The three-way battle to build a new supermarket in Shipley will be fought out in the public arena of the town’s library tomorrow and on Friday.

Councillors at the special meeting of Bradford’s Regulatory and Appeals committee are destined to choose between proposals by developers GMI for Crossley Evans recycling site on Otley Road, Morrisons’ plans for Crag Road and shopfitting firm Cardinal’s hopes for Airedale Mills on Salts Mill Road. Members of the committee will see for themselves during site visits scheduled for Friday morning Planning officers have already come down in favour of the GMI ‘Shipley Link’ development for the Crossley Evans site – an area of land which is described in their report as a “blight” on Shipley. It also offers the highest number of possible new jobs, is the closest to the town centre and is recommended for approval.

But there has been local opposition with petitions against the loss of the 100-year-old recycling business, which ‘already provides real jobs’.

However, landowners Network Rail and DB Shenker Rail (UK) have now formally ended Crossley Evans’ lease and want the firm to move out by April.

A year ago an application was lodged for a superstore at the site of Cardinal Shop Fitters based at Airedale Mills.

The company wants to relocate and says the development would safeguard 150 jobs. And in September supermarket giant Morrisons, together with Skipton properties entered the fray with their scheme for the ‘Shipley Exchange’ to be built along Crag Road, Windhill. This £40 million project would include a new supermarket, petrol station, access improvements to Shipley rail station and 101 new homes.

The meeting was due to begin at 10.30am tomorrow in the Meeting Room, Shipley Library and at 2pm on Friday.