Traders are to draw up a 'wish list' for Cleckheaton after being offered support by supermarket chain ASDA.

Spenborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce members will continue talks with ASDA which hopes to open a superstore in Bradford Road, outside the town centre.

In a meeting with traders, the company, which is seeking support for its plan, said it could provide the town with closed-circuit television cameras, an improved bus station or pay for Cleckheaton's Christmas lights.

Members in October voted to block a plan by Tesco which would see the chain close its existing town-centre store for a larger shop 300 metres out of town.

Tesco's only offer to traders was a bus shuttle service between its new store and the town centre.

Paul Hickey, of Wright's Hardware, said: "The way forward is to ride on ASDA's back to get as much as we can. We aren't going to stop this, we aren't strong enough and we aren't big enough to oppose them."

ASDA development surveyor Andy King said the company had been looking to open a store in Cleckheaton for 13 years and had last year been offered the Bridon Ropes factory site which is to close this spring.

The proposed £25 million store would have 40,000 square feet of shopping space, a filling station and employ 350 full and part-time employees.

A fast-food restaurant and a car showroom are also being considered for the site.

Mr King said: "The store will offer the full ASDA deal, food, clothes and electrical goods. There is a lot of leakage from Cleckheaton with people travelling to other towns to shop.

"We feel the people we can attract back can also help trade in the town centre."

Chamber president Keith Joplin said traders were fearful the closure of Tesco's existing store in Serpentine Road and the launch of one or two new stores just outside the centre would destroy many small traditional stores - as shoppers would no longer walk into the town.

But he added the chamber could only voice its opinion to Kirklees Council - which would decide if either store can go-ahead.

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