Bradford's first Kashmiri Community Centre will be built on land in Lidget Green -despite protests from people living nearby.

The Area Planning Sub- Committee gave approval after officers said they did not believe it would create extra disturbance. They considered a scaled-down planning application after a previous one was turned down last January.

The community centre would include facilities for functions, snooker and pool.

Members were told a 142-name petition and 40 letters had been received. The protesters said they would suffer noise and disturbance and were worried about extra traffic with functions such as weddings.

Residents said they did not want vehicles parked along Northside Terrace. They believed it would cause serious problems.

But councillors approved the planning application after a site visit. Officers said it was far smaller than the previous application and steps had been taken to lessen any disturbance.

The developers had proposed a single, modest building which would provide enough car parking spaces.

Project manager Parwez Qureshi, who attended the meeting, said: "It will not just be for the Kashmiri community. It will be a real community amenity for everyone."

He said the funding had already been raised for the multi-thousand pound building and they hoped it would go ahead as soon as possible.

The city has a 40,000 strong Kashmiri community who say that until now they have had no facilities.

l Officers said work was proceeding satisfactory at a luxury estate in Apperley Bridge which has been hit with problems since it was built. The Council was found guilty of maladministration by the Ombudsman and has given the families at Tenterfields £500 as compensation. In a progress report officers said developers were now carrying out work including landscaping on the estate.

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