A MAJOR betting chain has been told their plans to open a branch in the centre of Bingley would "reduce the attractiveness" of the town for shoppers.

Coral Bookmakers had hoped to open a branch at 105-107 Main Street, a former bank unit in a prominent town centre location opposite its market square.

Their plans had already hit a hurdle earlier this month when Bradford Council refused an application for signage on the building, saying it was not suitable for the conservation area the unit is a part of.

And now the council has shut down their plans for the actual shop, refusing a change of use application on Thursday.

Amongst objectors to the plans were Ward Councillor David Heseltine, who said the betting shop in the main retail area of the town would harm Bingley's vitality and viability.

Criticisms of the plans included the fact that a betting shop would create "dead frontage" on one of the most visible retail stretches in the town.

The Yorkshire Bank unit shut last year as part of a shake up of branches deemed unsustainable.

Refusing the application, which would have also involved satellite dishes on the building and internal alterations, planning officer Kerry Thompson said: "The proposal site is located within a prominent position within the primary shopping area of Bingley. The unit has a prominent frontage onto Main Street which is within the designated primary shopping area.

"The harm caused to the viability and vitality through the highly visible dead frontage created by the development would reduce the attractiveness for shoppers and other retail users coming into the centre.

"The alterations and the proposed non retail use would fail to make a positive contribution to local character and the distinctiveness of Main Street and would detract from the character and appearance of the Bingley Conservation Area."

The proposed new signs for the shop were described as "discordant and strident."

Finding out the application had been refused, Cllr Heseltine (Cons) said: "A use of the building does need to be found, but with it being in a principle retail area that use shouldn't be a bookmakers. We want to enhance the main street with additional retail and leisure.

"There are bookmakers in Bingley just off the high street, and many people want to use them, but to put one in the central retail area of the town is something I object to. A building that prominent should be a shop or a restaurant that opens during the day."

Coral's application for the building had said: "The proposal will have a beneficial effect on economic development of the Conservation Area by ensuring that the property continues to be occupied and does not lie empty."

Coral were unavailable for comment yesterday.