A RESIDENTS' survey has revealed that 90 per cent of people in an East Yorkshire market town are against a giant superstore being built on the former cattle market site there.
Residents Sarah and Mark Blakeston were galvanised into action after it was claimed that there had only been one objection to proposals for a superstore on the Driffield Cattle Market site.
The pair distributed 3,500 forms to residents and busines
ses, asking whether they would like to see either a supermarket and cinema on the site, or community facilities or no preference.
More than 1,100 people returned the form – with 90 per cent against the superstore plans.
Six per cent who wanted another supermarket said they would prefer it on an alternative site.
Planners have rejected one application for the site, but have yet to decide on an alternative proposal including a 4,600 sq m store – run by an as yet unnamed chain – and 100-seat cinema.
East Riding Council owns the car park, forming part of the development site.
Mr Blakeston said: "We think they will railroad it through but when you get thousands of survey results – more than 10 per cent of the voting population – you would think that local politicians would take some notice.
"I think there is a lot of funding available for community projects but they are taking the easy option. We are not against development of the site but it needs to be something appropriate and sustainable.
"A lot of our respondents said they wanted something for the younger generation and something they could take pride in."
As well as the cattle market site councillors also have to decide on another application to increase the size of the town's Tesco store by 1,783 sq metres.
Both applications have stirred up controversy with some fearing for independent retailers.
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