The owner of a wedding shop claims she will have to pull out of town unless she is allowed to expand her business into a disused doctors’ surgery.

arah Scaife, owner of Simply Wedding Dresses in Main Street, Bingley, is hoping to move the successful business to the former Springfield surgery on the outskirts of Bingley.

A previous application by Mrs Scaife was turned down by Bradford Council after complaints from residents and fears for the future use of a shop outside the main town centre.

However, more than 80 businesses in Bingley have signed a petition supporting the move to the surgery.

Mrs Scaife said: “The former doctors’ surgery would be ideal but we need to change the use. In August, we put planning permission in but it was rejected.

“We have re-applied for permission for it to be a shop selling bridal and special occasion wear and I have been around the town and have got the backing of most of the businesses. They have signed the petition to keep us in Bingley.

“If we don’t get this planning permission, we would be looking outside Bingley.”

Since opening in 2008, the shop has grown. It has expanded its range of designers and now sells prom and bridesmaid dresses. A report from Otley-based planning agents F M Lister and Son, supporting the application, said the shop’s expansion meant it needed more parking and needed to provide an “exclusive image”.

The report reads: “Feedback received has demonstrated that the location of the premises on the high street among predominantly charity shops and adjacent to a kebab shop is inappropriate for the image that needs to be conveyed to customers.”

It also said the owners had been forced to step up security because of rising anti-social behaviour at the current shop.

The original application was thrown out because planners said there were empty shops in the town centre which could be used.

Planners feared that, if permission was granted, the former surgery could be used by other retailers if Mrs Scaife moved her business in the future. However, the latest application includes a condition that the proposed shop may only be used for selling bridal and special occasion wear.

Mrs Scaife thanked businesses in Bingley for their support.