SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury?s says it is ?delighted? with the response to a public exhibition regarding its proposal to build a new store on the outskirts of Tavistock. Around 500 people attended the exhibition in the Bedford Hotel last Friday and Saturday. It included suggested plans for a store to be situated opposite Bishopsmead, accessed by a new roundabout on the A386. The northern boundary of the site is adjacent to the Morrison?s supermarket. The proposed new store would be about the same size as its neighbour ? it would include a petrol station and around 290 parking spaces. A Sainsbury?s spokesman said: ?Initial results suggest that the majority of people ? about two-thirds ? are in favour of a new Sainsbury?s on the grounds of improved quality and choice, and that a new store would cut down shopping journeys to stores in other towns such as Plymouth, therefore retaining trade in Tavistock.? Jamie Cowen, Sainsbury?s regional development executive, said: ?We were delighted with the positive response we received to our proposals during the recent public consultation and are now in the process of analysing the various comments and suggestions raised by respondents. ?These comments will inform the content of the planning application, which we hope to submit later this summer.? But obtaining planning consent could be a big issue. The land on which Sainsbury?s would like to build is classed as employment development land ? retail use does not fall within this category in planning terms. Jackie Barrett, of Tavistock, was one of a steady stream of people to visit the exhibition on Friday. She said: ?We do shop in Somerfield?s, but we go into Plymouth because we like Sainsbury?s as well ? there are certain things we like there. ?Obviously, if they were to come here it would save us going to Plymouth, but we would still support the other local shops here. Whether or not we actually need another supermarket here I wouldn?t like to say.? Rachel Emmett, of Horrabridge, said: ?I think we do need another supermarket. I think the competition is good and I think the variety of foods it will provide is good, but we need to see more English foods, rather than things being flown in from all over the world.? Laurie Canvin, of Tavistock, said: ?I think it will be fantastic for local jobs but I?d like to see really good pedestrian access from town, so cars aren?t always required. ?Providing the town can support two big supermarkets I don?t see a problem, but I wouldn?t want it to reduce trade in the centre of town. It?s also good to see they are providing some industrial units there too.? Sylvia Nunn, of Tavistock, thought it would be ?great? to have a Sainsbury?s in Tavistock: ?It has to be an improvement on what we?ve got.? But Alice Smith feared for the viability of town centre shops. ?Tavistock is a very foodie town and I think because Sainsbury?s is such a good store, people will shop there and the other shops will suffer. And I don?t want to lose another green field,? she said. And Don Youngson, of Grenofen, opposed the development. ?I don?t think Tavistock needs it and I think it will be the ruination of the small shops in town. I know they are building more houses but I think it?s going to ruin our lovely market town,? he said. l Letters ? page 4v
