GIANT supermarket chain Sainsbury?s could be moving to Tavistock ? on a major greenfield development at the main southern entrance to the town. Invitations to an information exhibition in Tavistock?s Bedford Hotel have been sent to residents so that they can view the proposals and make comments. The new chainstore would be built on land opposite Bishopsmead ? its development could mean a jobs boost of around 200 full and part-time posts. Sainsbury?s proposals show a food store with a sales area of approximately 30,000 sq ft, plus petrol filling station and parking for approximately 290 vehicles. No planning application has been submitted yet, but Sainsbury?s say they will use comments received during the consultation to shape a detailed scheme for submission to West Devon Borough Council?s planning department later this summer. The company says it is too early to say when the store, if it goes ahead, would open. Jamie Cowen, Sainsbury?s regional development executive, said: ?It?s important to stress that no planning application has yet been submitted. ?These are initial proposals and we feel it?s very important to consult the town before progressing to the next stage. ?Having said that, we do believe Sainsbury?s range of goods ? focused primarily on food and including organic and carefully sourced produce, is well suited to a town such as Tavistock, which has such a reputation for good food.? Mr Cowen said a new Sainsbury?s would bring increased choice to Tavistock?s shoppers and enhance the vitality of the town by reducing ?leakage? of trade to other places such as Plymouth or Okehampton, providing greater opportunities for local shoppers to spend their money in the town. Mr Cowen said: ?We hope many people will take the opportunity to come and visit the exhibition and make their views known. ?Members of my development team will be on hand throughout to discuss our proposals and answer questions.? The exhibition will be held in the Portrait Gallery between 10am and 6pm on July 6 and 10am and 4pm on July 7. A spokesman for West Devon?s planning department said ?tentative talks? had been held with Sainsbury?s regarding the proposal, but no application had been received so far. The land in question was classed as ?employment development land?. John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said: ?I have a number of concerns, firstly capacity and whether we can cope with two supermarkets of this size. ?New Government policies state new supermarkets should be located close to town centres ? obviously in this case, it?s a long way out so it falls at the first hurdle. They will also offer free parking which will pull people out of town.? Mr Taylor said Tavistock had a justly deserved top reputation for good local food and any new supermarket should be urged to source its produce locally as far as possible. He said he feared a proliferation of ?crinkly green sheds? at the southern entrance to a World Heritage site and was concerned the vibrancy of Tavistock town centre could be affected by a new out of town supermarket. ?Overall, I don?t think it?s a good thing and they are going to have put up a really good case to convince us,? said Mr Taylor, who thought a better option would be for Sainsbury?s to buy Morrison?s site. Nigel Eadie, of Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, said: ?Nobody wants to see green fields going, but if it?s earmarked for development it?s clearly something that West Devon?s planning department have looked at and consider appropriate and you have to place your trust in their ability to get things right.? l What do you think about a new supermarket in Tavistock? Write to the Times with your view.