A controversial proposal to build a supermarket on the site of Bingley's art centre has raised fears among the town's residents.

About 40 people attended a meeting of Bradford Council's regeneration and culture scrutiny committee at the arts centre last night.

Many of them told the committee that a supermarket incorporating a theatre and parking would be a blot on the town's cultural heritage.

Councillor Simon Cooke, the Council's executive member for the economy, said he had held meetings with the developers to discuss the plans.

"He has asked my opinion on the proposals being developed and I was non-committal," he said. "The proposals received merit investigation and further examination."

Coun Cooke told the committee he believed a supermarket would attract people into the town alongside a new arts centre and improved swimming pool.

But June Driver, of Bingley Little Theatre, said the idea filled her with dread. "A supermarket doesn't close until at least 8pm or usually 10pm so people are still coming into the car park and great big juggernauts arriving with food when there would be an audience of 400 to 500 people arriving for a performance," she said.

She said up to 15,000 people a year enjoyed productions there and the group, which had relocated from Waddington Street, was reluctant to move again.

The proposal is just one of the ideas put forward to revamp the town centre after £1.1 million from the sale of land to pave the way for the relief road was earmarked for regeneration.

But Council officers told the committee that the pot was now down to £900,000 after two car parks in Bingley had been improved.

Committee chairman Andrew Mudd said he believed the supermarket idea was more than "speculative" because a commercial interest could help to fund such improvement schemes.

The issue will be discussed at Shipley Area Committee on April 8.