CUSTOMERS will have to wait a bit longer to see if they will be doing their weekly shop at a new Sainsbury’s store in Holmes Chapel after a decision on the plans was deferred at last night's council meeting.

The supermarket giant wants to build a store, car park and four pump petrol station on the former Fisons site on London Road creating 175 new jobs.

The scheme, which was recommended for approval by planning officers at Cheshire East Council last night, includes a 4,193-squaremetre food and retail store and 267 car parking spaces as well as two new controlled pedestrian crossings on London Road.

Clerk to Holmes Chapel Parish Council, Nicola Clarke, said that the parish council support the plans in the view that a new supermarket would boost the economy of the parish by encouraging parishioners to stay in the town.

She said: “The council is in favour of the supermarket on London Road.

“It will hopefully encourage people to stay in Holmes Chapel to do their shopping and use the local shops and facilities at the same time. “The proposed site is looking very untidy, and although the frontage of the old Fisons has been an iconic landmark in the village, the supermarket will bring jobs and money into Holmes Chapel.”

Some 32 letters have been received in support of the application agreeing that Holmes Chapel needs a new supermarket, with many residents currently having to travel to other towns to do their weekly shop.

However, there were 11 letters of objection which highlighted the size of the proposed store, saying it would be too small to be able to do a large, weekly shop, but planners claim it will cater for a weekly or bulk food shopping trip.

Other residents claimed the retention of the Art Deco building had not been adequately considered.

The site was previously occupied by Sanofi Aventis, a pharmaceutical company which still has the adjacent premises to the south.