SETTLE people do not want to lose Bond Lane field to a supermarket, the inspector heading the public inquiry into EH Booth and Co's appeal against refusal of planning permission was told.

The supermarket chain, which celebrated its 150th birthday last year, is pursuing its project for a supermarket and new primary school on Bond Lane, despite already having permission in principle for a foodstore on Stan Jordan's adjoining Sowarth site with a new school on Bond Lane.

Jim Palmer took the stand on behalf of the objectors last Thursday afternoon.

Inspector John MacBryde had already heard from Booth's planning, retail, traffic and noise experts, and from the chairman of Craven District Council, Coun Janet Gott.

The experts set out to prove the scheme would not cause undue noise and disturbance. They also argued that the land was not a playing field which would be lost, saying that North Yorkshire County Council, which had owned Bond Lane field since 1938, had never officially allowed public use of the site.

But Coun Gott urged the inspector to back the planning committee's decision against the scheme, adding: "The ratepayers feel that they have paid for it (the playing field) and they are entitled to use it."

Mr Palmer said: "Bond Lane is a major community asset to Settle, and Settle does not want to lose it. The school and the food store should be two separate considerations.

"There has never been any objection to the proposal for a school on that land. The objection is to losing the last green field site in Settle, the last playing field in Settle for the children of Settle, who have played there for three generations of memory.

"It is the opinion of many Settle people that the approved scheme that has been passed is the best of a bad job," added Mr Palmer.

"The feeling of many members of Craven District Council was that this was dragging on and on, and was going to cost more and more and this was the least objectionable scheme. That seems to have been the reason it was passed.

"There is no objection in principle to a supermarket in Settle."

The inquiry heard Craven's planning officers had supported the appeal scheme, but their recommendations were overturned by the committee, which unanimously threw out the application.

Ronald Maude addressed the inspector on behalf of Settle Town Council.

He said: "The prime interest is providing a new primary school, and the rest of the land south of the school should be left open for recreational purposes.

"Settle is quite divided on the supermarket, some want it, some don't. The compromise was accepted with the objectors. Settle Town Council is quite worried about traffic on Bond Lane and the result on the children of the traffic.

"With the hybrid scheme, traffic could use Kirkgate and part of Bond Lane."

Mr MacBryde asked Craven Council to find an environmental health officer who could answer questions on the effects on children of traffic fumes if a supermarket car park was built next to a primary school playing field.

Unfortunately, nobody with the expertise necessary could be found in time to address the inquiry, which closed on Thursday afternoon.

Summing up, the council's spokesman, Robert Jameson, said Bond Lane was quite clearly a playing field, and he emphasised the importance the Government attached to recreational and amenity open space in urban areas.

John Barrett, Booth's representative, summed up his case urging the inspector to accept his argument that the appeal scheme would have less effect on local residents than the approved joint scheme with Stan Jordan.

The inspector went on a site visit on Friday morning which included a tour of Bond Lane field, a walk between the site and the centre of Settle, and a look at the current Settle Primary School.

It is hoped the inspector's decision could be published in around two months' time.

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