residents packed the council chamber on Tuesday night to see Okehampton Town Council object to plans for a new Tesco store in the town.

The special planning meeting debate attracted the largest number of Okehampton residents to a council committee meeting in recent memory.

They heard councillors discuss the application from retail giant Tesco for a store on the Thompsons Devon site on the North Road Industrial Estate. The meeting was called especially to discuss the application before the deadline set for responses by West Devon Borough Council.

Following a long debate, the committee voted unanimously to object to the application on a number of grounds.

They recommended West?Devon Borough Council to reject the plan, claiming it would lead to an increased volume of traffic in the town, would have an adverse impact on neighbours, both residential and industrial, and a possible impact on emergency vehicles.

Cllr Charles Letchford felt a store on the site would 'create unacceptable levels of traffic', that the application 'failed on road safety' and that there was 'sufficient valid policy to reject' the plans.

Town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies also had worries over the impact on traffic.

He said: 'All traffic areas around the site would give me grave concern should this get the go-ahead. It would only increase our congestion problems, rather than help them.'

Councillors also felt the application contravened West Devon Borough Council's Core Strategy, as well as the National Policy Planning Framework.

They also felt it went against recommendations in West Devon's retail study that Okehampton does not need a further supermarket.

Cllr Jan Goffey said: 'Nobody would go to shop at Tesco, then carry their shopping into the town centre and carry on shopping. That makes no sense.

'It would greatly increase congestion on our roads, provide problems for the hospital, police, fire engines, and would put lives at risk.'

While Okehampton Town Council has made a decision to object to the proposals, the planning decision rests ultimately with West Devon Borough Council. Okehampton Town Council is a consultee — its opinion is taken into account by West Devon planners when the decision is made.

Dozens of town residents turned out to raise their points for and against Tesco. Opinion was split on whether the proposals would be good or bad for the town.

Edna Hicks, a resident who lives close to the proposed site, said: 'I live on the link road. Traffic is horrendous. The hospital is there, and if Tesco comes and they are right in the number of cars they expect to visit them, people who live near to where I do won't be able to get in and out of their properties. Property values will go down, and it will be damaging for residents in that part of town.

'It seems to me that common-sense will not prevail if this goes ahead. It will not draw people into the town. It would be a very naive decision if it is put there.'

Simon Tremlett has set up a Facebook group in support of a Tesco store in Okehampton. The group has more than 900 members.

He said: 'We need employment in our town, and Tesco could provide it. I urge the council to judge this on what the whole town needs.'

Ian Bailey, chair of Okehampton Chamber of Trade, was present to share the feelings of chamber members.

He said: 'We, the chamber of trade, represents over 60 businesses in Okehampton and the majority of them are against this proposal. That is all I have to say.'

Darren Bostock, who has been involved with a petition in support of the proposals, said: 'Forty-five businesses have all approved of the application on our petition, which would improve footfall, and draw people into the town. It could be a really good thing for our town.'

Tesco submitted its plans for a store on the Thompsons site on April 3. The planning documentation reveals that the shop car park would have 296 spaces, but the store would have no petrol station, pharmacy, post office or in-store customer café.

A total of 180 full and part-time jobs would be created, though some of those jobs would be taken up by staff brought in from outside Okehampton.

To find out more about the application, visit the West Devon Borough Council planning website, quoting application number 00292/2013.