A councillor has described the language around HMOs as “depressing” and said it can cause “unnecessary fear” in communities.

The claim was made during a planning meeting when Councillors decided to approve an application to turn a former nursery in Idle into a five-bed house in multiple occupation.

During the meeting one objector said people were “really scared” about the proposed conversion.

The planning application for the conversion of The Old Library on Town Lane had been submitted to the Council by Mohammad Akhtar.

There had been 102 objections to the plans, claiming the Conservation Area building was not suitable for a HMO.

Planning officers had recommended the plans be approved, and at a meeting of the Council’s Planning Panel on Wednesday members were told that had the property been a regular house, permission would not have been needed to convert it to a five bed HMO.

It was only the fact that the building was most recently used as a nursery that meant permission was needed.

The development would include five off street parking spaces for residents.

Members heard from an objector to the plans, a Ms Peverill. She said: “We’ve already got another two HMOs in Idle.

“I’m concerned about the safety of older residents. Where are these people coming from? Are they criminals? As a community we don’t want this. We’re frightened, we’re really, really scared.”

She also raised concerns about the traffic the HMO would generate.

Mr Akhtar spoke to defend the plans, saying it would be a sympathetic conversion of a building, adding: “It supports the long-term use of this building and prevents vacancy.

“It will meet the local demand for flexible housing and will support the local economy.”

He urged objectors who were concerned about the plans to speak to people living in his other HMOs.

While Mr Akhtar was speaking, Ms Peverill stood up and began shouting at him from across the Council Chamber. She declared she was leaving the meeting, and as she left continued shouting that Mr Akhtar was a liar and didn’t care about Idle.

After she left, Chair of the Committee Councillor Sinead Engel (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) addressed Mr Akhtar saying: “I am sorry you have been subjected to that. That was not an appropriate way to behave here.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem) who represents the Idle ward added: “I apologise for whatever that was.”

coun Engel added: “I find it quite depressing how the language around these properties have changed in the last few years.

“I have friends who live in shared houses. When my dad used to work away from home he lived in a bedsit. HMOs can be vital for some people who can’t afford to buy a house.

“The use of the phrase HMO rather than bedsit or shared house seems create unnecessary fear in people.”

Referring to the parking concerns, Councillor Paul Sullivan (Cons, Bingley Rural) pointed out that the previous nursery would have produced much more traffic than a five-bedroom HMO would.

Members voted to approve the plans.