Supermarket plans put on hold

Rival plans to build two new supermarkets in Market Drayton have been put on hold by Shropshire Council.

The move has angered local residents who turned out in numbers to protest at the postponement.

More than 20 protesters, armed with placards, stood on land earmarked for the proposed Tesco site at Danebank after Shropshire Council postponed a decision on two rival schemes.

Proposals for a Sainsbury's superstore had won backing from planning officers while a second plan to build a Tesco store had been recommended for refusal.

The Sainsbury's plans for a 5,000 sq.m store with parking for 265 cars on the Vicon Works estate looked set for the go-ahead while a 3,700 sq.m foodstore for Tesco, with 195 car spaces and petrol station looked about to be thrown out.

But the council's planning committee delayed a decision after receiving new information from Danebank Developments – the company which wants to build the Tesco store on Greenfields Lane.

A spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: "The decision to defer has arisen further to the receipt of two letters from solicitors acting on behalf of the Danebank scheme received late last week about which the council has taken legal advice."

"It is evident as a result of this that further information is required in respect of one of the proposals, in order to ensure full and robust decisions in respect of both schemes."

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