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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Shipley Petitioners Oppose Supermarket Plans

 By Óné Chappy   

Petitioners in Shipley are urging Bradford Council to refuse a new major supermarket development planned for their district. 

Around 300 signatures have already been collected for the petition, started by local businesses.

Bradford Council is currently considering planning applications for superstores to be built at the Crossley Evans scrapyard, on Otley Road, and at the Airedale Mills site.

Petitioner Jonathan Martell
Jonathan Martell, who runs Shipley Health Store and is spearheading the petition said that if a supermarket was built on the proposed sites, it would undermine the economic viability of local retailers, increase road congestion, air pollution and noise nuisance.

The petition has been running for just over two weeks.

Petitioners say the number of people who are taking part in the campaign are testament to the views and opposition from the residents and visitors of Shipley.

Mr Martell said: "We feel very seriously that it will affect the vitality and well being of Shipley and will take people out of the town centre at a time when Shipley is really progressing well, with less empty units, more businesses coming in and real growth".

He said the sites that would be replaced by the supermarket already have businesses operating there and those businesses already have employees and closing those establishments will put those employees jobs at risk.

Mr Martell is working alongside other businesses within the district, including the threatened scrapyard and some Bradford councillors to try and stop the development plan going ahead.

He said: "We feel passionate about Shipley's progress and not letting the supermarket take hold".

"The overall view is that Shipley doesn't need it and it will be detriment to the town" he said.

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