TURNING a former bank into a betting shop would “improve the vitality” of Wibsey, according to a gambling company.

Betfred is planning on moving its Wibsey branch from High Street to Folly Hall Road – the former Santander bank which shut in June 2021.

An application to change the use of the bank unit has been submitted to Bradford Council.

If approved, Betfred plans to sell its High Street store, which is much smaller.

The application claims that the Covid pandemic has left a number of gaps in Wibsey’s shopping streets, and that this relocation would help fill a prominent unit.

It adds: “The proposed relocation of Betfred would improve the vitality and viability of the Local Centre by occupying a long term vacant unit and allowing a smaller unit to be marketed to occupiers.”

A decision on the application is expected next month.

At the time the Wibsey branch of Santander shut, it was the only bank in the entire Bradford South Constituency.

The banking giant, which has a regional office in Bradford city centre, claimed this closure and scores of others that took place last year were due to declining footfall in its branches as more people switched to online banking.