A bid to change industrial units into a wedding hall in the heart of Manningham has failed - after councillors decided it would lead to road safety problems.

Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee rejected a retrospective planning application from Councillor Khadam Hussain (Con, City) for the change of use of the property in City Road after considering protests from people living in the area who said they feared it would create noise, nuisance and traffic problems.

Planning consultant Jeff Redmile told the committee the building would be a valuable facility for Manningham and there were only a limited number of large halls for weddings and other functions in the area.

Planning officers told the committee an application had been received last year but had not been dealt with.

But Mr Redmile said the hall

had never been advertised and only used for family functions in the meantime.

The original planning application was received last year from Coun Hussain before his election, but he said today he and his partners had sold it last October and no longer owned it.

The committee was told objectors feared there would be an increase in litter, vandalism and crime and said their levels were already unacceptable in City Road.

The officers said the applicant had confirmed there would be double glazing and use of the building would be restricted from noon to 11pm and noon until 6pm for deliveries.

They told members although the double glazing would dull sound there was inadequate information on whether it would protect the nearest premises.

Officers were also concerned about traffic levels and said off-road car parking needed to be sufficient to cope with the large numbers of people visiting the premises.

They said Lower Globe Street, which was adopted but in poor condition, would be an access but the applicants had made it clear they were only willing to do certain improvements.

Mr Redmile told the committee the building had so far been "used only on occasions by the family".

He said it would provide a much-needed service in the Manningham area and could take about 200 people.

Officers pointed out that the zone was earmarked for employment and meant to encourage new industrial and commercial investment.

Members decided the application provided too little information for proper consideration and the development would lead to the loss of employment land.