A superstore will not be built on the Marriotts Close site in the centre of Witney.

The ruling Conservative group on West Oxfordshire District Council has finally decided to drop the idea and go for alternative forms of redevelopment.

The decision was taken at a private meeting of the group. The decision is now set to become council policy.

Group leader Barry Norton said: "Our members carefully considered all the options available and took into account the clearly expressed views of the public. They will not support making the land available for a superstore."

The decision vindicates the stand taken by campaigners, led by two Witney mothers -- Harriett Ryley and Tessa Cox.

Mrs Ryley, who was elected to the council in May on a platform of opposition to a superstore, was this week away on holiday.

The row over Marriotts Close goes back to February last year, when the Witney Gazette, our sister paper, challenged a statement by the council's chief executive, Geoff Bonner, that a store would be built at Marriotts Close within five years.

The land, formerly the home of Witney Town Football Club, has been empty for more than 10 years.

Asda has submitted a planning application to build a store and 360 car parking spaces. But any challenge they might mount to the decision would be futile because the council also owns the land.

The Tory group's decision follows months of pressure from the public, the setting-up of a Marriotts Close working party, and reports from consultants on the effects a large store might have on shops and traffic.

Planning officers will now draw up alternative development options including space for shops, housing, leisure complexes, offices and public amenity space.

Mr Norton said: "It was felt this is the best opportunity to provide a high-quality development with a mix of uses and facilities. Our members will ask the working party and the cabinet to consider how best to market the site."

Witney's mayor David Harvey welcomed the decision.

He said: "It's formalising a position which we had come to informally some time ago.

"It will be up to developers to come up with interesting and novel ideas."