Tesco not interested in Whitchurch town centre site

Supermarket giant Tesco today dismissed calls to expand its existing town centre store in Whitchurch saying there are "too many constraints".

Instead the retailer is pressing ahead with multi-million pound plans for a new store and petrol station on the outskirts of town.

It comes after rival supermarket Sainsbury's submitted plans to Shropshire Council for its own new store off London Road, closer to the town centre.

Worried town centre traders have launched a campaign group called WH21 to fight Tesco's proposals. Many say they prefer the Sainsbury's bid, amid claims it will do less harm to the town centre.

Sophie Akokhia, of Tesco, said: "We've been trying to improve our existing Whitchurch store for the last 12 years but there are too many constraints to allow this to happen. We are committed to keeping a store in the town centre and that's why our plans guarantee a Tesco Metro on the White Lion Meadow site."