A businessman who paid £5,000 converting a shop into a cafe - only to have his plans refused - has opened up anyway.

In an act of defiance Leo Dooley, of East Bowling, Bradford, has opened up Gutbusters cafe at 3/4 Glenroyal Buildings, Briggate, Shipley.

Earlier this month his scheme was rejected by a meeting of the town and country planning (Shipley area) sub-committee after the Council's Highways department argued that the plans would exacerbate traffic problems.

In particular they were concerned about an increase in the number of vehicles using the bus lay-by and feared it might lead to hazardous or dangerous turning manoeuvres in Briggate.

Mr Dooley has started a petition, signed by around 30 customers, which he hopes will help him in his battle to stay open.

He said: "I have no intention of closing down whatsoever. Everybody wants it to open and I can see no reason why I should close it. There were objections made about the number of cars that would park outside but there's not been a car there since I opened over a week ago.

"I have spent a lot of money on this and that is why I am opening up though I will be appealing against their decision when they send me the form."

Peter Bridgman, Shipley's Principal Planning Officer, said: "We have had a complaint about him operating without permission and are following it up. What the eventual outcome will be I don't know."

Shipley MP Chris Leslie said: "If he is not happy with the decision he should appeal and go through the correct procedures. He really should not circumvent the law - it is not in his best interests in the long term.

"There are very strict laws on how to proceed if someone is not content with the initial decision and I would not advise him to do anything other than follow the regulations.''

It was feared that the police might need to be called at the original meeting of the sub-committee when a very angry Mr Dooley left to confront planning officers.

He was exasperated he was not allowed to play a recording of a planning officer allegedly telling him his plans would be accepted.

He finally left after several minutes of heated discussion, claiming he had not had a fair chance to put his case.

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