A last-ditch attempt to block plans for a bigger Tesco store in Ilkley has been rejected by the Secretary of State.

Ilkley and Keighley MP Kris Hopkins asked for Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, to call in the renewed planning permission conditionally approved by a Bradford Council committee last month.

But planning minister Nick Boles has now confirmed the plan to build a bigger supermarket off Mayfield Road and Railway Road will not be called in.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has also told Bradford Council planners the Secretary of State felt the Tesco proposals did not involve a conflict with national policies, have a significant long-term effect on economic growth or have significant effects beyond the immediate locality.

Opponents of the new store who pinned their hopes on Government-level intervention say they are disappointed.

In his letter to Mr Hopkins, Mr Boles said the call-in policy makes it clear the power would only be used very selectively.

“With this in mind, the Tesco proposal has been carefully considered against the published guidelines and I am satisfied that the application does not raise issues of the wider strategic or policy nature envisaged in the call-in policy.

“I am therefore satisfied that the application can be determined at the local level.”

Mr Hopkins spoke of his disappointment at the decision.

He said: “I am disappointed that the proposal has not been called in but, as a general principle, it is difficult to dispute the fact that such decisions should be made at a local level and in the best interests of local residents.

“If Bradford Council had acted on behalf of the people it is supposed to serve, it would have rejected this application when it had the chance.

“Ilkley ward councillors, who have strongly and consistently reflected local opinion, and Conservative members of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee did their job. Labour members of the committee did not.”

Brewery Road resident, John Saltmarshe, who has been a long time opponent of the supermarket plan, is calling on Tesco to explain why there has been a delay in building the store, after the company promoted it as being for the benefit of Ilkley people.

He said: “It’s having such an effect on everybody because it’s been hanging over us for a long time. We have an empty hole in the ground. Its coming up for seven years since this started and Tesco initially talked about this being for the benefit of Ilkley.”

He claims the empty site is also affecting those trying to sell their houses in the area.

Ward councillor, Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley), plans to stay vigilant over the drainage conditions attached to the scheme.

“I was disappointed, particularly when the store is for the whole area, and not for Ilkley. Our only hope is there are problems with the drainage system, which may put a dampener on the whole scheme,” he said.

Conditions of the original planning permission, which expired in September, have yet to be signed off by Bradford Council.