The green light has been given to build a major new supermarket on the site of Driffield’s derelict cattle market.
But opponents say the store will threaten the vitality of the high street and create dangers on nearby roads.
Driffield town councillors lodged an official objection to the planing application six weeks ago, yet their counterparts at East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s planning committee gave it approval last week.
Driffield town clerk Claire Binnington said: “The primary concern is access for large delivery lorries down Albion Street and Eastgate South. This was our main objection ten years ago and remains unchanged.
“The streets are very narrow and as this is a main walking route for the schools. The combination of pedestrians and narrow streets, already congested with cars, and then adding large articulated lorries, is a dangerous one.”
The planning committee’s decision, deferred since October, opens the door for a major supermarket operator to build a multi-million pound store of more than 3,000 square metres.
Although no such operator has yet come forward, it’s understood the location is now more attractive since Tesco announced it would not proceed with the proposed upgrade of its existing Driffield store in nearby George Street.
Planning permission had already been granted for that development which would have included the site of the former Kwik Save store on Middle Street South. and created around 60 jobs.
However six weeks ago Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said it was “with a heavy heart” that the company was abandoning the project due to a fall in performance.
The cattle market site also previously had planning permission, granted in 2010, for a mixed-use development which would have included small retail units, food and drink outlets, leisure facilities and housing, as well as a smaller food store.
But the mixed-use had presented “constraints” for developers, the planning committee was told back in October.
Speaking at that meeting, Driffield ward councillor Symon Fraser urged councillors to approve the project on the strength that it would create jobs in the town and reduce the “current retail leakage” through people doing their shopping in other towns and cities.
At the same meeting, the applicant, The Driffield Cattle Market Company Ltd, was told to provide more detailed designs surrounding the application. It was approved subject to a condition that legal discussions take place over the provision of three-hour free parking by any supermarket operator.