Proposals to build an Asda store in Keighley will be met by stiff resistance next week when the plans are aired in public for the first time.

Councillors at a special meeting of Keighley Area Planning Panel, in the council chamber, in the town hall, on Thursday, at 10am, will be asked to lodge their opposition against building a 40,000 sq ft store in Bradford Street.

Other opposition will come from local businesses and the Keighley and District Chamber of Trade is expected.

Planning officers have put forward six reasons for the panel to refuse the application in their report.

They feel that because Asda has not proved there is need for the store, the proposal fails to meet national planning policy.

The report added: "The proposal will lead to conditions prejudicial to the viability and vitality of Keighley town centre, Bingley town centre and Silsden local centre."

Bosses of the superstore giant, who have been looking for an appropriate site in Keighley for more than a quarter of a century, said there was unprecedented public support in the town.

Keighley Town Council will also express its support for the proposals because people in Keighley want the store.

Cllr Brian Hudson, chairman of the planning committee, said: "We believe by bringing stores into Keighley, we will attract people from outside our immediate area. At the moment it is going the other way."

Cllr Hudson felt that because of the size of Keighley and the increase in housing, the town needed a third store.

He believed the Peter Black Distribution site was the prime location within Keighley.

Asda believes that up to 400 jobs could be created by the £25 million store. Nearly 500 car park spots would be included on the site. A spokesman said: "We are convinced it would be good for Keighley as well as good for Asda."

Once the panel has made its decision, the plans will be looked at by Bradford Council's regulatory committee six days later.

Because Asda has appealed against non-determination, the final decision is likely to be made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Asda had been waiting until the final draft of the council's unitary development plan (UDP) was publicised. But because council officers wanted more information, Asda lodged its appeal.

The UDP, the council's planning blueprint, does not see the site as part of the town centre expansion zone but instead used for employment purposes.

The Airedale Masterplan's project director Mike Osborne believed the town would commit suicide if the project went ahead. He said: "That site should be about employment but not retail in the form of Asda. It will destroy the town centre, Bingley and Silsden in terms of viability."

The masterplan allocates the site for a business park to complement the new Keighley College site.

Following results of a survey by the chamber of trade issued in the New Year, president David Petyt said: "For a store of this size and this type to be opened would have a serious impact on the market stalls and lots of independent retailers.

"I could quite easily see household name stores and shops and the post office closing. If this happened the town centre would become derelict."