Tesco has a two-handed fight on its hands as opponents gear up to beat off the supermarket’s plans for stores in the Upper High Street, Epsom, and The Street, Ashtead.
Residents who are organising vigorous campaigns say the schemes are too big, will damage the locality and cause traffic danger.
They also say public car parks, which are key to both developments, should remain in council control.
Ashtead campaigners under the banner Save (Save Ashtead’s Village Environment) have placed petition forms in more than 30 shops and businesses in Ashtead and set up a website for people to support them – saveashtead.co.uk.
This is the second time Tesco has submitted plans for an Ashtead supermarket to Mole Valley. The first was turned down but Tesco lodged an appeal against the decision, which is on hold.
The new scheme is 30 per cent smaller than the previous one but Save says the scheme is still too big.
Gillian Russell of Save said: “What everyone in Ashtead wants is a wonderful, thriving retail environment. Whoever can provide a store appropriate to the village will be welcome. Unfortunately, Tesco’s current proposal still does not meet that need.”
Both groups of campaigners have the support of MP Chris Grayling who said the proposed stores were too big for the sites.
In the case of the Ashtead store he said the design encouraged shoppers to get in their cars and drive away after visiting Tesco, rather than visiting other shops in the village.
The deadline for objections to be sent to Mole Valley is December 10, while the Epsom scheme goes before the Epsom and Ewell planning committee on January 21.
The scheme requires the council to sell off the Upper High Street car park to become part of the supermarket site. Tesco will have to overcome two hurdles, it must gain planning consent and then persuade the council to sell off its land.
Eoin Dardis, a spokesman for Tesco, said: “This scheme will serve as an ‘anchor’, attracting new people to the town centre. It is excellent news for Epsom’s residents, shoppers and businesses.”
As for the Ashtead site, he said: “In revising our plans for this site we have listened to councillors’ and residents’ comments about our previous application.
“Most of the comments concerned the size of the proposed store and traffic-related issues. We have responded to those by reducing the size of the store and the car parking.”
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