Shipley councillors and traders are appealing to residents to save their town centre from becoming a 'down-market Las Vegas'.

Plans have been submitted to create a second amusement arcade in the Market Square - less than 12 months after the first one opened there to controversy.

Silver City Amusements is seeking permission from Bradford Council to move its business on Briggate to an empty shop - formerly a betting office - on Kirkgate.

The new amusement centre would be next to a branch of Ladbrokes, behind the clock tower.

But Councillor John Carroll (Con, Shipley West), chairman of the Shipley Town Centre Development Partnership, today said they would be lodging an objection as new planning guidance indicated these types of premises should be located out of town rather than in town centres.

"I don't want to see Shipley become a down market Las Vegas," he said. "There are enough of these things in the town already and we want to see retail outlets in these places not more amusement arcades."

Shipley East Councillor Tony Miller (Lab) said he had also written to planning officers voicing his concerns.

"As a parent and grandparent, I would urge people to write and object," he said. "We are now overwhelmed with this type of establishment and we are getting to be known as arcade city, which is something everyone should strive against."

Shipley currently has four amusement arcades spread across the town. The latest was opened in Market Square in Janaury despite objections from traders, councillors and clergy.

Kirkgate shop owner Jimil Jan of J-3 Clothing said he would be starting up a petition against the move as he was concerned about an upturn in crime.

He said: "It's not a good idea at all. Apart from giving people the wrong habits, it will be a temptation near all these shops - when you lose money, you will be angry and take it out elsewhere."

A spokeswoman for Robert Turley Associates representing Silver City Amusements today stressed that it was a move of premises and would not increase the overall number of amusment arcades.

She said: "The shop was a betting premises before so it was not in retail use. It will make a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the town centre which is in accordance with national guidance."