SIR – I was saddened to read that Tesco’s expansion plans were granted renewed permission to build on the north side of the railway in Ilkley. I suspect that because it was a renewal normal procedures were not complied with.

The report on traffic at the time of the original application some three years ago was grossly inadequate and the situation has become much worse since then.

It will be interesting to see what traffic measures will need to be put in place to meet the demands of Tesco on this site.

Already the up and down traffic in Brook Street creates delays with the in and out traffic of Railway Road together causing significant crossing problems for people with prams and elderly with wheelchairs or slow walking.

This development will mean virtually everyone in town will have to cross the railway to get to food shops. Sadly, this decision seems more about Bradford Council’s fear of costs from a further appeal than about the town’s needs and traffic problems, both as the gateway to the Dales and as a tourist venue in its own right.

I see that Shipley is having similar problems. I wish them well, but as it is also a re-submission I fear for them.

Mrs B J Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley