SILSDEN residents have launched a petition calling for Bradford Council to throw out plans for a new Tesco in the town.

Wendy Neville and Anna Young are spearheading attempts to stop the supermarket giant building on the former site of Becks Mill, off Keighley Road.

Mrs Neville, of Bradley Drive, and her colleague hope to attract hundreds of signatures before councillors discuss the application from development company Silvermantle next month.

The women claim a second new supermarket – in addition to a planned Aldi on the other side of Keighley Road – will badly affect existing shops in Silsden.

They also argue two supermarkets, directly opposite each other, will also result in traffic chaos on an already congested road.

The petitioners want the council to re-zone the Becks Mill site to help Silsden meet its quota of up to 1,000 new homes.

The council’s regulatory and appeals committee, meeting on January 8, is expected to discuss recent changes to the planning application originally made by Silvermantle earlier this year.

The company hopes to build a 2,709 sq m store, 173-space car park and a petrol station on the 2.9 hectare site. Proposed changes focus on landscaping and access.

Wendy Neville and her husband, Colin, said Silsden already suffered traffic congestion through the town centre at peak times.

They added: “Additional congestion will make the matter worse for residents and others passing through, and it will be further exacerbated by the proposed large-scale house building in the area.”

The Nevilles fear the new Tesco will affect the viability of Silsden’s independent petrol station and the town’s Co-operative mini-market.

They said: “Fair competition is good, but it should not result in the destruction of established businesses and road misery.”

Petition forms are available from Twiggs Newsagents in Kirkgate.

The petition came as Silsden town councillors made attempts to ensure townspeople knew about the latest proposals for the Tesco store. About 40 people attended a surgery hosted by councillors Adrian Naylor and Chris Atkinson last week.

Cllr Naylor said: “The surgery was very helpful. It was important for us to get some idea of whether people were for or against the Tesco. The majority of people who came were against.”