SUPERMARKET giant Safeway has been accused of 'creeping expansionism' because it wants to create a florists at the entrance to its Tavistock store.

West Devon councillors last week rejected the scheme, claiming it would cause serious harm to the trade of town centre florists.

But Safeway said the trade in flowers was 'elastic' and would have no impact on the town's shops.

Safeway was seeking approval to convert its existing trolley area to a florist and cash dispenser enclosure.

The scheme had the support of planning officers. They said the supermarket and its garage had been selling flowers and plants for some time and the modest enlargement of the retail area would not have any significant impact on town centre trade.

But ward member Cllr Dick Eberlie pointed out that Tavistock Town Council was against the proposal, believing it was in conflict with town centre commercial businesses, contrary to the store's original planning permission and possibly against Local Plan policies.

He said: 'We must bring to a halt the creeping expansion of Safeway. A lot of permissions have already been granted, posing a serious threat to the viability of the shops in the town centre.'

Cllr Dilwyn Hughes claimed that if the application was allowed Safeway could expand its business and 'ruin' flower shops around the area.

Okehampton member Jayne Hill said she was strongly against the proposal: 'There is a world of difference between going to a supermarket and buying a £1.99 bunch of flowers as at present and going to a skilled florist.'

Planning committee chairman Roger Mathew said that on 'purely planning terms' the objections to the application were 'not overwhelming'. But he admitted he was concerned that 'cumulative expansions' at the store might have a detrimental effect on local shops.

As well as a number of approvals for signs, Safeway in 1999 won planning permission for a major extension of more than 350 square metres to the store, but it has yet to be implemented. Planning officers said the proposed enlargement for a florist area was 'minimal' in comparison.

The committee refused the application on the grounds that the retail activity would be detrimental to the vitality and viability of the town centre. The refusal was by seven votes to one, Cllr Mathew's being the vote in favour.

Safeway spokesman Peter Sitch told the Times that when the store won approval eight years ago there were predictions that it would mean the death of Tavistock town centre.

He said: 'There are now more shops in Tavistock than there were before our store was built and Somerfield and the Co-op are still trading. So the councillors' views are coloured by emotion rather than the actual facts of the situation.

'The florist area would make no impact on the town's florists. The florist business is an elastic market and can take more trade.'

Mr Sitch said that in view of the fact that planning officers had recommended approval, his company would consider whether to take the matter to appeal and ask for costs.

But town centre florist Nicky Petts, of Roland Bailey's, welcomed the committee's decision.

She said: 'It would definitely be detrimental to all of us in Tavistock, because Safeway has free parking. If you're just popping in to pick up a bouquet you've ordered it's very difficult if you can't find a place to park.

'Three florists in Tavistock is almost too much — with Safeway it would create real difficulties for us.'

And if Safeway were to become members of a group like Interflora it would make the situation even worse,' said Mrs Petts.

'The backbone of our business is telephone orders,' she said.