Objections to plans for a new supermarket as part of The Link development in Hemel Hempstead have been raised on environmental grounds.
Several consultees have opposed the planned Morrisons store on Marlowes, an application for which was submitted at the end of July.
At a public exhibition in April, which was attended by over 750 people, 90 per cent were fully or broadly supportive of the food store and petrol filling station plans.
But an Environment Agency spokesman said the body objects to the plans because the petrol filling station poses a risk to the source of drinking water for Hemel Hempstead, and because of concerns about the welfare of the River Gade and wildlife.
Thames Water have also raised concerns about surface water draining in the new plans, while neighbour Sandra Coates wrote: “I object to the proposal to remove the beautiful trees that have lined the Leighton Buzzard Road for many years, I fail to see how this dreadful act of destruction can be justified.”