raised concerns about the roller shutters. The Council’s current planning policies discourage shop owners from installing external roller shutters. It says: “These effects present an unfriendly appearance and can create a perception of an unsafe environment on the high street. External roller shutters are also easy also targets for graffiti, which can add to the detrimental impact upon the streetscene.”

Council officers felt the shutters at the Co-Op would create a “visual harm and hostile appearance when closed.”

Refusing the plans for the Co-Op refurbishment, officers said: “The full length roller shutter is deemed to be unacceptable; it is proposed to run along the entire width of the new shop front.

“The use of external shutters is discouraged and cannot be supported in this instance due to the harm to visual amenity. Although the need of securing premises is necessary, a full length roller shutter is not acceptable and alternative methods are available, therefore it would warrant a reason for refusal.

“The shutters are deemed to form a ‘dead’ appearance which will be harmful to the street scene by reason of prominence and scale.”

Officers said the other aspects of the application, including the aluminium frontage, would be acceptable.

A Spokesperson for Co-op, said: “Safety and security in our communities is a top priority and we will work with the Council to explore the options available.”