Community leaders visited the sites of two proposed multi-million pound superstores at Felixstowe to get to grips with the lay-out of the projects before they make their decisions.

At the 30-acre Walton Green site, where Tesco want to build a 30,000sq ft supermarket, members of the Walton Felixstowe Community First group watched proceedings from Walton High Street.

Roy Gray, from the action group, said it had been decided not to hold a formal protest.

He said: “We have lodged our formal objections, as have many residents.

“However, we believe there have been far more than 600 objections which the council has noted – we are concerned that each household’s letter is being counted as one objection, rather than how many people in that household have signed the letter.

“We believe the figure is closer to 1,000, plus the numbers of people who have signed petitions.”

Members of Suffolk Coastal council’s south area development control committee were given a guided tour of the site so they could see where the store, 200 homes, business units, live-work properties, community building, cafe and allotments will go.

Guided by head of planning, Philip Ridley, the councillors were also shown old redundant stables and the site of Felixstowe Rifle Club, which will be demolished as part of the development and moved to new premises at Trimley St Mary.

They also studied the road and traffic situation on Walton High Street, with the new £20million Felixstowe Academy under construction opposite the Walton Green development and plans for 190 homes on a field next to the school.

Later they visited the site at Haven Exchange, Walton Avenue, where Asda want to build a 20,000sq ft store. The £12m scheme will include a petrol filling station – with an office block demolished to make way for it.

The site already has permission for non-food retail development.