Fears for Oswestry’s future have been voiced after Government officials revealed they will not be intervening on the decision for a new town supermarket.

The department of Local Government and Communities has decided not to call in the decision made by Shropshire County planners for a supermarket to be built on the Smithfield Livestock site in Shrewsbury Road in Oswestry.

The application, which will create more than 800 jobs, also includes a cinema and Park and Ride facilities.

Applicant Simon Hoare, planning consultant for Liberty Mercian, said he was over the moon.

But Yossi Gliksman, chairman of Oswestry’s Chamber of Commerce, said he was disappointed.

“I am so angry with local government who did not stop this disastrous move.

“People may not see new businesses move into Oswestry because of the fear of the future. This will be detrimental for all of us.

“I can’t see any positive results achieved from this kind of development especially as we are all trying so hard to beat the economic climate.

“My only hope is that all the people who objected to the development are completely wrong. I hope the council are able to prove that we were wrong to object.”

Jessie Miller, secretary of the campaign group Oswestry21, said: “The decision completely contravenes national and local policy and it shouldn’t be allowed to stand.

“Traders in the town centre, who already coping with the economic climate, now have to potentially deal with the enormous development.”

Saffron Rainey, Chairman of Oswestry Civic Society, said: “I think in 10 years time we will know the wisdom of the decision.”

Mr Hoare said: “I am over the moon. I have been working on this for four years so this is quite exciting. I think this is fantastic news for the town. We have a decision which has been taken locally and worked entirely with the government agenda letting councillors get on with planning application decisions. It is a real testimony to the power of localism.”

By Sue Austin