A decision about whether to build Medway's first Lidl has been deferred again.

The planning committee at Medway Council has decided to take more time to look over the plans to build the supermarket in Gillingham, not far from an Asda superstore.

The German chain is looking to develop a 1,669 square metre site on land north of Medway Road.

Two letters of objection were handed in from Asda which has a store 400 metres away.

Another was received from Tesco which led the committee to defer the decision, which was originally due to be made on Wednesday, January 15.

There were a total of seven objection letters and several other sites were assessed for their viability to house the supermarket.

These included the former Budgens at Britton Farm Mall in Gillingham, which is set to be redeveloped, and the Trafalgar Centre in Chatham which has been closed since 2014 and was deemed inappropriate.

The planning committee was advised to approve the plans at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday, March 4) after considering the eight alternative sites and concluding the development would "not adversely affect the vitality and viability of existing centres".

However, the decision was deferred after councillors wanted to know more about the possible impact on traffic, parking and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Cllr Stuart Tranter (Con), the committee's vice chairman, said: "We have got to set the bar to make sure we get the best possible development we can in the space."

The site is due to include 97 car parking spaces.

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