SIR - At a time when our shopping centres, large and small, need all the help that they can get, well done to Bradford Council for approving an out-of-town development on the edge of Shipley.

Our totally inept Council has approved a new Lidl retail food store plus a Costa Coffee drive-thru on the site of the old Airedale Mills on the Shipley/Baildon boundary.

Surely this is the last thing that the shops in the centre of Shipley need? Shame on Bradford Council for allowing this to go ahead.

Once again we see how totally useless this current Council really is.

Labour Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe is doing enough damage in Bradford as it is. One dreads to think what she would be like as West Yorkshire Mayor should that eventually transpire.

Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon