RETAIL giant Tesco has lodged its planning application for a new store in Okehampton.

The supermarket has been working for several months on a planning application for a new food store on the Thompsons Devon site on the North Road Industrial Estate. It submitted plans to West Devon Borough Council last Wednesday.

The retailer had previously aimed to submit plans by Christmas 2012, and then by the end of February this year. The plans were delayed as a series of surveys and technical reports took longer than expected.

Spokesperson for Tesco Melanie Chiswell said: 'We will be talking to people who registered their support during consultation, and those with concerns can register them with the planning authority.

'We are very encouraged by the level of support from people in the town, who have said they would like to see increased choice and competition.

'We have also had people, who are concerned with the traffic congestion in the town centre, say that this store will help with that by moving the intensity of the traffic away from the centre.'

The shop car park would have 296 car parking spaces with up to two hours of free parking, but no petrol station, pharmacy, post office or in-store customer café.

If given the go-ahead, the store, with a sales area of 3,242 square metres, would create around 180 new full-time and part-time jobs. Employees at Thompsons Devon would be given an opportunity to interview at Tesco, with the depot relocating to Moretonhampstead.

The issue has divided opinion across the town. In their 'Statement of Community Involvement', Tesco say that more than 70% of those who attended their public exhibition in May 2012 expressed support for a new Tesco store.

But Okehampton Community First carried out a survey last year, asking residents of Okehampton for their thoughts on whether the town needs a new supermarket. The survey results showed that the majority of people who responded were against another large supermarket in the town.

Town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies, who has heard both sides of the argument from many townspeople, said: 'It is something I have spoken to lots of people about, and the town is split. A lot of people are for it, and there are a lot of people very against it. I am open to hearing from people about their opinions.'

The mayor also said the council may hold a public meeting to discuss the Tesco application, although that has yet to be decided upon.

More than 950 people have joined a Facebook campaign supporting Tesco's plans to come to Okehampton. Set up by Simon Tremlett and Joanna Hunt, the page has inspired an independent website with an online petition.

Darren Bostock, of Bostock Garden Centre and Okehampton Cycles, has been involved with the petition. While fully in support of the application, he was disappointed with the news that the current proposal offers only two hours of free parking.

He said: 'I do feel the support is overwhelming. I have hardly come across anyone who is against the store coming here. For many people it seems a no-brainer.

'The store would be out far enough for good car access, but in town enough that it is walkable. The walk into town from the site is flat, and would offer increased access to this part of town.

'Though if they only offer two hours of free parking, that would not be enough. I think to benefit the town centre and the community, they could increase that by more. Two hours is not enough time to walk around the town centre, have lunch, and do shopping.'

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