Traders fear Tesco plan

12:59pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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Faringdon is divided over the possibility of Tesco setting up shop in the town after it acquired a site in the town's Park Road.

Spokesman Felix Gummer said: "We have bought the initial site and we are in further discussions about other neighbouring sites. We're talking about a supermarket, but we don't know the size yet.

"At the moment, the vast majority of people do their major food shopping outside Faringdon and we want to enable them to do it in Faringdon. It will also bring jobs.

"We will be doing a full public consultation before any planning application is submitted."

Budgens, in Marlborough Street, is the only supermarket in the town centre.

Rob Blackburn, owner of the Manna delicatessen, in Market Place, said: "Because they're going to be three quarters of a mile from the town centre, it will be terrible for all the businesses in the town."

Alan Hickmore, chairman of the town council's planning committee, said: "There is quite a lot of controversy in the town over it - there is a bit of a split.

"There's a need for people who don't have vehicles and can't get out of town to take advantage of the cheap prices. But it needs to be balanced, we do have two butchers and a baker, and they could suffer."