Plans to provide a youth centre to lure young people off the streets in Manningham have hit a hurdle.

Residents living near Wilmer Road have objected to a planning application submitted to Bradford Council for the scheme.

But the young people have put in a petition, bearing more than 300 signatures, and two letters of support in an effort to get their proposal accepted by councillors tomorrow.

They have bought an old electricity substation in Wilmer Road and now want to start fundraising to convert the building.

Khadim Hussain, a community leader who has been at the forefront of the campaign for the centre, said today that it was desperately needed.

He said the area had a drug problem and pointed out that the commission which looked into the Manningham riots warned that young people felt alienated and had nowhere to go.

Council officers are recommending Bradford planning sub-committee to give temporary planning consent for two years.

But 30 individual letters of objection have been received as well as two petitions with a total of 21 signatures.

The objectors say the scheme will harm a quiet residential conservation area, and they argue that problems in the area involving young people will grow worse

The committee set up to run the scheme is poised to begin fundraising to pay to convert the building.

Mr Hussain, president of Victor Street Mosque and the Ashiana Day Centre, which have spearheaded the plan, said the centre would be monitored by older members of the community.

It was planned to open the building between about 9.30am and 10.30pm in summer.

"Some people seem to think that there will be loud music and rocking all night, but it will be nothing like that," he said.

Activities such as snooker and fitness programmes would be run there.

Planning officers will tell the committee that the development is meant to address the root problem of a serious shortage of youth facilities in the area.

They will recommend temporary planning consent with conditions attached to include a restriction on the times the centre is open.

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