THE date when the planning application to decide whether Waitrose is permitted to build a store in Wimborne has been delayed.

East Dorset District Council was due to hold a special meeting of their planning committee on January 28 and had provisionally booked the Allendale Centre, as they expected significant interest from the public.

Council officials have said the delay will allow time for additional material to be produced by the supermarket chain. No new date has yet been set.

The application is for a new retail store, access and associated works and new riverside park on the site of Wimborne Cricket Ground on Rowlands Hill.

Earlier this year the cricketers were granted permission to move to The Leaze, at the rear of Wimborne Model Town.

Mike Hirsh, head of planning and building control at East Dorset District Council said: "Following on from consultations conducted by the council and analysis of the application, further informa-tion is required on a number of key matters including drainage and highways issues.

"A provisional date of January 28 had been proposed for a special meeting of the council's planning committee.

"However, to conduct the meeting on this date would not allow enough time for Waitrose to submit the additional information and planning officers to prepare their report.

"The meeting has, therefore, had to be postponed. A future date will be announced as soon as a further meeting has been arranged."

As the Echo has previously reported, councillors have agreed they will hold a site visit before they discuss the application.

Members of Wimborne Chamber of Trade have said they back the proposal.

But protesters including members of Keep Wimborne Town Green who turned out on the last day of the public display of the plans pleaded with officials not to "bulldoze paradise and put up a parking lot".