Keighley is the best town for food shopping in the entire Bradford district.

The claim was made by Bradford Council planning officer John Eyles during a debate about plans to build an Asda store in Bradford Street, Keighley.

Mr Eyles said the verdict came about during survey work to replace the council's Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

He said at this week's regulatory and appeals committee: "Keighley is already the best served town in the whole of the district for convenience goods."

The committee agreed with officers' recommendations to turn down a bid by the supermarket giant to build a 40,000 sq ft store for food and other retail, including clothing.

The proposals were brought before the committee because they are not consistent with the UDP. The site is allocated for employment rather than retail use.

Cllr Paul Flowers said: "There have to be profoundly good reasons why we can approve a planning application which could change the UDP. If we were to do that there would be planning anarchy. I don't think this would be sound for this town or for any other town."

Last week, Keighley Area Planning Panel unanimously recommended that the proposals should be refused.

Councillors heard that 22,000 cars per week could choke the roads around the superstore and that 480 jobs across the town could be lost because of the impact Asda would make.

The reasons for refusal included:

l Increased traffic generated from the supermarket and associated rat-running in the immediate residential area

l The applicants had not demonstrated a need for another supermarket in the town

l Diversion of trade from Keighley town centre

l The allocation of the land in the UDP being for employment not retail use.

The panel was also concerned that traffic flow could have an impact on the effectiveness of fire coverage in the area.

Cllr Chris Greaves said: "Fire engines will have tremendous problems, not so much getting into town because we can give them a clear run by changing traffic lights, but going the other way towards the roundabout where we cannot give them a clear run."

The seven-hour special meeting included visits to the site and both the Sainsbury's and Morrisons stores, which the panel felt were more integral to the town centre.

The application will now be decided by a public inquiry later this year, because Asda has previously appealed against the non-determination of their application.