Campaigners have been dealt a shattering blow in their long-running battle against plans to turn a quarry into a landfill tip.

Waste company Integrated Waste Management Ltd (IWM) has won an appeal which overturns Bradford Council's decision to refuse planning permission for the tip at Buck Park Quarry, Denholme.

Today Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie blamed the council's failure to give evidence at a planning inquiry in January as a reason for the appeal being upheld and accused it of adopting an "empty chair" approach to residents' concerns.

But Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the council's executive member for the environment, said that the decision, backed by legal advice, had not been taken lightly and had been made to avoid the council being liable for huge costs if the appeal was upheld.

In a report of his decision, Government planning inspector Keith Durrant has granted IWM planning permission subject to conditions aimed at lessening the tip's environmental impact.

The company has offered to provide road safety measures, tree-planting to screen the site and noise-dampening fencing. It says the area will also benefit from £6 million of investment through the Landfill Tax Credit scheme.

But protesters have vowed to fight on to stop the site being used as a tip.

Denholme Residents' Action Group (DRAG) chairman Dominic Clark said: "It's a devastating blow. The village will feel the impact for years to come. There's going to be a lot of anger about this.''

Mr Leslie said campaigners had been "left in the lurch'' by the council's decision not to give evidence at the inquiry, adding: "The village was left to fight on its own and it's disappointing the full force of the council's barristers wasn't behind it, which is maybe one reason we weren't successful.''

He said he planned to make representations, based on fears about the scheme's environmental impact, to the Environ-ment Agency, urging it not to grant a license.

An IWM spokesman said: "It's the right decision and a good one for Bradford because it means the disposal of waste can go ahead in line with Government and European policy and will be cheaper and more environmentally sound than having to transport it out of the area.

"The intention's always been to restore the site after ten years and I'm sure people will find it won't be a blight on their village - all our sites are operated to the highest standards and IWM tries very hard to be good neighbours.''