Two rival supermarket companies are already vying to build a new 35,000 sq ft supermarket on the edge of Bingley, it was revealed today.

The building proposal for the former Bingley Auction Mart site in Keighley Road is waiting for a decision from Bradford Council planners.

Bingley town centre traders have attacked the plan which they say would be ''the final nail in Bingley's coffin''.

But today the agent for the development defended it and insisted it could help Bingley businesses.

Mark Finch, planning director for Leeds-based Thornfield Developments, says his firm has had talks with two major supermarket chains - which he would not name - who both want to build on the site.

"Bingley is one of the only places left in Bradford that doesn't have a proper full-range food store," he said. "There are a number of operators, major quality foodstore retailers, who have already expressed an interest in this site."

Research had shown that most Bingley residents go out of town already to do their major food shopping - despite the presence of a small branch of Safeway in the town centre, Mr Finch added.

"We have done all the necessary studies which bear out the view that although people use local stores for their daily top-up shopping, their major twice-weekly shopping is not done in Bingley but at places like Asda in Shipley," he said.

Responding to criticism from Bingley shopkeepers that a major supermarket on the auction mart site would kill off what was left of Bingley trade, Mr Finch said that he believed it could actually help.

There were plans for a free shuttle bus service to connect the supermarket with the hub of the town centre.

"This scheme presents an opportunity for those interested in the town to start clawing it back.

"We are in the early stages of the application and we are very interested in getting involved in discussions with local people and hearing local views," he added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.