A SUPERMARKET chain came under renewed attack last night during a heated public meeting to discuss the latest twist in a long-running land dispute.

Almost 50 residents from Teesdale gathered in Barnard Castle's Witham Hall, to take part in a public meeting on the controversy surrounding the price of a strip of council-owned land Safeway wants to build a £15m superstore.

The wrangle between the store group and Teesdale District Council has been raging for more than a year, with Safeway making renewed financial offers for the 646sq ft strip of land.

Last week, Safeway bosses raised the stakes by offering £160,000 for the land - doubling an initial offer made last year.

The new offer was accepted at a council meeting held behind closed doors last week, following news that a rival bid of £150,000 made by Midlands-based consultancy firm David Alcock and Partners had been withdrawn.

But last night both parties were criticised by residents for failing to reach a final agreement, despite ongoing negotiations.

Brent Stephenson, who organised the meeting, said: "The negotiations have gone on and on. In the meantime, we have lost 70 to 80 jobs, the Government has lost thousands of pounds in extra business rate, and the town has lost thousands of extra customers every week, but the council doesn't seem to mind."

Councillor Newton Wood, one of six ward councillors for Barnard Castle, said: "It is up to the general public to get things moving and put pressure on Safeway, because if they feel they are losing customers, or there is a strong feeling against them, then you bet they'll start to do something."

Much of the criticism was levelled at Safeway.

Barnard Castle resident Marjorie Barmby, said: "It is up to Safeway to do something. Teesdale District Council has done all it can and has granted planning permission. It is time for Safeway to take action and build this store, and I don't think any amount of public meetings can force this store to be built."

No representative from Safeway attended the meeting, and no one from the supermarket chain was available for comment last night.

Teesdale District Council's chief executive, Charles Anderson, who was not at the meeting either, was also unavailable for comment.