Councillors back fight against supermarket growth

Councillors have joined forces with Shrewsbury residents to fight multi-million pound expansion plans by Sainsbury's - amid fears it could sound a death knell for the town centre.

Members of Shrewsbury Town Council's planning committee have agreed to support a letter by Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association, which claims plans at the Meole Brace store, which may create up to 70 jobs, will take trade away from town centre shops.

It comes after plans for a new Tesco store in Tenbury Wells which divided residents were thrown out by planning bosses last night.

And today Asda guaranteed to sell groceries at least 10 per cent cheaper than all its major competitors as it battles to win shoppers struggling with VAT and soaring household bills.

Helen Ball, clerk of Shrewsbury Town Council, today said the damage caused by the Sainsbury's scheme would be heightened because of Shropshire Council's recent controversial decision to grant Tesco's retrospective planning permission to increase the amount of space it uses for non grocery goods at its Extra store in Shrewsbury.

Mrs Ball said: "The applicants say it's only an insignificant impact on the town centre but when do these various insignificant increases add up to present a significant impact?"

Applause and whistles from the crowd of more than 80 at the Malvern Hills District Council development control meeting in Tenbury Wells, greeted last night's decision to throw out plans for a Tesco in Tenbury Wells.

The shop, which would have had a sales area of 1,453sqm, was planned at the former cattle market site.