Supermarket bosses are being urged not to allow the opening of a late-night bar in the basement of their Yeadon store.

Councillors from two wards have joined forces to appeal directly to Morrisons to stand in the way of the plan which would see revellers drinking until 4am on Yeadon High Street.

Local councillors are not formally allowed to object to the plan – but because they feel so strongly they have taken the unusual step of making a direct appeal to Morrisons.

All six councillors from Yeadon and Guiseley are urging the store to be good neighbours and not to allow the late night opening.

The application, which will go before the licensing panel later this month, is for a former care bar under the Morrisons store on Yeadon High Street.

The bar is closed at the moment, but an application has been received for a licence for it to open until 4am.

Now a letter has been sent to the supermarket’s chief executive from all three Yeadon councillors – Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Graham Kirkland – as well as the three Guiseley councillors – Stuart Andrew, John Bale and Graham Latty.

They say: “We are writing to you as councillors for Yeadon and the surrounding area to express our concern about the recent application for an alcohol and entertainment licence for the above premises.

“As you are probably aware, the application for the unit, which is part of the Morrison’s Store in Yeadon, is for it to open until midnight, (12:30am close) during the week and until 4am (4:30am close) from Thursday to Saturday.

“We feel that this would be inappropriate. Yeadon is a small town in the north west of Leeds, the Morrison’s store on the High Street is at the heart of that community, it is surrounded by both shops, offices and more importantly a large number of residential properties.

“Introducing an activity more appropriate to Leeds City centre would have a detrimental effect on that community, the surrounding properties, including your store and would also call into question your reputation as good neighbours.

“We feel it would be better for the Yeadon community if the application was withdrawn and we would ask you to use your influence as the landlord to prevent this development.”

Coun Campbell said the decision to make a direct appeal to Morrisons had been taken because ward members were not allowed to formally object to licences –although they can attend hearing if asked specifically to do so by a resident.

He said: “We are very concerned that if this is allowed it will become a magnet for late night/early morning drinking for Yeadon and the wider area.

“This will make worse the existing problems associated with drink and anti social behaviour on the High Street, (one of the reasons we introduced CCTV).”

Coun Andrew said: “I think there is a sense of duty and responsibility for the wider community, and to introduce something like that – which is effectively on their premises and which will open until 4 in the morning – is just ridiculous.

“I think this is the latest application that I have ever seen in our area and that is why it is a real problem.”

He said there was strong concern among those who knew about the licence application, but many people were not yet aware of it.