Anti-Tesco campaign claims support

CAMPAIGNERS against plans by an order of nuns to sell convent land for a £40m Tesco supermarket say a survey shows most people are opposed to the scheme.

Tesco wants to build the superstore on green field land at High Stakesby in Whitby under a deal with the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete, based at Sneaton Castle.

Objectors claim that the supermarket could drive shopkeepers out of business, destroy the character of the town and lead to lorries ruining the peace and causing congestion.

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More than 3,400 people have petitioned against the scheme and a survey by the campaigners in Whitby town centre suggested Tesco's came a poor second to a rival plan for a Sainsbury supermarket.

Campaigners spoke to 178 people in two hours, and found 124 wanted Sainsburys whereas 31 wanted Tesco. Holidaymakers were not included, only residents.

Helen Barker, from the Whitby Residents Against Tesco group, said: "We think this is conclusive proof that the Tesco superstore is not wanted.

"If the planners decide that the town needs a supermarket, most people wanted the Sainsbury plan because it is tucked away on an industrial estate and won't be an eyesore and it will cause less traffic problems."

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The protesters are to present their petition and survey results to Whitby Town Council's planning committee on July 13.

Tesco said the survey was carried out by people with a vested interest and was at odds with the findings of other more extensive and independent polls.

Regional corporate affairs manager Matthew Magee added: "This claim by a small minority of Whitby residents is completely unscientific and in no way representative of the wider population. Our store would create 300 jobs for local people, be accessible for over 5,500 people on foot and link in with existing bus routes.

"The Tesco proposals would actually ease the traffic problems near Stakesby with the highways improvements funded by the development."