PLANS for a new loading bay at the front of a new convenience store set to open in the Bradford district have been criticised over potential safety concerns.

Building work, which began last summer, is continuing on a new Co-op store on Bingley Road in Saltaire, which will open this spring.

The brickwork on the outside and the roof has been completed on the new store, with work underway inside the premises.

The company will move from its current site, further up Bingley Road, into the new store.

The new site will have a 265sqm sales area and a 125sqm ‘back of house' area, plus parking spaces for 14 cars and eight bicycles.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The planning notice on the loading bay outside the new Co-op in SaltaireThe planning notice on the loading bay outside the new Co-op in Saltaire (Image: Newsquest)

The Co-op has submitted a planning application to Bradford Council for a loading only bay on the length of their store on Bingley Road. According to a planning document, the loading bay will be surrounded by bollards. 

Copies of the notice of the council (waiting loading and parking) consolidation (amendment) order have been placed on lampposts outside the new store, which is being built.

But Shipley councillors have submitted their objections to the plans, claiming the loading bay may cause potential problems for pedestrians and cause disruption for traffic on a busy road in the village.

Cllr Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley) said: “There are issues here.

“It is going to inconvenience pedestrians at any time between 7am and 11pm.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: An artist's impression of what the new Co-op in Saltaire may look like An artist's impression of what the new Co-op in Saltaire may look like (Image: C49 Architecture)

“A lot of residents walk that way to take their children to Saltaire Primary School.”

A Shipley Green Party Facebook post added: “Goods being unloaded should be done on the site of the supermarket. Not across public land.”

The Telegraph & Argus has approached the Co-op for a comment.

Overall plans for the new store were approved by Bradford Council on the site of Qasim’s Hand Car Wash, which was shut and demolished last year.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Building work is progressing on the new Co-op store due to open this spring Building work is progressing on the new Co-op store due to open this spring (Image: Newsquest)

Planning permission for the new Co-op store was granted by Bradford Council in September 2021. It was submitted by Eco Developments (Yorkshire).

Before it was approved, the proposal received a number of objections from residents and groups.

These included Shipley Town Council, which submitted its objection in May last year. It claimed the store would undermine other Saltaire businesses and said it would encourage car travel in an already busy area.

Anyone wishing to object to the loading bay order can send the grounds for their objection in writing either by post to: Director of Legal and Governance, Legal and Democratic Services, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City Hall, Bradford, BD1 1HY or email legalobjections@bradford.gov.uk by noon on February 3, quoting reference CORP/PCD/DS/412994.

 

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