PLYMOUTH Road on the edge of Tavistock is set to get a boost after planners gave the go-ahead for two new stores on Tuesday, including a Lidl supermarket.

West Devon Borough Council's planning committee voted five to three, with one abstention, to give Lidl approval to redevelop the site of the former MacDonald's, piano centre and Refurnish shop.

Members also went against their own planning policy to allow a Halfords store in part of the former Focus-Do-It-All building — which had been earmarked as employment rather than retail land — because it would bring 20 jobs and improve a site which was rapidly becoming an eyesore.

It was the second planning attempt by Lidl in two months. A proposal was rejected in October together with an application by Sainsbury's to build a superstore next to Morrison's in Plymouth Road — planners thought they would have a detrimental effect on the vitality and viability of town centre shops.

But Lidl's new application included a covenant restricting the use of the store to a 'hard discounter' — only Lidl, Aldi and Netto currently came under that category.

The company also provided an updated retail assessment. Planning officers considered the plan worthy of approval as they felt it would have a limited impact on the town centre, especially with a restricted range of goods.

Cllr John Young said: 'We have to think on behalf of the people who cannot afford to go to the more expensive shops. Also, whilst there may be some people who will only shop outside the town centre if we have a Lidl, I think a store like this will bring people from a greater area to Tavistock who will also shop in the town centre.'

Cllr Mandy Govier said in the current economic climate this type of store was 'desperately needed' in Tavistock.

'I cannot see how this will have a huge impact on the town. Tavistock is where people come for specialist goods and gifts.'

Cllr Denis Bater said the main hub in Tavistock was its pannier market and people would still go there regardless of whether a Lidl came to town.

But some councillors were adamant that a Lidl store would be detrimental.

Cllr John Hockridge said: 'I have nothing against this particular discount store — it does a great job but it is too far away from the town centre.

'It saddens me to think that the main shopping will be taken away from the centre when there are established shops in Tavistock that have been around a very long time.'

Founder of the opposition group the Brook Campaign and chairman of the chamber of trade Nigel Eadie said he was very disappointed.

'So much has been done in the town to try and promote and enhance the viability of the town centre and this is like being snubbed by the planning committee. It threatens all that hard work that has been done.'

Meanwhile traders at the Plymouth Road Industrial Estate were celebrating that the committee had gone against planning officers' advice and allowed part of the former Focus-Do-It-All building to be converted from employment use to retail use.

Despite fears that eleven car parking spaces were inadequate to serve the store, members felt the conversion of 6,000 sq ft of the building to a Halfords store would be beneficial to other traders on the estate and help attract people into Tavistock.

Cllr Alison Clish Green said: 'If someone is prepared to come to Tavistock and give us 20 new jobs I think that is a key issue that we should take that on board. A job is a job, whether it is in the employment or retail sector.'

Planning officer Ed Persse said West Devon lacked high quality skilled jobs and employment land was designated for this reason. The authority hoped to attract firms which could boost the skilled labour force and in turn improve wages in the area. Retail jobs tended to be low paid, he said.