Supermarket plan hangs in the balance after policy row

After hearing the advice, Stockton borough councillors deferred making a decision at a planning committee meeting in Stockton Library yesterday.

They asked for more information about the scheme and council policy.

The Lidl food supermarket would be built off Yarm Road, close to the Hartburn area of Stockton.

Councillors were told no objections had been received but that the proposal was against the authority's agreed policy for the area.

The planning officers said the council had recently agreed that retail units should be built in town centres around the borough and not at out-of-town venues.

Some councillors spoke in favour of the plan, saying the Lidl store would be a convenience store to serve the people of Hartburn rather than a full-size supermarket.

Councillor Smailes, ward councillor for Hartburn and leader of the Conservative group opposition, said: "In truth we lost the fight to keep retail in the town centre many, many years ago.

"This is only a small convenience store and would prevent people having to drive over to Eaglescliffe."

The proposed store and nearby warehouse would be built on land owned by local employers Carter Steel.

Company owner David Carter addressed the meet-ing.

He said: "I am a proud Stocktonian who has never had any help or grants but have staff from the area who have been with me for 25 years.

"This would allow me to relocate to better premises on my own property and hopefully create new jobs."

But planning officers, backed by leader of the council Bob Gibson, reminded councillors that building retail units outside of existing recognised areas was against the policy recently agreed by the council.

They said if councillors approved the scheme it would go to central government inspectors.

They could then be asked to justify the policy and this could put the council in a difficult position.

Councillors agreed to defer making a decision while requesting more information from officers.