SUPERMARKET giant Lidl has lost the goodwill of Okehampton residents by continuing to build its new store without full planning permission, a West Devon Borough councillor said this week.

Cllr Richard Eberlie said the people of the town were very angry that work had continued when the concerns of the Environment Agency had not yet been addressed.

But despite this, the council decided not to take action to stop the work this week after officers advised them there was no valid planning reason to do so.

But head of planning and development Stephen Gill said that, strange as it seemed, it was the law that an enforcement notice could not be issued on the basis that the company did not have planning permission.

'There has to be a planning reason and the only outstanding concerns are those from the Environment Agency,' he said. 'We have approached the agency but it has been unable to give us a reason to put in the notice. As far as the agency is concerned things are progressing between it and Lidl albeit slowly.'

Work started on the site several weeks ago following the borough council's decision to approve planning permission but this was granted on the condition that all the concerns of the Environment Agency were met.

The supermarket development in School Way received opposition from local people who were worried about its potential detriment to the Okement rivers which met on the site. They are further angered by the supermarket firm's 'apparent disregard' for the planning authority.

Cllr Eberlie said he was concerned about the council's reputation by not taking enforcement action.

'It is quite clear that the people of Okehampton want us to take enforcement action but it appears the present situation does not allow us to do that,' he said.

'People do not understand how the company can have such little regard for the environment and the river.'

Mr Eberlie said the applicants had lost the confidence of the town and any goodwill they had accrued.

His comments were reiterated by other councillors including Okehampton ward member Joan Pauley who said residents were 'disgusted' after a decision by the planning committee to refuse the supermarket application was overturned by the full council.

Cllr Paul Ridgers said unfortunately what Lidl was doing in Okehampton was indicative of what was happening around the country.

'These big supermarkets are riding roughshod over local planning authorities,' he said. 'My opinion is that Lidl are acting improperly.'

Lidl did not wish to comment.