THE prospect of huge legal costs has forced a councillor to withdraw objections to proposals for a Safeway mini-mart and off-licence.

The case has prompted Middlesbrough MP Ashok Kumar to demand a change in the law, to give those opposing plans by corporations with financial clout a level playing field.

He told MPs how Safeway had applied for a liquor licence at a filling station in Low Lane, Middlesbrough, resulting in strong objections.

Proposals for selling alcohol to motorists "drove a coach and horses through any attempts to promote the need to cut down on drink-driving," said Dr Kumar.

Magistrates initially refused the application, but Safeway appealed.

Local councillor John McPartland asked to be an objector, and to speak at the appeal hearing.

However, he received legal advice saying that, if he objected and lost, he could be ordered to bear the whole of Safeway's costs, and consequently withdrew his objection.

In a letter to Dr Kumar, he said: "The real disgrace is that an elected councillor was unable to represent the people who elected him, because the present state of law in the country could make him pay dearly for that privilege."

Dr Kumar told the House of Commons: "We are talking here about the balance of forces between massive multi-national corporations and the individual . . . the balance of forces between highly-profitable companies, with deep and well-lined pockets, and local people."

The MP appealed for the issue to be looked at when the Government carried out its planned review of the planning and licensing system.