SAINSBURY'S has been given the go-ahead to build a store in Otley - but not before it comes up with a new fire station.

Planners have also told the supermarket chain that it must increase free car parking at the planned Bondgate store from its usual two hours to four.

Sainsbury's, which says the new store will create 150 jobs, plans to start work on the multi-million pound development in September.

But yesterday, a spokeswoman for the West Yorkshire Fire Authority was not aware of any attempt to come up with a replacement Otley Fire Station and doubted if a town centre site could be found in such a short time.

Last week, Leeds City Council's Development Control Panel (West) approved the plan for a 20,000 sq ft store but with the added condition of extended car parking to allow shoppers to visit other shops.

The development, which will mean the demolition of the fire station, the Otley centre of Park Lane College, the abattoir and the St John Ambulance Brigade building, will be built back from Bondgate with a 227-space car park at the front.

Panel chairman, Councillor Eileen Moxon, warned that the store would take trade away from shops in the town centre and that it was important to help them out by providing lengthy free parking.

Coun Moxon, who told Thursday's meeting that she had experience of what a town centre supermarket could do to local shops, said: "This will tidy up this area of Bondgate and I have no fundamental reservations but I do have concerns about the impact on small businesses. I live near a Sainsbury's and I know what it has done to small shops."

Planning officer Steve Butler said that the store had been designed to look like a low mill building.

It will be about the same size as Safeways, Westgate, and will involve highways improvements including changes to the Burras Lane/Station Road junction and a new controlled pedestrian crossing on Bondgate. The existing crossing on Bondgate close to Crossgate will also be upgraded to a pelican crossing.

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) said the scheme had taken five years to put together and he praised Sainsbury's on its consultation meetings with residents and the town council.

"This will tidy up what is a run down area of Otley. It will provide people with a choice where at the moment there is limited choice.

"There are concerns that the supermarket will eliminate a number of retailers, but the counter argument is that it will stimulate the town and for that car parking is crucial. Two hours is not sufficient in this situation."

Stephen Wood, development programme manager for Sainsbury's Property Company, said: "We are very pleased to have been granted planning consent. We worked hard on the plans to ensure they were in keeping with the local area.

"We now look forward to enhancing the current retail offer in the town and making a commitment to the local community to provide quality, choice and convenience."

Leeds City Council owns about half of the buildings on the supermarket site - the Otley centre of the Park Lane College, the abattoir, the St John Ambulance building and the informal car park behind the abattoir. Only the replacement of the fire station, as a building fulfilling a statutory function, is covered as a condition in the planning permission.

l The panel agreed to give conditional approval to the scheme, but for planning officers to keep Coun Fox and Harold Best MP informed about discussions with Sainsbury's.