Planners have approved plans to convert a derelict chapel into housing, despite protesters warning that increased traffic could cause accidents.

Objectors told members of the Shipley Area Planning Panel they feared the proposal to transform Wilsden's Methodist Chapel into flats would create more traffic in Crack Lane, Wilsden, which they said was already used as a rat run.

But other residents and the Wilsden Village Society were in favour of the plan because they want the chapel, which is regularly vandalised, revamped.

Developer Noel McGurk was granted permission to convert the Grade II-listed Main Street building into 11 flats and to transform part of the green space next to it into a car park.

Mr McGurk, who specialises in barn conversions, bought the chapel in 2000 and hopes to buy the adjoining plot of land to use for parking.

He told the planning meeting: "I have compromised all the way. I have met everyone's demands and have agreed to keep a third of the green as open land."

Permission for change of use and listed building consent was granted on the condition obscuring glass is used for lower windows panes overlooking an adjacent house, markings are added to the car park and a rear wall that used to run behind the chapel is replaced by the developer.

Donald Wright, who has lived in Wilsden for 43 years, told the meeting: "The chapel has been a serious eyesore in the village and something needs to be done. In all schemes there are bound to be people who are disappointed. But the majority of the residents are in favour of this."

But protester Sharon Walker, a Crack Lane resident and mother-of-two, said after the meeting: "There will be an increase in traffic using the road, which is already very dangerous. Although we are not objecting to the development itself, the traffic problem is an accident waiting to happen.

"The car park planned for the development does not have enough spaces for each household to have two cars. This will mean more cars parking in Crack Lane which will increase the congestion."

Planning permission has also been granted for a 25-metre high telecommunications mast in Gilstead.

The structure will replace two smaller masts which are already on land next to Gilstead Water Treatment Works off Warren Lane, Gilstead.

The main providers planning to use the mast are T-Mobile, Vodaphone and Airwave.

Objector Graham Franz said the structure would be unsightly and should not be positioned close to Eldwick Primary School or residential areas for health reasons.

He said: "Everyone will be able to see this mast from the centre of Bingley. It will be a massive eyesore."

Kevin Freeman, representing the applicants, said the mast could be a single pole rather than a lattice framework and could be painted to blend in with the environment.

He added radiation from the mast would comply with international standards.