Mystery today surrounded plans for the controversial Princes depot which could bring hundreds of jobs to Bradford.

Princes Soft Drinks, based at Toftshaw Lane, is expected to hold a board meeting today to discuss the future of their multi-million pound project at Cross Lane.

The plans are in doubt after the company said they may pull out of a public inquiry to be held next month.

If they withdraw it could mean dropping proposals for a huge depot - creating 800 new jobs on a prestige business park to be built at Cross Lane, off the Drighlington by-pass.

No comment was available from the company - the country's third biggest soft drinks manufacturer - but Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said he hoped it would be possible to keep the jobs in Bradford.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott called the public inquiry after hundreds of residents protested about the impact of the scheme and English Heritage stepped in as the land is the site of the Civil Wars battle of Adwalton Moor.

The Council's legal department confirmed today that Princes had indicated at the meeting that they may withdraw, but added that it had received no official notification.

Coun Greenwood said: "Clearly we can understand the difficult situation in which they find themselves. We would expect them to take advice and re-evaluate the situation at every stage.

"I would hope very strongly they can continue to keep the jobs in Bradford as a result of their further deliberations. We support them fully and they have acted extremely responsible throughout."

The Council received more than 600 individual letters of objection - one of the largest number ever received to a single planning application. Neighbouring Kirklees Council also objected to the possible impact on adjoining green belt land.

Residents Action Group member Ray Crorken said they had intended to put a case against the proposal to the inquiry.

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