CONTROVERSY has broken out over an out-of-town retail shop at a North Tawton factory which traders feel could have a detrimental effect on the town centre.
Businesses fear if the shop is given the go-ahead by West Devon Borough Council next month it could grow into supermarket proportions.
Glanbia Foods, who are seeking retrospective planning permission for change of use, opened the shop at Taw Valley Creamery (Cheese Factory) just before Christmas.
The move was originally supported by North Tawton Town Council and the North Tawton Town Businesses because it was billed as a 'factory shop' selling cheese and dairy products at the end of factory tours — but their tune has changed since it started selling groceries at discounted prices.
Spokesperson for North Tawton Town Businesses Nigel Davies said: 'We assumed the shop would sell cheese and we have no problem with that because it is a cheese factory.
'We did not expect to see toiletries, dog food, biscuits and confectionery. It's like a mini supermarket and our main concern is that a lot of stuff is being sold cheaper than retailers in the town can buy it for.'
Mr Davies said the last thing the town needed was a migration of trade away from the town square which was the main shopping area of North Tawton.
Taw Valley Creamery produces five varieties of cheese and whey which is used in a variety of products — but Glanbia as a group makes ingredients for a vast range of goods.
'Glanbia is involved with an extensive number of products so are all of these going to be sold in the shop, the majority of which have nothing to with cheese?' said Mr Davies.
'If the company gets a general trading licence it could sell anything it wants and there is plenty of space on site to expand.'
He added that Taw Valley Creamery was a very important business to the town and employed a lot of people, but creating a general retail shop on site was not good for the town as a whole.
'I have no problem with a shop at the end of factory tour but if you end a tour with a cheese shop you would not expect to find toilet rolls,' he said.
Clerk to North Tawton Town Council, Alison Baker said the authority supported a factory shop, which would help to bring visitors into North Tawton, but not if it was going to cripple the town centre.
'The goods are at prices which cannot be matched by the supermarkets let alone the town traders,' she said.
The application by Glanbia Foods was deferred by members of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee at their last meeting to allow officers to investigate the issue further.
In a report to the planning committee, officer John Milverton said the intention by the applicants was to develop a higher profile for the business and to promote the site as a location for educational and recreational visits.
The shop would be a flagship for the creamery's products and cater for increased visitor numbers, selling a range of cheese, meat, discounted groceries, branded products and souvenir items.
Mr Milverton said there was a need to ensure that a retail outlet on the site did not undermine North Tawton as a local centre.
He has suggested a condition be imposed so the proportion of non-dairy or food products shall not be more than 15 per cent of the turnover.
Glanbia Foods and Taw Valley Creamery did not wish to comment.