PASSIONATE argument continued at a planning inquiry in Tavistock this week, to determine an application by Sainsbury's on land opposite Bishopsmead.

Last Thursday Stephen Gill, the Brook Campaign Group's planning consultant, told the inquiry that to allow an out-of-town Sainsbury's would be detrimental to traders — particularly in the pannier market — as it would draw people away from the town centre.

Mr Gill said: The pannier market plays a key role within Tavistock, particularly to tourists and local residents, who can pick up various bits and pieces; just walking around there is a pleasant experience.

'But it is also very vulnerable. If you have a negative effect from Sainsbury competing against the market, it stands to reason you are not going to get as many people going to the market and I know some traders who have very slim profits as it is.'

Mr Gill told the inquiry the building of another superstore in the town could endanger Tavistock's status as the gateway to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, as it would detract from the vitality in the town centre. In order for the area to retain its status it was important Tavistock retained its culture and history as a stannary town and it was vital to maintain a busy, thriving market town centre.

Mark Wolstenholme, representing Somerfield, said the number of people walking to an out-of-town Sainsbury's would be 'minute' and that transport by bus for shoppers would be limited.

Mr Wolstenholme, who has 35 years' experience as a town planner, said there would be a 'trade diversion' from the two town supermarkets, Somerfield and the Co-op, and other retail outlets in the town centre.

Figures from Somerfield predicted that of a £5.7m turnover at its Tavistock store, it could lose as much as 30 per cent of its trade if Sainsbury's went ahead.

Mr Wolstenholme named other towns such as Diss, Galashiels and Rayleigh where new superstores arriving in town sparked a downturn of up to 67% in trade for existing supermarkets.

He said that of units vacant in 2007 in Tavistock town centre, only six had been re-occupied. Mr Wolstenholme said there was 'a problem of sustainable tenancy' in the town.

Mr Wolstenholme said whereas 45% of the town retail shopping was now outside the town centre, this would increase to 86% if Sainsbury's got planning permission.

He said: 'With two major superstores, a Focus, a bike shop, Halfords there would be a very, very strong retail draw. When you add a Sainsbury's there is an awful lot to pull the shopper from their traditional pattern of shopping in the town centre.'

Yesterday (Wednesday), Tavistock businessman John Taylor told the planning inspector that evidence submitted by Sainsbury's retail expert Rob Pearson regarding the vitality and vibrancy of the town was 'misleading' and contained 'incorrect assumptions'.

He referred particularly to the number of empty retail units in town, the length of time they had been empty and whether they were likely to be occupied soon.

'The general theme is he is trying to imply the town hasn't got anything to worry about and it would be all hunky dory and Sainsbury's won't have any detrimental effect,' said Mr Taylor, who said Mr Pearson's evidence was based on out-of-date information which was irrelevant in the current market climate.

'The retail market has crashed. What you have been provided with is a load of old information from before the markets went down,' he said.

Tavistock resident John Warne said Morrisons 'most certainly' impacted on the vitality of the town centre in the 1990s and its independent retailers, who, he feared, would find a new Sainsbury's 'a step too far'.

'These good, hard-working family businesses are very much a part of the fabric of this traditional market town and importantly, they currently bring shoppers to the town centre, to the benefit of other town shops,' he said.

But not all speakers were opposed to the application.

Sylvia Gillard told planning inspector Andrew Pykett that as a resident of Bishopsmead and non- driver, she was in favour of the opening of Sainsbury's at the Brook Farm site.

'I support Sainsbury because it offers a better quality range of food and I believe in this modern day one should be allowed to have a choice where you may shop,' she said.