Middleton in total opposition to Tesco plan

The six members of the parish council's planning committee voted unanimously to object to a new Tesco Express outlet.

Their debate was attended by one of the largest turnouts in recent years of 23 members of the public.

The retailer wants to open the branch at the junction of Middleton Road and the A259 Felpham Way. The site is in Felpham, a few hundred metres from Middleton, but it would have a major effect on the main route into the parish.

The committee's members said they were against the site for two reasons. One concern was about the impact of the traffic which would be generated by the new store.

There were specific worries about the number of vehicles at that junction, with the shoppers having to mix with parents travelling to the nearby schools, as well as commuters.

The councillors were also worried about the dangers which shoppers in cars crossing the pavement to reach the store could cause to the stream of parents with children walking to school or to the playing field next to the proposed store site.

The other concern for the councillors was the impact of the intended store on neighbourhood shopping areas.

The parish council's decision will be passed to Arun to consider when its councillors decide, on a date yet to be determined, whether or not to grant planning permission for the store.

It would take the place of the current Richmond Hyundai car showroom when that moves to Angmering.

Tesco claims most of the customers of the store would be passing anyway in their cars, to mean few extra journeys would be generated.

The company also says its studies have shown the proposed store will have little impact on existing shops.

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