SUPERMARKET chain Asda, part of the giant international Walmart group, is interested in opening a new store in Tavistock.

The company is targeting greenfield land opposite Bishopsmead — the site that was the subject of an unsuccessful appeal by Sainsbury's in 2009.

Oliver Jones, senior communications manager for Asda, said this week that detailed plans were being drawn up. The store would have approximately 25,000ft of sales area and would create up to 200 local jobs. Asda's nearest branch in Plymouth is a 40,000ft store.

He said:?'We believe the site is perfect for us and will allow us to provide a wide range of goods, including our George clothing and a petrol station.

'I think it's safe to say we have always been interested in coming to Tavistock if the right opportunity presented itself.

'We have been reading in the papers that people have been saying quite vocally that they would like to see a better choice and more competition when it comes to a supermarket, and we think we can provide that.

'The first step for us is to gauge interest. At this stage we are working on the detail and we would hope to have a public consultation in the first half of this year. We are keen that we consult thoroughly — people will very much have the opportunity to feed into this.'

Mr Jones said although the site in planning terms was classed as employment land and not specifically for A1 retail use, the company could justify its application as a supermarket of this size would tend to provide more in terms of employment than any other similar sized operation.

He said the location of the proposed store was an area earmarked for development and creation of an Asda on the site would act as a catalyst for the planned urban extension of Tavistock, by funding essential infrastructure.

Mr Jones added: 'Asda has recently been voted Britain's lowest-priced supermarket for the 14th year in a row, as well as Britain's favourite supermarket for the second year in a row, so we hope our interest will be a welcome development.'

The site was subject to a planning application by Sainsbury's in 2008. The company's proposal included a retail store, petrol station, café, 17 business units and an office building, but it was turned down by West Devon Borough Council on the grounds it would have a detrimental effect on the vitality of Tavistock town centre. A planning inspector upheld the borough's decision a year later.

The Sainsbury's application was vehemently opposed by Tavistock Chamber of Commerce.

Reacting to the Asda announcement, chamber chairman Nigel Eadie said: 'This is obviously horrendous news, but I don't think anything has changed in favour of us having a massive supermarket on that site since the public enquiry decided it was a bad idea for Sainsbury's to try and develop there.

'The chamber is trying to develop business in the town to make it more attractive, BID is working very hard to try and make the town more commercially vibrant with all sorts of different initiatives.

'In terms of the town centre, we really do not want this at all, it's very bad news.

'We should encourage as many local people as possible to object to this proposal rather than just sitting and doing nothing. If they want to keep the town centre as it is they need to start using it instead of out of town supermarkets.'

Mr Eadie said it had been proved by 'fully trained planning professionals' that there was no need for any extra supermarket provision in Tavistock.

'To develop another one would destroy the town centre and once it's gone, it will be gone forever.

'And the notion of it creating extra jobs is absolute nonsense — it's been proved that for every one supermarket job that's created, four more are lost in the local economy,' said Mr Eadie.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said: 'There has been no formal approach from Asda regarding plans for a supermarket in Tavistock.

'Any application by any retailer for a new supermarket in the town would be subject to the usual planning process."

Meanwhile, the old Focus site on Tavistock Retail?Park still lies empty, after an attempt by the borough council to quash its own planning decision, which would have prevented retail use on the land, failed in the high court.

Site owners Marchfield Properties are expected to submit a planning for a new store after public consultation.