PLANS for a new bar in Keighley town centre have been given the go-ahead.

Bradford Council has approved a planning application for the conversion of an office building at 3 Scott Street, behind the town's Yorkshire Bank, into a bar that would specialise in craft ale and gin.

The empty unit is next to – and owned by – the town's Liberal Club.

Four people had written in support of the plans, but there had been one objection, claiming the business would cause noise in the "quiet" town-centre area and increase traffic.

Planning officers said the town-centre location meant a bar use would be suitable for the building, adding: "The proposal will bring an unused building back into use and would help to support the function of the town centre."

Referring to the objector's concerns about traffic, officers said: "This is a town-centre bar with double yellow lines across the whole street. There are numerous nearby town-centre car parks and the location is very well served by public transport.

"It is not anticipated that use as a bar would have significant impact regards highway safety over and above the lawful use as offices."

The application said the new business would act as a "sister bar" to The Ginning Rat in Low Street.