A call has been made for better planning in a village which has become known as 'takeaway city'.

There are now some 15 fast food shops in Idle, where Bradford Council is considering extending the conservation area.

But today Liberal Democrat ward councillor Jeanette Sunderland said planning and conservation officers should work together better in a village which was in danger of spoiled.

Coun Sunderland spoke out as villagers were invited to a public meeting by the Council's conservation service - also based in the planning department - on the future of the conservation area.

She said: "I think it would be good to extend the conservation area but the Council needs to invest some thought into it. There are now about 15 take aways in an area where the character should be preserved. In order to ensure the long term viability of any place it is essential there should be a mix."

But the Council's heritage manager Steve Bateman said: "From a planning point of view as long as the business fits into the fabric of the building the use would not be an issue. There is also the view that it is better for a property to have a commercial use than be an empty building." The conservation team is consulting with the public over proposals to extend the Idle and Idle Green designations to an area including Idle medical centre, Thorpe School, Westfield Lane burial grounds and the cluster of buildings around Union Yard, many of which are listed.

The village is among 56 conservation areas across the district being reviewed in consultation with the public. Officers say they want to tidy up the boundaries and make people more aware of preservation and the effect of insensitive replacement of traditional doors.

Councillor Clive Richardson, chairman of Bradford Area Planning Panel, said he would like to see more use of legal orders in conservation areas preventing uPVCwidows.

A meetings to discuss Idle and Keighley conservation areas will both be held on Thursday, August 22 at 7pm. They will be at Idle Baptist Church and Keighley College.

Copies of the assessments by conservation officers are at Shipley and Keighley town halls and Idle and Keighley libraries. They can also be seen on the Council's website at www.bradford.gov.uk/planning.

People are being asked to send comments to the Conservation Service, 8th floor, Jacobs Well, Bradford BD1 5RW.