CLOTHING and thermalwear manufacturer Damart has been given the go-ahead to expand its operation at Steeton.

Keighley Area Planning Panel approved Damart's plans to extend its warehouse and distribution facility on Steeton Grove at its meeting last Thursday.

Despite a huge public outcry, planners backed the development because it was in line with Bradford Council's Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

Panel chairman Coun Chris Greaves said: "I am very conscious that it says employment land in the old UDP and says employment land in the new UDP and none of the residents did anything about it."

No residents in Steeton objected to the UDP, but when Damart announced plans to build its 7,500 square metre, 12-metre high warehouse, villagers launched a campaign to oppose the extension.

They produced posters featuring a cartoon strip of Monster Shed - a giant box with eyes - lodged a petition and sent in letters of objection.

Philip Briggs, of Steeton Drive, spoke on behalf of the protestors at the meeting.

He said: "The problem with this building is it's too big, it's too near and it breaks your rules."

He claimed it breached the UDP because it was three times as big as the guidelines' restrictions.

Mr Briggs added: "Damart expects other jobs to follow, but business is business, the economy is the economy. It might never happen - it is uncertain.

"What is certain is that once the building is up it won't be pulled down again if Damart fail to fill it.

"To waive the UDP, Damart must show it's vital to their business. Damart have stressed the high number of local people who work on site, people whose work would be jeopardised if the project doesn't go ahead.

"And yet how many of those staff have written to the planning office to support the proposal? None.

"This proposal has had a lot of local publicity, but how many of those 230 staff are concerned enough about the site closing to write to the council? None. That's because it is an idle threat. The council can't bow to threats, especially idle threats."

Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council had also recommended refusal of the application because the development did not conform with the UDP and the land may be contaminated.

District councillor Andrew Mallinson said: "Is it eventually going to become a 24-hour operation? If so the noise will be unbearable for residents.

"Once this is up and once the noise is heard by residents, they have to go through this long process again. It is your job to protect them from that."

Environmental health officers had visited the site and said the highest levels of noise came from the railway line and the bypass.

The extension could create 32 new jobs in the next few years, eight of them in the next year.

Damart employs 230 staff at Steeton, most from the Keighley area.

Director Andy Hill said: "We are very proud of our local roots and the extension will underpin that and ensure we remain a major employer in the Bradford area.

"Without this extension the operation would not be able to remain in the current area."

A number of trees will be planted behind the factory to screen the building from nearby houses.