Store protesters call for support as public inquiry opens doors

Campaigners against a controversial project for a new superstore in a West Yorkshire spa town are calling for support as an inquiry begins tomorrow.

Tesco is appealing against Bradford Council's decision to reject an application by the supermarket giant to build a new, bigger store in Mayfield Road in Ilkley.

The firm is also appealing against the rejection of its bid for planning permission on the existing Tesco site in Springs Lane for a residential elderly care home, office space and small business units.

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A Government inspector will determine the outcome of the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate during the inquiry, which is due to begin tomorrow and last for eight days until July 16 at Ilkley Playhouse.

Campaign group Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Expansion (Irate) has been granted status at the appeal inquiry which allows it to take a full part in the planning appeal process.

A spokesperson from the group said: "Irate welcomes support at the inquiry as a show of strength from residents – particularly on the opening day July 7 and on the last two days when the Irate team should be giving its evidence and the summing-up on the final day, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th."

"Irate believes that building a huge supermarket will have a serious negative effect on the viability and the vitality of the town.

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"Those living near the proposed new development in Mayfield Road will be particularly affected by the noise and the fact that many new traffic regulations would have to be imposed.

"A huge supermarket will generate over 1,000 car journeys at peak times and mean the loss of parking outside many homes in the area and on the travel routes so that Tesco lorries and increased customer traffic could be accommodated."

The proposed superstore has attracted vast opposition within the town, which already has a Tesco store.

But Tesco insists that it has support for the proposals which, it says, will create more than 200 jobs.

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Tesco regional corporate affairs manager Matthew Magee said: "We believe that Ilkley will benefit from the investment we are proposing and that the majority of people support our plans. The proposals will create over 200 new jobs on top of our existing store staff and will attract more shoppers into Ilkley, benefiting all businesses in the town."

The firm has had a fight on its hands since it submitted the controversial plans to close its store in Springs Lane, Ilkley, and move to a new, bigger store on an industrial park at the edge of the town centre.

Irate was formed in July 2007 to collect opinions and form an action group to prevent the proposed new store.

Campaigners say that the site – previously occupied by Spooner, which has built a new facility on an adjacent site – is within a mostly residential area. .

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Tesco's application to Bradford Council attracted 2,000 letters of objection and a petition signed by about 5,000 people, say campaigners.

Opponents of the superstore fear that it will lead to a rise in traffic and blight the lives of those living around the site.

They also claim the new larger store is not needed.

Maura Peake, of Irate, said: "The size of it is so inappropriate to what we need in Ilkley. We are just a small town.

"Tesco has put a huge supermarket in Skipton and Otley is well served by supermarkets. The catchment area is just Ilkley, Addingham and Burley in Wharfedale.

"The main concern is traffic and the impact it would have on the vitality and viability of shops in the town.

"The third thing is the disturbance to people around the proposed site."