COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a controversial discount supermarket on one of Morecambe's most prominent seafront sites despite a series of objections.

Planners originally turned down a scheme for an Aldi store on the site of the Empire Buildings on Marine Road West because of doubts about access.

However, despite significant opposition, councillors voted by a margin of 10 to six to approve a new application.

As well as some local councillors, the scheme was opposed by Morecambe Neighbourhood Council and the local chamber of commerce.

Cllr Pat England told the meeting: "People should come and look at what Morecambe will be like when the promenade is just a car park.

"I feel like I'm speaking for the whole of Morecambe. This is not a ward where there are neighbours who can object."

Cllr June Ashworth added: "I really am dismayed by this application. I just feel that the promenade is not the most appropriate site for it.

"I just wonder what happened to their first appearance at Heysham Road illuminations depot? It would have been more beneficial for the people of the West End to have had it there."

Cllr Jean Yates supported the application, saying that previous leisure attractions on the site had failed.

"I would love to see Morecambe as a leisure attraction," she said: "but we cannot expect people to invest in this site if they are going to go broke."

Responding to calls for an examination of the impact of the development on the town centre, planning committee chairman, Cllr Keith Budden said: "If the power was there to do that, we could use it. In this case, it is not."

Planners said that previous reasons for rejecting the scheme had been dealt with in the new application.

They were unable to find any planning grounds for rejecting the application as the site lies within the designated town centre area. It was also pointed out that planning permission already existed which would allow Aldi to move in to the current buildings immediately.