A FIERCELY-fought campaign against a Tesco store in an Essex town was won last night.

A FIERCELY-fought campaign against a Tesco store in an Essex town was won last night.

The proposal for an Express store at a former garage in Frinton was unanimously rejected by Tendring councillors at a meeting of the development control committee.

Planning officers had recommended the application, which included 13 flats at the site in Walton Road, should be turned down because of planning policy and concerns about access. Last night councillors backed up the officers' recommendation.

The proposal had been opposed with a petition which was signed by thousands of people and gathered by newsagents Chris and David Nelder whose business was next to the Tesco site.

The couple have run C&D Nelder's Newsagents for 14 years and feared their livelihood would be lost if the Tesco Express was given the go-ahead.

Speaking to the EADT Mrs Nelder said: “They are right next door to us, so it would be direct competition if they did get the go-ahead.

“Once Tesco gets in somewhere, everything else seems to shut down and die. They have their supermarkets in Colchester and Clacton.”

It was the second time the application had been submitted after the original was amended.

Carol Leslie, Tesco spokeswoman, said last week: “We think this is an excellent location for a convenience food store and there is genuine support from local people.”