New life has been breathed into multi-million pound plans to redevelop Bingley's Myrtle Walk precinct following the departure of a rival developer.

For months the proposals by London-based property developers Fordgate have stalled as it waited to see what happened to Leeds-based developer Thornfield's alternative plans for a supermarket on the old auction mart site in Keighley Road.

But now that Thornfield has withdrawn a second time from a public inquiry, due to have been heard this month, the way is clear for Fordgate and its agents Donaldsons to press ahead.

Donaldsons managing director Richard Young said: "It makes life an awful lot easier. We are delighted that it has withdrawn the appeal and hopefully, fingers crossed, we can agree terms with the key groups concerned.

"Thornfield's withdrawal didn't come as a surprise. It was a sensible decision and that's the end of the matter. We couldn't do anything until that was resolved."

He added: "I am a lot more confident than I have been that the Myrtle Walk development will go ahead. Negotiations that my colleagues are holding in Leeds are very positive though obviously there are other hurdles to overcome.

"On January 31 we shall be holding a meeting with Fordgate and the architects to decide how best to move things forward.

"The future depends on agreeing terms with a number of parties including the future operator and Safeway."

Safeway had originally wanted to leave the precinct and become part of Thornfield's scheme but now says it may be interested in staying put if the plans are revised.

But Richard Islip, Safeway development controller, said: "Now we have washed our hands of the inquiry and Thornfield's plans have been ditched, we shall have to see what we can do at Myrtle Walk.

"We are reviewing the redevelopment potential of the centre. We want a bigger and better centre and very much see ourselves in Bingley.

"Unfortunately every scheme we have seen so far has not been ideal."

Bingley town centre manager David Disney said: "It's good news. I am very positive about this. It is what the town needs."

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