A CONTROVERSIAL planning application that would have seen dry cleaning and other services offered from a 'pod' outside a Launceston supermarket has been unanimously refused by Cornwall Councillors.

Tesco Stores Ltd had submitted an application for a pod for dry cleaning, key cutting, shoe, watch and jewellery repairs and engraving services.

The retail pod, which would have been operated by Timpson Ltd with one full-time member of staff, would have been situated on the existing paved area next to the main store and bus stop.

Speaking on the application at Cornwall Council's East Sub-Area Planning Committee meeting in Liskeard on Monday, Marshall Plummer from the council's development management team said: "The key issue here is the impact on town centre uses."

The application had been recommended for approval in a report to the committee and Mr Plummer added: "What the report concludes is that given the scale of this development, its impact on the health of Launceston town centre is likely to be very limited to the extent that it would be very hard to define the extent of adverse impact."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.