A campaign group has won the right to take on a formal role at the forthcoming inquiry into Tesco’s bid to build a new supermarket in Ilkley.

Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Expansion (Irate) have been granted rule six status, which means they will be an official third party alongside Bradford Council and the supermarket chain at the public hearing.

The decision by the Government’s planning inspector means they will be able to look at evidence beforehand, ask questions and put forward expert witnesses.

Irate was formed in July 2007 to collect opinions against proposals for a new store on the former Spooner Industries site and redevelopment of Tesco’s existing store on Springs Lane into a care home. Proposals were thrown out by Bradford Council last August on the grounds that they were contrary to retail planning policy.

After Tesco lodged an appeal, an eight-day-long public inquiry was set for July 7 and will be held at Ilkley Playhouse.

A spokesman from Irate said: “With a 5,000-signature petition, 2,000 objection letters and packed halls at two public meetings which have clearly stated the town’s views, the Irate group represents a significant proportion of Ilkley residents who are against Tesco’s plans.

“At the original planning meeting Irate liaised with other groups including Ilkley Design Statement, Ilkley Civic Society, the Brewery Road Residents Association and Wharfedale Friends of the Earth. We wish to use our rule six status to act as an umbrella and collate objections from these groups.

“Ilkley has the retail vitality and viability which is the envy of many visitors who now live in ‘Tesco towns’, bereft of independent stores. Now with Marks & Spencer, the Co-operative, Booths and the current Tesco for food shopping, Ilkley can host the dozens of small independent shops that makes our town resourceful for residents and interesting and lively to visit.

“All this would surely be threatened by a superstore which sold everything.”

The chairman of Keighley’s area planning committee, Councillor Chris Greaves said Bradford Council representatives had met members of Irate and would be working with them in the run-up to the public inquiry.

Decisions to allow other members of the public to speak at the inquiry would be at the discretion of the planning inspector, he added.

“This is the beauty of having an organised lobby group such as Irate which can pull all the arguments together,” he said. “They can take a really full part in the whole debate rather than being an extra or bit player.”