It was feared that proposals to build a new supermarket at the town centre location could be given the green light by a planning committee last Thursday.

But the East Riding of Yorkshire Council planning committee, which has no members from Driffield, turned down the plans on safety grounds.
Committee members agreed with suggestions by Humberside Police that the access for lorries outlined by the proposal would present a danger to pedestrians.

One of the two proposals considered for the Tesco site on George Street was also refused on the grounds that it provided poor access for vehicles, although, like the first application for the cattle market, it had been recommended by ERYC officers for deferral.

Now three planning applications, which include a cinema on the cattle market site, a replacement supermarket at the George Street Tesco site and an Aldi store at the Viking Centre on Middle Street North, will return for further debate by the same committee at a later date.

A statement released by Driffield Town Council said: "The two weakest applications at the cattle market and Tesco were unanimously refused, which we are delighted about."

But Driffield's councillors have expressed disappointment that the application for the Viking Centre was also deferred, to be considered alongside the other two applications some time in the future.

They said: "The Viking Centre application was unfortunately deferred also, which was a bitter disappointment as everyone in the town would wish to see this eyesore redeveloped as quickly as possible, indeed the ERYC planning committee councillors wished to approve the application but were advised by officers to defer it.

"But Driffield Town Council is pleased that more consultation and discussion will now take place with regard to these applications and that there is still an opportunity to try to secure the best possible outcome."

Driffield Town Council thanked everyone who attended the demonstration at the cattle market last Wednesday at which members of the planning committee were greeted by protesters clamouring for their opposition to the plans to be acknowledged.

Several committee members noted the views of the demonstrators when speaking at the planning meeting.

Some said that efforts should be made to maximise the aesthetic potential of the beck which runs through the cattle market site on Eastgate South.