Objectors could defeat Tesco Bloxwich plan

Plans for a new Tesco store in a Black Country town face being thrown out after more than 800 objections about opening the supermarket.

Lengthy petitions have been submitted to Walsall Council against the proposed Express shop on the former Field Service Station site in Bloxwich.

They have been collected by traders in Selman's Hill and Fishley Lane following fears it could hit other convenience stores business.

Complaints are that there are already a number of shops in the area and their existence could be threatened while extra traffic would be created.

In total two petitions with a combined tally of 779 signatures and 48 letters in opposition to the Lichfield Road store have been submitted to the council. The number has grown since Co-op announced it was also opening up the adjoining Knave of Hearts site.

Tesco says the Express would create up to 30 jobs and 38 letters of support have been received with over bringing a derelict site back into use and providing people with more choice.

But members of the planning committee are being recommended to refuse the proposals when they meet on Thursday.

In a report to councillors head of planning David Elsworthy says: "The proposals fail to adequately demonstrate either a local need for further convenience provision or fail to take account of the availability of other sites in the catchment area.

"The proposals would be likely to have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Buxton Road local centre and investment in Bloxwich. The proposals would also be likely to put convenience stores in the surrounding area at risk of closure."

A previous plan for a shop on the land in Lichfield Road was withdrawn in 2007 after a 300-name petition was also collected.

It is latest in a long-line of Tesco applications in the borough with larger schemes in the pipeline in Walsall town centre and Brownhills. Work on the Tesco in Walsall is well underway and should be open by the end of the year.