A SUPERMARKET has refused to say whether a planned £10m expansion of its Witham store will still go ahead, two years after gaining planning permission.

Morrisons fought a three-year battle with Braintree Council over plans to expand its Braintree Road store by 70 per cent.

The work would create up to 50 new jobs and trigger an £80,000 contribution from the firm to pay for town centre improvements.

Two bids were rejected by Braintree Council before the scheme was finally approved by a planning inspector on appeal in February 2014.

However, when the Times asked Morrisons when the work would start a spokesman simply said: “No further update at this stage.”

When asked if the company is still planning to go ahead with the scheme, he said people would be informed when there was any update.

Rob Williams, a member of Marketing Witham, said he was disappointed there had been no progress.

He said: “I have heard they were going to proceed with it. In this current period of uncertainty and doubt I don’t know if anything is guaranteed any more.

“I know what was intended and it was very much welcomed by the people of Witham.

“I don’t know what their plans are in the long term, in light of Aldi going up.”

Last month, Morrisons announced it could close its Braintree store, along with six others nationwide, but Mr Williams said he was not concerned about the future of the Witham site.

He said: “They have done very well out of Witham. It’s been a strong store for them.

“Personally, I am a shopper there so anything they can do to improve it is good for me and it’s good for the town.

“It’s one of the largest supermarkets in the town and it’s well used.

"The town would appreciate it being expanded as much as possible.”

The supermarket has until February 11, 2017, to start work.

Residents had signed a 25-page petition and sent about 140 letters and in support of Morrisons before Braintree Council refused planning permission in February 2013.