Letter-writing plea in Whitchurch Tesco fight

Campaigners fighting controversial proposals for an out-of-town Tesco's in Whitchurch are to stage a mass letter-writing campaign in a last ditch bid to halt the plans.

Campaign group Whitchurch 21 is calling on people who object to the scheme to write to councillors and the planning department individually.

More than 3,000 names have been collected on a petition against the scheme, which is earmarked for Edgeley Park.

But campaigners fear it could count as just one objection when the application is considered, so now they want objectors to bombard Shirehall with individual letters.

A public meeting has been called by WH21 for June 14 at Dodington Lodge Hotel, Whitchurch, from 7pm.

Malcolm Donley, WH21 chairman, said: "The aim of this public meeting is to bring everyone up to date on the campaign and to encourage as many objectors as possible to write letters."

Tesco insists its plans would be good for the town by creating jobs and giving shoppers more choice plus revamped sporting facilities at the town's rugby club at Edgeley Park.

Meanwhile, rival retailer Sainsbury's has applied for a new supermarket on London Road, nearer the town centre – the option preferred by WH21 members.

For campaign details visit www.whitchurch21.com