A PETITION has been set up calling for plans for a supermarket on wasteland to be dropped.

A Conservative councillor has broken ranks with his ruling party on Taunton Deane Borough Council to oppose a multi-million scheme approved for Firepool, in Taunton.

County councillor Giuseppe Fraschini says he would rather see "a venue that would attract visitors to the town" than another supermarket.

The district council's planning committee last Wednesday approved outline proposals for the supermarket, shops, flats, offices, restaurants and pubs and leisure faiclities on the site of the former cattle market, which closed in 2008.

He hopes to collect 200 signatures on his petition.

His petition says: "It has taken 10 years for these plans to finally get the go ahead and we feel the proposals completely lack ambition.

"Taunton doesn’t need another supermarket. It already has two Sainsbury’s superstores; one Asda superstore; two Lidls; one Morrisons superstore; one Tesco superstore; plus countless Express stores, multiple Co-op stores and an Aldi.

"What we need is VISION for this site that could really be a cultural hub for our county town.

"We ask the planning committee and the council’s officers to re-explore the possibility of an all-purpose venue that could host concerts, theatre shows, exhibitions, comedy shows, community projects and so on.

"Taunton needs a venue that can continually attract visitors to experience our town, not just through the cricket season.

"Taunton needs an identity and this could be the perfect place to begin."