CALLINGTON could receive a major boost with a new superstore in 2008, after the town council revealed it has been in long-term negotiations with a supermarket chain. Town councillors are enthusiastic about the scheme involving one of the big four supermarkets for a site in Tavistock Road — and are confident it will attract people into the town's shops as well. The application is expected to be submitted by Newquay-based development company Walker Developments in the New Year. East Cornwall has been earmarked as a development area for supermarkets with plans already announced by Lidl and Aldi for stores in Saltash and Liskeard. A shopping survey found that around 80% of Callington residents already shop outside the town. Town councillor Jeremy Gist said many people travelled to Launceston to shop at Tesco — but a superstore in Callington would keep them in the town. 'If people think by not backing a supermarket they will save the town they are living in cloud cuckoo land,' he said. 'We cannot bury our heads in the sand and say we do not want out-of-town shops because of the damage to our own shops — the damage has already been done, people already shop in supermarkets in preference to the high streets.' Mr Gist said the job of the town council, and the town as a whole, was to make the main street as attractive and welcoming as possible so people would come into the town. ' They will discover a lovely baker in the high street and places like Trewartha's, where they can get everything they can get in B&Q,' he added. A spokesman for Walker Developments said the scheme was at an early stage but he confirmed that an application could be submitted to Caradon District Council in the New Year. Town newsagent Mark Smith said towns like Tavistock had not suffered because of out-of-town supermarkets and he did not see why Callington would. 'I do not think it would affect the town in a bad way — it might encourage people to come here,' he said. 'It depends which one we get. Some are a little more mercenary and stock everything, whereas others concentrate on the food and clothes side which would be good.' A spokesperson for the Co-op store in Callington said they could not make a comment about any potential competitor at this stage, because a planning application had not yet been submitted.