Widely unpopular plans for a bigger Tesco supermarket in Ilkley and redevelopment of the existing store site have been thrown out by Bradford Council.

A five-councillor planning panel unanimously rejected the planning application for a supermarket off Railway Road on Monday and turned down Tesco’s outline plan to turn its Springs Lane site into business units and a care home.

But objectors have been warned to stay vigilant as the plans could be resurrected.

Tesco has not ruled out appealing against Monday’s decision or returning with a new planning application for the same plot of land, formerly home to manufacturer of industrial ovens and dryers, Spooner Industries.

Monday’s meeting of Keighley area planning panel was held in the King’s Hall, Station Road, to allow many of those who felt strongly about the plan to hear the debate.

Dozens of people crowded into the public hall and theatre to show their opposition to the development, backing up the 2,000-plus letters of objection and 5,137-signature petition sent to Bradford Council planners.

Bradford Council planning officers recommended the rejection of the new store plan, but recommended the approval of the plan to redevelop the Springs Lane supermarket.

After hearing objections to the plan, however, visiting Springs Lane and studying details of the scheme, the councillors also rejected the redevelop-ment scheme because of the loss of retail land, lack of detail about access and deemed a care home unacceptable on the site.

The new store was considered unacceptable in the out-of-centre location, contrary to Bradford Council’s retail strategy and contrary to planning policies, and said the development would result in the loss of residents’ amenity.

Inappropriate materials and massing of the building were given as further grounds for rejecting the plan.

Chairman of the panel, Councillor Chris Greaves (Con, Wharfedale) bran-ded the design of the proposed super-market ‘absolutely repulsive’ at the meeting.

Another member of the panel, Coun Doreen Lee (Lab, Keighley East) said: “It will look like an old chicken shed, I’m sure, in a few years.”

However, councillors were advised by officers that they could not use anticip-ated road dangers as a reason for reject-ion, as Tesco had offered to pay for a variety of road alterations and safety measures.

Two ward councillors who are not members of the panel, Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) and Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley), spoke out against the plans at the meeting.

The chairman of Ilkley Design Statement group, a Sacred Heart Primary School governor, residents, and representatives of Ilkley Parish Council and Friends of the Earth also spoke in opposition to the new store plan.

After the meeting, however, Coun Hawkesworth warned objectors the battle may not yet be over.

“I’m completely over the moon, it’s a wonderful result, but it’s the first part of the fight and the battle is not complete,” she told the Gazette. “Tesco can still go to appeal. We need to stay vigilant.”

Tesco has yet to reveal what its next move will be.

A spokesman said: “We’re obviously disappointed. We will review the committee’s decision but we still believe that the extra jobs, investment and improved shopping would be a real boost to Ilkley’s economy.

“We want to provide our customers with the excellent service and shopping environment which Tesco customers enjoy in other parts of the country.”

At the meeting, Tesco’s represent-ative, Michelle Bath, told how the company believed its plans were in line in planning guidance, and answered local consumers’ needs, to avoid losing shoppers to bigger supermarkets in other towns.

She also commended the ‘few brave souls’ who had written to Bradford Council in support of the plans, in the face of vocal opposition from other members of the community.

A spokesman for Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Encroachment (Irate) welcomed the panel’s decision. “We’re pleased they’ve both been rejected,” he said.