Shipley MP Chris Leslie has slammed a property developer over its tactics in trying to turn Bingley's former Auction Mart site into a £7million supermarket.

Leeds-based Thornfield has twice been due to appear before public inquiries but on each occasion has pulled out. Last June a two-day hearing about the controversial Keighley Road site was listed for Bingley Town Hall but called off. Another public inquiry was then scheduled to take place on January 25 this year to hear an appeal against non-determination of a second application - but the appeal was withdrawn before Christmas.

A third outline application - also for a supermarket, petrol filling station, parking for 250-260 vehicles on the 1.8 hectare site and a traffic controlled access on to Keighley Road - was submitted last July. But it was turned down on Christmas Eve under delegated powers by principal planning officer Dale Scott.

Mr Leslie said: "I think local people would think it a lot clearer if Thornfield were to conclude this matter instead of this juggling act. It is very exasperating.

"People find it difficult to keep track of what is happening. They are playing a game and it is a mess. But I am pleased to see that Bradford Council has been decisive."

Councillor Eileen Sinclair (Lab, Bingley), chairman of the Council's Shipley area planning sub-committee, added: "It's gone on a long time and it's time they stopped messing about and made up their minds what they want to do one way or another.''

Shipley's chief planning officer, Peter Bridgman, said that witnesses had been ready to give evidence to the inquiry due to start on January 25 at Shipley Town Hall. He said: "We were gearing up for that. We had no prior notice - it came out of the blue for us." A Council spokesman said the reasons given for refusal of the third application were that the development would be contrary to the Unitary Development Plan, and to Govern-ment guidance which seeks to steer new retail developments to existing town centres.

No-one was available from Thornfield to comment.

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