The inquiry, chaired by Scottish Executive reporter Miss Janet McNair, is considering three proposals by rival developers for superstores in the town, for which Angus Council have recognised there is a demand.

Angus Council had previously given the go-ahead for McDonald Estates to construct an Asda/Walmart superstore at the Westway Retail Park, ahead of competing bids from Linlathen Developments’ application for a Tesco superstore, on a largely derelict industrial site at Wardmill/Dens Road, and a Bett Properties’ application, for an as-yet-un-named operator, on the site of the former Westburn Foundry.

Both Linlathen Developments and Bett Properties appealed against the council’s decision and their applications, along with that of McDonald Estates, form the basis for the inquiry.

Mr Scott said the council’s preference for the Westway site was based on the assessment that this location was already an established major employment and retail destination for both car and non-car-borne visitors from Arbroath and the surrounding area. A superstore on the site would benefit from the ongoing upgrading of the A92 between Arbroath and Dundee and help reverse the current trend of “leakage” from Arbroath to superstores in Dundee. However, if no new superstore was built in Arbroath, then the effect of the A92 upgrading would be to increase that leakage due to the increased ease with which people from the Arbroath retail catchment area could make the trip to Dundee.

The Wardmill/Dens Road and Westburn sites have been rejected by Angus Council as being too close to the town’s only existing superstore — Safeway in Hume Street — which Mr Scott said would create an over-concentration of such facilities in the town centre.

He said any such development on either of these sites would also have a serious impact on the Co-op Abbeygate store, which had already seen its turnover and profits affected by the Safeway development.

The inquiry continues.