TOWN councillors in Tenbury have failed to make up their minds on the latest planning application by Tesco.

The impasse comes just three months after councillors did a Uturn and recommended approval for a previous supermarket plan only two weeks after rejecting the proposal.

This is the third time Tesco has submitted a plan for a supermarket on the former cattlemarket site.

The latest will be determined by Malvern Hills District Council planners on March 7, at Tenbury High School.

Town councillors this week elected to defer their decision on a revised scheme because they want more information.

Ultimately, it is the district council which has the power to approve the plan, with the town council operating in an advisory role.

When the town council recommended approval of the last set of plans it did so with serious reservations and added a long list of conditions largely concerned with safety issues.

It is still not satisfied its concerns have been addressed and wants more time before making another recommendation to the district council.

However, it is recommending permission is given for the demolition of the old infirmary building on the former cattle market site .

In doing so, it rejected a plea from Peter Norman of local organisation Tenbury Futures which had argued that the one-time hospital and more recently the Russell, Baldwin and Bright building should be retained for its historic importance and character.

Councillor Tony Penn, Tenbury district council member and chairman of the planning committee said: “I do not foresee any further delays and think it best if the matter is resolved one way or the other.”

In the event of the application being refused Tesco would have the option of going to appeal.

If the plans are approved then objectors could have the right to go to judicial review if they considered the determination had been mishandled.