A late objection from another retailer has put plans for a new supermarket in Maryport on hold again.

Allerdale’s development panel met in Wigton on Tuesday to debate the application from the Co-op, which plans to return to the town and build on the Greggains site on Curzon Street – a building that has been empty for some time and is falling into disrepair.

But the discussion was halted by a late objection from a barrister representing another retailer.

The name of the business he was representing was not revealed in public, but it is understood that it is one of the grocery stores in the vicinity.

Maryport mayor, Peter Kendall, attended the Wigton meeting to speak on behalf of the town council.

He said he welcomed as much variety as possible in the town “because it would help to stop people from going outside of Maryport to shop.”

But he said the town council had reservations based on traffic numbers.

“Spar, Lidl and B&M all have their own entrance and egress.

“The plans for the Co-op would impact on residents in Station Road and some on Selby Terrace,” he said.

He added that the recently-closed Factory Shop on Senhouse Street could be a preferable site.

“Although, saying that, I would like to see something done with Greggains.

“If the developers were prepared to widen the back lanes on Station Street we might be more inclined to support the plan.”

For many years, until the arrival of Heron’s in Senhouse Street, the Co-op, was the only supermarket in Maryport.

The store appeared to struggle after a huge Lidl supermarket was built next door on Allerdale council land.

It was then sold to B&M .

In the meantime, a smaller Spar shop had been operating by the Curzon Street petrol station.

It was demolished and a larger store built.

The Spar shop was reopened several months ago and has a more extensive interior and more variety of goods.

Prior to the deferment, Allerdale planners had proposed that the plans for the Co-op be accepted on the grounds that: “The proposal will see the redevelopment and reuse of a dilapidated building for retail use.”

No date has yet been set for a presentation of the barrister’s evidence.