'Eyesore' site bid set to be shelved

It is understood officials have recommended the plans - put forward by site owner Morbaine, which has entered into an agreement with Sainsbury's - be refused.

Members of the local community admitted they had heard "negative" rumours about the fate of the proposal, and said it would be "staggering" if the planning department chose to ignore the overwhelming support from residents.

Longstone Community Council recently handed in a petition with more than 500 signatures in support of the supermarket, which would bring the badly vandalised site back into use and provide a facility many residents feel is long-overdue in the area.

The supermarket would also create around 165 full-time and 330 part-time jobs.

Longstone Community Council planning officer Steuart Campbell, a former architect, said: "It is pretty unusual for a community to be so supportive of a supermarket development, and I would say part of that is down to the problems of this derelict site being left vacant.

"I cannot understand why they would go against the clear support of the local people.

"As I understand it, there is a feeling that this supermarket isn't needed in the local area, but I do not see what that has to do with the council.

"They have a responsibility to see derelict sites cleaned up and put back into use.

"The offering here for shopping isn't great and this would be a significant improvement."

The site has been vacant since B&Q closed down in 2009, and Mr Campbell said members of the community council were hoping to make their case heard at a planning meeting next week, where councillors will decide whether to refuse the plans.

Local councillor Donald Wilson said he was not aware of the recommendation, but admitted he had heard about the concerns.

"It is quite unusual to get so many people from a community coming out in support of a supermarket, so it would be surprising if this application were refused," he said.