A new superstore in Weybridge would have catastrophic effects on businesses and the environment according to opposition groups.

Several, including Weybridge Town Business Group and the Weybridge Society, have spoken out against proposal to build a Morrisons on the former Focus DIY site.

The business group was concerned high street traders would suffer because Morrisons aimed to be a one-stop shop, complete with dry cleaners and coffee shop.

They also believe the store is too far from Weybridge town centre to benefit the town by boosting footfall.

A spokesman said: “The area has so many supermarkets already, with Waitrose in the town together with a Tesco Metro and a Sainsbury’s Local.

“There is a large Marks and Spencer, a Tesco superstore in Brooklands and a Sainsbury’s in Walton. With six supermarkets in the area why do you need any more?”

Additional traffic was also a huge concern for the group, and campaign group Save Our Village, which said a “truly enormous” Morrisons would turn an already congested Weybridge in to a polluted traffic jam.

Their campaign website weybridgemorrisons.com stated: “Our home town is a rare pocket of historical beauty in the area, with the Monument Green and the range of old buildings.

“If the Morrisons store was to be built then it would completely change the image of the place. Do you want Weybridge to turn into a shopping centre?

“You have seen the transformation in Walton, just ask yourself, is this what you want here, in your town?”

They said the store would dominate the high street, make Weybridge lose its homely feel and drive house prices down as the town would lose its village charm.

Richard Haynes, development executive for Morrisons, said: “A new Morrisons on the derelict Focus DIY site in Weybridge has many advantages. It will create 300 new jobs, increase local investment in the town and bring an underperforming site back into use.

“Our plans received strong support during our public consultation on the proposals in May and many people encouraged us to get on and deliver them.

“Unlike other supermarkets Morrisons focuses on the weekly shop and 80 per cent of our Weybridge store will be dedicated to selling fresh, affordable food, increasing local shopping choice in the town. The store will act as a fresh anchor for Weybridge high street, increasing spending in the town and boosting the local economy.

“We have deliberately designed the store to orientate towards Weybridge high street, encouraging visits on foot, and the 1.5 hours of free parking we propose will also give car drivers sufficient time to visit existing town centre traders if they wish.

“We appreciate that traffic is an important issue locally and we have undertaken rigorous transport assessments as part of our planning application. Many visitors to the store already pass by the Focus site and we are confident that there is sufficient capacity on the road network for the additional traffic the foodstore will bring.

“In short, we are keen to invest in the future prosperity of Weybridge, create jobs and improve the food shopping choice for local people.”

A spokesman for the Weybridge Society warned: “Don’t let’s sleepwalk into something we might all live to regret.”

Petitions have already attracted more than 1,000 signatures and residents have until Thursday, June 28, to respond to the plans.

Visit elmbridge.gov.uk and search planning reference 012/1933 to give your views.