A councillor claims a planning officer told him Tesco’s bid for a Holmfirth store would be recommended for refusal – just days after the application was submitted.
The revelation, disputed by Kirklees Council, was made during the sixth day of the Tesco Holmfirth planning inquiry .
The retail giant is seeking permission at appeal for a store on New Mill Road.
Kirklees councillors rejected it last July , saying there is a preferable site which means it fails planning policy framework.
The preferred site is in Honley, where Morrisons are proposing to open a store on land which includes Kirklees Council’s highways depot .
Clr Nigel Patrick, a Holme Valley South Conservative member, told the planning inspector John Gray: “Kirklees Council has a conflict of interest. They stand to make money, is that why they are trying to stop Tesco?
“The Honley site is not without its problems. There is no planning application, no details to assess.
“It is quite incredible to find officers so quick to support the site. It is quite an eye-opener really.
“It is my experience that this is highly irregular – a case officer told me just days after the application had been registered and well before the consultation results were known, that they would be recommending it for refusal.”
He said Kirklees Council had a “conflict of interest” in objecting to the Holmfirth store for two reasons: “Kirklees Council as a landowner is looking to maximise their sale of the site (Honley).”
He also said the council would lose income generated by car parking fees if fewer people choose to park at Tesco for free rather than in the town centre for a charge.
Clr Patrick said canvassing he has done around an area near to the proposed store showed 70% of people he spoke to were in support of the application with support from shopkeepers and businesses.
He said he was “amazed” the support was so high.
His only concern related to the Highways issue, but said he felt they had been over-estimated by Kirklees Council.
He explained his questions to highways revealed they do not believe the nearby roads are in need of repairs.
“Kirklees say the roads are in a poor condition, Highways say the roads are not too bad – or at least bad enough to meet their safety improvement rating.
“There’s no urgency from Kirklees to get it done. The roads are either bad or they’re not, which is it?”
Clr Patrick added: “People are not really bothered which supermarket – they just want to be able to go locally, save money in travelling and bring job opportunities.”
George Senior, the final person speaking in support, said a “vocal minority were putting their views before the best interests of the town”.
His only complaint was Tesco withdrew plans for a petrol station.
