A public inquiry was yesterday told Tesco had failed to listen to the “overwhelming voice of public opinion” in its determination to build a new store in Ilkley.

And it was alleged Tesco had “short stocked” its existing store in the town to persuade customers a larger supermarket was needed.

The supermarket chain is appealing decisions by Bradford Council to turn down its applications for the new store in Mayfield Road and proposals to turn its existing site in Springs Lane into a care home and smaller retail units.

The Council said the plans for a new supermarket were contrary to planning policy and the care home proposals were refused on the grounds of loss of retail land.

Residents’ group Ilkley Residents Against Tesco Expansion (Irate) is backing the Council.

At the inquiry, Dr Miranda Foster, for Irate, told planning inspector Harold Stephens the proposed developments would be overbearing to significant parts of the town and accused Tesco of underhand tactics to convince people of the need for a new store.

She claimed members of Irate had observed Tesco deliberately not stocking everyday goods to demonstrate a new store was needed.

“A degree of artificial inefficiency has been deliberately introduced to persuade Tesco customers a larger store is needed,” she said.

But Patrick Clarkson QC, for Tesco, refuted the allegations and asked Dr Foster if she personally believed Tesco would “deliberately short stock”.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

Richard Stankiewicz, a retail expert for Irate, said the proposed new supermarket would have a significant detrimental impact on business in Ilkley town centre. He said shops would be trading at 83 per cent of capacity by 2015, without a new store.

But should the proposed Tesco superstore go ahead, he said the shops would be trading at only 69 per cent of capacity by 2015, a level which he claimed would result in major damage to independent business and job losses.

Georgiana Head, who also gave evidence on retail and business on behalf of Irate, told Mr Stephens the proposed superstore would be unnecessary and disproportionate in size.

Councillor Kate Brown, for Ilkley Parish Council, said: “We believe the relocation of Tesco would lead to increased traffic in the town centre, thus affecting the amenity of other users.”

The inquiry was due to end today.