Opening date announced for new Dalton Park Morrisons petrol station and kiosk - but no news yet on main supermarket

The planned store, which is currently seeking a licence to sell alcohol from Durham County Council, is expected to start trading from Monday June 8.

But the firm has been criticised for refusing to commit to a date to get a new supermarket on the site up and running.

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“I would like to see Morrisons open a supermarket at Dalton Park, as promised and planned,” said Easington MP Grahame Morris.

“If not, I believe they should actively seek to sub-let the empty retail unit to another business.

“I believe Morrisons would be popular and successful at Dalton Park, as we have few alternative supermarkets in East Durham.

“However, Morrisons do not agree, and instead are happy to hold a lease on an empty retail unit, rather than putting it to use for the benefit of the wider community.

“There are many suggestions from the community about how the empty retail unit could be used; however, as the leaseholder, Morrisons controls the site."

Plans for a petrol station and supermarket to be added to the existing retail park were given the go-ahead by county planning chiefs in 2014.

The keys to the site were later handed to Morrisons as part of its £45million expansion plans into Murton.

But in 2016 shoppers were left in limbo when the retailer put its plans on hold.

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “We plan to open the Dalton Park petrol station and kiosk next week to help improve the community’s access to fuel and essential products.

“At this stage we have no immediate plans to operate the main store building and continue to review options for its use.”

The supermarket chain has submitted plans for the planned petrol station to sell alcohol and hot food from the planned store in Murton up to midnight seven days a week.

Morrisons has added the store will open as planned whether or not the licence application is approved in time.

The public have until Monday June 8 to submit comments on the proposals to Durham County Council.