Town could get new supermarket

By Ted Jeory

A SUPERMARKET chain has proposed closing a town centre store and replacing it with a major superstore on the outskirts.

Supermarket giant Tesco has lodged an application at Tendring District Council to build a new store on the £30million Brook Park development, off London Road in Clacton.

Council planning officer Peter LeGrys said Tesco had stated within its application its smaller store in the town centre would be shut, forcing people to shop at the proposed supermarket on the outskirts.

Designs for new Tesco - which could open 24 hours a day - were put on display yesterday at a roadshow at St John's Church Hall, Great Clacton, giving the public their first chance to air their views.

Howard Bolton, from Great Clacton, said: “If this means the closing of the Tesco in town, there's no away this should go ahead.

“It's taking away an amenity from people who do not have transport - why should they be forced to go further afield?

“Our town can and will die if this happens. Look at what they're doing with the tourist information centre, moving that away from the centre - it's ridiculous.”

But Gregory Beaumont, from Holland on Sea, was in favour. “I used to be a small grocer myself, so I've seen these large stores come in,” he said.

“We need healthy competition - it drives prices lower and they have a far better selection of things you can buy, but they need to ensure that pollution and noise levels are kept to a minimum.”

Clacton-based developers Britton Construction fought a 10-year battle to win the right to develop Brook Park.

Work has started at the site, which will include a petrol station and a 34-acre country park.

The plan for the supermarket is currently at the consultation stage and is due to go before Tendring District Council's planning committee in October.

ted.jeory@eadt.co.uk