More than 100 Midsomer Norton residents oppose Tesco supermarket expansion plans

More than 100 people have written to objection to the expansion of the Midsomer Norton Tesco supermarket at Old Mills.

A total of 125 letters objection to a planning application from Tesco to extend the supermarket by 22,000 sq ft. It wants the extra space to sell more clothing and goods, as well as a new cafe.

The deadline to comment on the application has passed. On the B&NES website the application has 125 comments objecting to the plans, with 12 people in support of it.

Among the objectors is Midsomer Norton mayor Paul Myers, who claims the town's High Street will be damaged if planning permission is granted. He said: "We need a town centre, not a Tesco centre."

Another objector, Suzy Williams of Paulton, said: "Having a Tesco store locally is great, but it should not be at the expense of building local communities. It is the existence of small businesses which keeps diversity and jobs for local people."

Midsomer Norton Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce have both opposed the application, which will be decided by Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Tesco says if the application is approved, it will create about 80 new local jobs. And some of those supporting the plans say the fears for Midsomer Norton High Street are exaggerated.

One supporter, John Robinson of Radstock, said: "The Tesco store would be most welcome. The lack of its full range of items at present simply means that shoppers have to travel further afield in order to buy the products they want.

"The High Street in its current form (with one or two exceptions) in my opinion does not offer a viable alternative."

Another supporter of Tesco's plans, Val Mitchard of Paulton, said the store would serve people in Paulton who have too few local shops.

"A lot of people in Paulton, particularly the elderly, cannot travel to Midsomer Norton," she said.

"Paulton and the other villages have long been the poor relations compared to Midsomer Norton and it is about time we had a retail environment which is more accessible for us.

"The Midsomer Norton Chamber of Commerce should not have a call on everything in this area because they shout the loudest." 

A final decision on the planning application will be made by Bath & North East Somerset Council.