THE controversial bid by supermarket giant Asda to open a new store on Bishopdown Farm has been taken out of the hands of local councillors and will be decided by a government planning inspector.

This follows a decision by Asda to lodge an appeal with the department of the environment, on the grounds that Salisbury district council had failed to make a final decision on its application.

Last week, the district council's city area planning committee reiterated its opposition to a food store on the site off Pearce Way and the London Road, at the Hampton Park roundabout.

It is expected that the council's planning and regulatory committee will adopt a similar stance when it debates Asda's application at its meeting later in August.

City committee planning chairman Sue Mallory said councillors were opposed to a supermarket out of town because of its effect on the vitality and viability of the city centre.

The Bishopdown Farm Residents' Association has welcomed the committee's decision to oppose a food store on the site.

In a statement issued on Monday, the association said: "We were delighted with the response of the councillors, who appeared determined to carry through the inner city developments and support city development, rather than any further developments on the outskirts of our city."

The association said that, now the Sainsbury redevelopment scheme for the Maltings had received permission from the committee, perhaps the government would "look kindly on the feelings expressed by the council".

In a survey undertaken by the association last year, 98 per cent of the respondents were concerned at the increase in traffic there would be on the London Road if the supermarket were built - that was 20 per cent of those surveyed.

Simon Hoare, spokesman for Asda, said they were disappointed with the decision, particularly as Asda felt they had "immense support" in the local community.

He said their research had indicated that there was more support for a food store than for a retail park.

Mr Hoare said it was an unusual step for Asda to lodge an appeal against a council's non-determination of an application but in this case they felt it had gone on for long enough without a decision.

He added: "In the meantime, we shall continue with the appeal and see what comes out of the August committee meeting of the planning regulatory committee."