A PLAN for a retail development on the outskirts of Skipton has been put on hold while planning chiefs get more information on its impact on town centre shops.

Manufacturing firm Guyson International and development company Opus Land North have proposed the new park on Guyson's Keighley Road site.

They intend to demolish some buildings and expand other parts of the site. Four new shops selling "non-food, bulky goods" - currently to include a Wickes DIY store and a Pets at Home - are proposed.

Guyson also wants to construct two new extensions at the existing factory and modify the car parking layout.

But councillors on Craven District Council's planning committee voted to defer a decision in a meeting on Monday after officers recommended approval.

An assessment conducted on behalf of the council by an independent group of consultants had found that the development would not have a "significantly adverse" effect on retailers in the town, officers said.

But councillors were not convinced about the impact and also had doubts about whether the type of goods sold on the proposed park could be sufficiently controlled in the future.

Cllr Adrian Green (Cons, Cowling) said: "I support this application in principle but the more I look at the application the more I am suspicious about it. How sure can we be that town centre trade will not be significantly affected when two of the four units are not yet leased? And are the restrictions on what goods can be sold robust enough? I am also concerned that any refusal could not stand up on appeal."

And Cllr John Kerwin-Davey (Ind, Skipton North) said that Skipton's economic buoyancy was based on it being the 'Gateway to the Dales' with a good mix of locally-owned and run shops that kept money circulating in the area.

"An out-of-town development such as this would not enhance the approaches to Skipton and ultimately it would take capital away from the area, " he said.

The developers came under fire for chopping down trees - planted in 1978 - in October last year.

After protests, Craven District Council investigated but it was found that the trees were not protected, so permission had not been needed.

Speaking to the meeting, Malcolm Weaving, owner of the Rendezvous Hotel which is directly opposite the site, said the developers were "wolves dressed in sheep's clothing".

He said: "It's very sad that they cut down these trees and I question how this so-called retail centre can help the 'bread and butter' trade of Skipton retailers."

The plan has been welcomed by Skipton Town Council for the new jobs it would bring but councillors were also concerned about the effect an out-of-town development could have on the centre.

A decision was deferred to a later date to enable more retail impact assessments to take place.