BUDGET food store Lidl is coming to Exmouth, after the plans were rubberstamped on Tuesday afternoon. Just a year after rumours of a new store started circulating, the company has now secured planning permission. District councillors carried the recommend

BUDGET food store Lidl is coming to Exmouth, after the plans were rubberstamped on Tuesday afternoon.Just a year after rumours of a new store started circulating, the company has now secured planning permission.District councillors carried the recommendation made by council officers at the East Devon District Council's development control committee and gave the go-ahead for a 1,272 square metre budget food store in Dinan Way.But approval could make life difficult for planners - just two months after nearby Tesco were refused permission to expand and are now appealing.The Lidl store would share a site with a new enlarged Eurotech factory - safeguarding 140 jobs at the company, and making another 30 at Lidl.Oliver McGuiness, of Lidl, had already said they would do everything they could to ensure new jobs would go to people from Exmouth and the surrounding area.Planning officer Ed Freeman argued the application would help sustain Eurotech, which he said was currently in decline.Exmouth councillor Steve Wragg said: "I think it's an excellent scheme and the public are behind it. There is a lot of excitement over Lidl coming in. It's within policy and we really should be agreeing with this."He added: "It's Christmas come early for the town. What is amazing is a development this size only got two letters of objection."However, Exmouth councillor Geoff Chamberlain was hesitant to approve it after the Tesco application had been rejected - he questioned the difference between them. Tesco is currently appealing the decision.But Cllr Chamberlain backed the plans and said: "It's the choice for Exmouth and the competition is needed. It will benefit the people of Exmouth."Councillor Ann Liverton was less convinced: "I'm afraid I can't accept that it is wholly different from Tesco. Everybody seems to be sure we are going to win this appeal, but I'm not at all sure."She said she was not against the application and felt the store provided high quality goods at cheaper prices. However, she said she had also supported Tesco. She said: "I think we are on very sticky ground with the reasons we have been using when it comes to justification.