THE message couldn’t have been clearer – Tesco’s plan for Holmfirth is wrong.

Objectors said traffic, impact on local shopkeepers and damage to tourism were reasons Tesco’s bid for a store on New Mill Road should fail.

And one shopkeeper put it more bluntly. David Earnshaw described the approval of a Tesco for Holmfirth, as “signing the death warrant” for the town and said its impact could not be underestimated.

Day three of the planning inquiry heard from members of Keep Holmfirth Special , shopkeepers and residents against the proposals for a Tesco store off New Mill Road.

The inquiry has also heard about counter proposals for a new store site in Honley.

Margaret Dale quoted Queen of Shops guru Mary Portas, saying: “We are sacrificing the community for convenience.”

Mrs Dale said: “One thing I do know is that the decision made after this inquiry will be made on planning grounds, this is not a popularity contest.

“If we need and want a supermarket in the Holme Valley, then the next question is where is going to be the best site?

“The Midlothian site is the wrong location for a development of this nature.

“You will hear from people who want a supermarket, people who don't and people who don't think the Holme Valley needs a supermarket. But what you will not hear is from the majority of people from the Holme Valley because the majority of people are silent.”

Ian Gooch, a minister and president of Holmfirth Enterprise and Development, said Tesco would damage tourism and could make Holmfirth a commuter town.

“We think Tesco has a blinkered view. The recession means a lot of retail businesses are struggling,” he said.

“We are not anti-supermarket, or anti-Tesco, but we are anti this location”.

He said he wasn’t fighting for one supermarket over another, but warned: “Seven thousand cars on horse tracks is unreasonable.”

Rupert Warren, QC for Tesco, asked: “If you are concerned about the impact on Holmfirth town centre as the heart of the community, then having a supermarket on a main road in Honley won’t do much for Holmfirth, will it?

Mr Gooch replied: “We’ve not researched or looked into that because it’s still a proposal at this stage.”

Caroline Anstey, a shopkeeper and arts festival organiser, said an 11% hit from Tesco will “finish off” her business. She said: “The recession has hit business hard. I’ve heard a loss of 20-25% banded around. If it’s as Tesco say, well that’ll finish off my business and many like me, I’m sure.”

Upon cross examination, she said a town centre supermarket would create or keep footfall, adding: “If there was a Tesco or Sainsbury's in the Riverside, Holmfirth, it would be ok, we’d still have the footfall in the town centre.”

Greengrocer Alex Bray said his family’s future trade was at risk, while Cilla Ross said the town remained thriving due to the nature and character of the community.

She said: “I understand why places change, we have to move with the times, but there is something very important about the sort of town Holmfirth is and that’s the community.

“We are beginning to see blank shops in Holmfirth, what remains thriving is because of the nature of the people that are still there.”

The impact on the Wooldale Co-operative Society was also raised by two shoppers. Angela Payne and husband David said the Tesco store site was “significantly closer” to two co-operative shops than Holmfirth town centre. They said a “20% loss would inevitably” impact and even lead to the closure of the stores.