PLANS to turn a discount shop into a restaurant and shisha bar have been refused.

Bradford Council officers claimed the potential conversion of 107 Cemetery Road would cause highway concerns and "add to existing concerns of antisocial behaviour" in the area.

Submitted by a Mr Hadir in August, the planning application said the proposed new business would create 10 full time and seven part time jobs. It would open from noon until 3am on weekdays and noon until 4am on weekends.

The application has now been refused. Officers pointed out that a parking area on the site was being used as car sales - a use that is currently unauthorised. They also claimed an unauthorised vehicular access has been created at the northwest corner of the site.

And they pointed out that part of the site has already been allocated as overflow parking for nearby Bradford Bazaar.

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A planning report said: "Local police officers are aware of existing problems in this location regarding build-up of traffic and anti-social behaviour problems, leading to concern that more late night opening establishments have the potential to create more anti social behaviour issues.

"Crime statistics for similar nearby establishments have been provided to back up this claim. In sum, the worry is that the proposed establishment will make a bad situation worse by potentially creating more antisocial behaviour."

Refusing the scheme, officers said: "The nature and opening hours of the proposed use are such that it is potentially liable

to add to existing concerns of antisocial behaviour.

"The provision of a vehicular access in the northwest corner of the site would be detrimental to highway safety concerns."