SUPERMARKET developers will fight on despite withdrawing a controversial scheme at the 11th hour.

Kimberley Developments want to build a store on the Fairview car park in Alsager, a scheme opposed by parents, shopkeepers and teachers.

The company withdrew the scheme on Monday, the day before it was due to be discussed by borough councillors.

Kimberley is due to revise the scheme to include a smaller supermarket, and aims to resubmit the plans in the next six weeks.

The plans sparked major opposition from local people and shopkeepers, many of whom were due to attend Tuesday's meeting at Sandbach Town Hall.

Planning chief Geoff Allen recommended refusal of the scheme for various reasons, including the "excessive" size.

Philip Pearce, a director of Kimberley, said it was apparent from comments by residents and in Mr Allen's report it was believed the proposed store was out of scale for Alsager.

He said while Kimberley believed there was a demand for a store of the size proposed it had listened to those views and withdrawn the application with a view to resubmitting the scheme incorporating a smaller store.