LOCAL politicians are divided over how a proposed Silsden supermarket could affect existing shops in the town.

District councillors Adrian Naylor and Andrew Mallinson spoke following the release of conflicting reports on the potential impact of the new Tesco.

Plans were unveiled last year for a 20,000 square-foot medium-sized Tesco store on the former site of Becks Mill, off Keighley Road.

Landowners Silvermantle announced the plans, on land east of Silsden AFC’s football ground, soon after the announcement of a planned Aldi store nearby.

Consultants WYG, acting on behalf of Bradford Council, studied the potential impact of a new Tesco on existing Silsden shops.

In June, they concluded that there would be “significant adverse impact” on Silsden’s Co-op minimarket and the “vitality and viability” of the town centre.

Silvermantle’s response to the assessment, carried out by consultants Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners and published last month, “strongly disagreed” with the WYG assessment.

They stated: “There are many instances of Co-op stores continuing to trade successfully alongside larger new stores.”

The consultants claimed the arrival of Tesco could actually encourage more people to visit town shops alongside their supermarket visits.

Coun Adrian Naylor, who is a district and town councillor, said the two reports presented a wealth of evidence, but used technical language.

He said: “My main concern is that when we translate this into how it will actually affect people, how many shops will close?

“We may be left with travel agents, charity shops and estate agents.”

Coun Andrew Mallinson, who represents Craven Ward on Bradford Council, agreed with the findings of Silvermantle’s consultants.

He said: “I visited most of the businesses on the high street and they confirmed a Tesco would not have an impact on them.

“This store will serve the needs of the people of Silsden. It’s not a major store."