Fury after diggers arrive at Newport store site

Planning chiefs at Telford & Wrekin Council have been criticised after diggers turned up to work on land earmarked for a £21 million supermarket in Newport, but which has not got planning permission.

The local authority has begun preparing the site on Station Road for a potential new 50,000sq ft Sainsbury's supermarket, a petrol station, business park and 350 houses. Plans are yet to be approved.

Last week the council announced plans to start work on a footpath to the proposed site. They also confirmed they would be installing a fence around the land.

But on Wednesday the work was stopped by Councillor Andrew Eade who turned up on site and demanded workers down tools.

He said: "This is not acceptable. It is nothing but arrogance. How dare the council think it can come here and start work without planning permission. It just wants to build on our green land to fill its coffers.

"I'm actually in shock. They have not got planning permission for the supermarket yet and I'm sure they'd need permission for the work they are trying to do. You can't just turn up and start to form a path in woodland.

"This is a very sensitive site and a very sensitive planning application. The council is effectively seeking planning permission from itself and therefore needs to be open and honest."

Work to prepare the site was scheduled to last for three weeks.

Councillor Richard Overton, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member with special responsibility for borough towns development, said:

"This does not in any way pre-empt the outcome of any planning applications relevant to the site or any other planning applications in Newport."