INNOVATIVE plans to beat Christmas congestion at a York supermarket are set to be rejected by councillors.

As previously reported in The Press, bosses at the Tesco superstore at Askham Bar have applied to build a temporary car park to accommodate extra customers over the festive period.

The decked structure would have increased the car park capacity from 669 to 773, which the store said would enable them to cope with the extra seasonal demand.

But a City of York Council planning committee has been advised by an officer to turn down the application when they meet later this month.

A report to the committee said the resulting impact on local traffic would be unacceptable.

Richard Mowat, development control officer, and author of the report, wrote: "The additional parking capacity resulting from this current proposal will only exacerbate the existing problems of congestion and delay on the network in the vicinity of Tadcaster Road.

"In the absence of supporting evidence showing exactly what the impact of this proposal would be on the adjoining highway network, and what measures are being offered to mitigate the effects of this increased level of traffic, it is recommended that this application is refused."

Tesco had hoped to erect the structure in early to mid-December. In a supporting statement, Edward Uwechue, of Tesco's agent The Development Planning Partnership, wrote: "The decked car park proposed will help alleviate the pressures on the current car parking provision at the store that will likely come about due to heightened levels of customer demand during the forthcoming festive period."

He said the store suffered from congestion at peak times, with motorists scouring the car park for spaces.

The store said, at Christmas, trade increases by 50 per cent and customers spend longer in the shop, leading to a need for more space.

Mr Uwechue today declined to comment in detail on the recommendation for refusal.

He said: "We are still in discussions with the council, so we cannot say anything at the moment. I have been liaising with the relevant department at the council as regards the matter."

The application will go before the council's west and city centre area planning sub-committee on Tuesday, November 28.