SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has announced it has shelved plans for a controversial store in Haworth after suffering a second planning setback.

Proposals to covert the Royal Oak in Mill Hey into a Tesco Express store have been scrapped after Bradford Council officers threw the application out, arguing the company would need to carry out a bat survey first.

An earlier application to install a cash machine in one of the pub’s windows was rejected by planners in October.

Reacting to the latest refusal, a Tesco spokesman said: “After reviewing our options, we have decided not to proceed with our plans to open a new convenience store in Haworth.

“We are very proud of our stores across Bradford and West Yorkshire, and look forward to serving local people for many years to come.”

Explaining its decision to reject the application, a Bradford Council planning officer said: “The proposals involve the demolition and alteration of parts of a building with high potential to provide habitat for a protected species – bats.

“There is, however, no reliable assessment accompanying this application of the potential of the building to contain habitat for bats or bat roosts, and insufficient information to convince us harm to a protected species from the development can be avoided or mitigated.”

More than 100 residents objected to the plans, and campaigners fighting the bid reacted with joy at the news. But hopes remain high Tesco might return with an application for a more suitable village site.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council chairman, Councillor John Huxley, said: “On the one hand, it’s a relief because I don’t think the Mill Hey site was suitable for a convenience store.

“It’s on a bad bend, there’s not much parking and it would have cost us a pub.

“On the other hand, I very much regret Tesco’s decision because I think there are other better sites at the top end of the village, which would have certainly benefited from having a convenience store and a free-to-use cash machine.”

Worth Valley ward councillor, Rebecca Poulsen, said: “This will be reassuring to residents who’ve been so concerned about the proposal to turn the Royal Oak into a Tesco.

“The overwhelming majority of people in the village were against the application.

“I think there are still conversations to be had about facilities at the top end of the village. Some residents have said they would be in favour of some sort of convenience store there.”

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council’s planning committee chairman, Cllr Barry Thorne, said: “It’s better than them blighting that corner and making it dangerous for members of the public.

“I’m glad they’ve seen sense. It’s an odd place to put a convenience store, and I’d like the Royal Oak to remain a pub.”