By Dave GooderhamAN historic market town setting could become a thing of the past if a plan to allow a supermarket to double in size is approved, a councillor has warned.

By Dave Gooderham

AN historic market town setting could become a thing of the past if a plan to allow a supermarket to double in size is approved, a councillor has warned.

Babergh district councillors have been urged to turn down the expansion plan for the Tesco store in Sudbury when they discuss the application next week.

Nick Irwin, a town and district councillor, warned the future of the town centre was under threat if Tesco was given the go-ahead to expand its store on the Woodhall Business Park.

“This expansion would have a detrimental effect on the town centre. Before Tesco opened, we had grocers, butchers, bakers, petrol stations and what have we got now?,” said Mr Irwin, a former Sudbury mayor.

“Although the majority of people in the town probably shop at Tesco, I imagine these expansion plans would be very worrying for local businesses.

“Sudbury is known as a quaint market town - people move to the area because it is such a fantastic place. But now Tesco could expand to such an extent that we could lose our whole market town image.

“I just hope councillors remember Sudbury is a market town and remember that we can buck the national trend and we don't have to be like everywhere else and be dominated by a big superstore.”

Tesco Stores Ltd has submitted a plan to extend the existing store, giving additional retail and storage floor space, almost 140 extra car parking spaces and creating 60 full-time jobs.

A report to Babergh District Council said the store was currently over trading, creating “uncomfortable conditions” within the store and car park.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the application when they meet on September 14, subject to any adverse comments from the public consultation process.

No-one from Tesco was available for comment yesterday.

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk