SUPERMARKET giant Tesco aims to submit a formal planning application for a new store in?Okehampton by the end of this month.

The company has been working on a planning application for a new food store in the town off Link Road and North Road. The retailer had previously aimed to submit a planning application by last Christmas, but a series of surveys and technical reports took longer than expected.

Tesco announced last May its intention to create a 31,000 sq ft store with up to 270 free car parking spaces on the site.

The store would be built on the Thompsons Devon site if given the go-ahead. It would create around 180 new full-time and part-time jobs. Employees at Thompsons Devon would be given an opportunity to interview at Tesco.

Spokesperson for Tesco Melanie Chiswell said: 'There was nothing in particular that has slowed the process down, we just want to make sure everything is as it should be. With Christmas and January being such busy times of the year, it has just taken a little longer than originally anticipated.'

The new store bid has divided opinion across the town.

Town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies said: 'I have had some very strong comment both in favour and against Tesco potentially coming to Okehampton.

' I think in all fairness we need to assess the planning application on its own merits when it is actually submitted. As a town council we can only comment in a consultative capacity and the decision rests with West Devon Borough Council.

'People living in Okehampton can certainly attend our town council planning committee meeting when the Tesco application is received and make their views known. In fact, I would rather welcome as much community comment and involvement as possible.'

Okehampton Community First, an off-shoot of the town's chamber of trade, carried out a survey last year, asking residents for their views on whether the town needs a new supermarket, and their other shopping habits and requirements.

The survey results showed that the majority of people who responded were against another large supermarket in the town.

But more than 900 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, encouraging people to sign up to show their support for a branch of the supermarket in the town.

Darren Bostock, of Bostock Garden Centre and Okehampton Cycles, has been involved with the petition. He said: 'The petition has had a good response — around 180 signatures in total on paper and from the website, plus around 40 businesses have signed a seperate petition for businesses so far.

'The majority of business people I have spoken to, including the pubs and businesses on Exeter Road Industrial Estate, have been in support of Tesco.

'My point would be that Okehampton used to be a major shopping hub for people living within about ten miles of the town, from places like Chagford, Hatherleigh, Bratton Clovelly, and other towns and villages. I don't think we attract those people in any more.

'We have some great businesses in town but with so many doing their main shop in other towns we are all missing out on that follow-on shopping.

'I am hoping that Tesco would draw those people back into the town, and increase footfall for businesses.'