A BUDGET supermarket chain has been given more time to bring a store to Pembroke Dock.

Full planning permission to build an Aldi food store and a car park at Waterloo Garage was granted on November 10, 2009 with a condition that construction must start within five years.

But five days before that permission was due to expire, Aldi’s application came back before the County Council’s planning committee asking for the time limit to be extended.

Case officers recommended the application for approval, subject to conditions which included a standard time limit for implementation.

Councillor Brian Hall said: “It’s the shop we require and I would like to see it open by Easter next year.

“I’m glad to see it moving forward.”

Cllr Tony Wilcox questioned whether things were actually moving forward.

He said: “They (Aldi) have had five years and nothing has happened. The cynical side of me says perhaps they’re land banking this because there are other major retailers which would like to move into Pembroke Dock.

“They can’t just sit on this land forever. I would like to see a condition added to prompt them to move.”

Cllr Bob Kilmister said: “I don’t think this is being land banked, I would suggest Aldi are fully committed to it. If it was a property developer making the application I would be far more cynical.”

Councillors were unanimous in voting in favour of approving the application.