Traders and residents in Haworth fear a new shopping centre will ruin the village. They say the new shopping centre on Rawdon Road will spoil the compact and traditional character of the Bront village.

The development has, however, drawn support from councillors and the business community.

The proposed shopping centre received the go-ahead last week from Keighley planning sub-committee.

Mike Huthcinson, owner of Ye Sleeping House, says: "I came to Haworth because I fell in love with the village on my first visit. I am against this mainly for historical reasons. This will set a precedent because there are no large buildings in this area."

Mike Hill, director of the Bront Parsonage Museum, agrees: "It will be a nail in the coffin for the community and radically change the character of Haworth. Haworth is very compact and this will be huge blob which will harm the character of the village."

But Iain Copping, the director of Keighley Business Forum, believes the new development will only enhance the appeal of Haworth. "As long as the development is in character with the village we will be delighted because it will generate an added attraction which will benefit and enhance Haworth," he says. "The site plans and projections we have seen suggest it won't make a devastating impact."

The retail development will be located on land between Rawdon Road and Main Street which is currently being used as a car park. It will have two storeys providing 2,765 square metres of retail space.

This space will be sub-let by the developers although it is not yet known which shops will be moving in.

Leeds-based company Axis is behind the development, which it hopes to start building early in the new year after conditions have been agreed with Bradford council. Paul Thelwell, of Axis, says: "We believe it will rejuvinate the village, which is in decline, and we think it will be offering more of what tourists require.

"There are traders in the village who actively support us. I sometimes think that there is a vocal minority in the village who object to the shopping centre."

Mr Thelwell says he also "categorically disagrees' with the criticism levelled at the preliminary design of the shopping centre.

"We have spent considerable amount of effort honouring the design requirements, and whilst it is a new building we feel it will complement the area.

"Haworth is a village that has been built up over hundreds of years and we intend complementing that but we don't intend to mirror it.'

Conditions which are likely to be imposed will be the inclusion of a lift and a totally enclosed glass area which was left open on the original plans.

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