“New Tesco will take half our trade”

Fearful small business owners in North Anston started their campaign two weeks ago, saying the store was not needed, would put local shops out of business and was likely to create traffic chaos.

Anston and Woodsetts ward councillor Clive Jepson said he believed it was the biggest collective objection by residents to a planning application.

All but one of the 14 members of Anston Parish Council voted to formally object to the application.

Tesco has applied to Rotherham Borough Council to build on the car park of the Cutler pub on Woodsetts Road.

The store on Nursery Road would be open seven days a week from 6am to 11pm and include 25 car parking spaces if it gets the go ahead.

Andy Bhullar, who has run the Post Office on Rackford Road with his mother for ten years, recently bought a new convenience shop opposite the proposed site.

The 40-year-old said he was distraught when he saw the supermarket giant’s plans.

He added: “This is our livelihood. We’ve put all our savings in to this new shop, and Tesco will take more than 50 per cent of our business.”

Matt Moy (41) has owned MJM News and Booze on Quarry Lane for 11 years and said the parade of shops his store is located on, opposite the site, will be affected the most.

He said the development was being “squeezed into a pub car park” and was “not needed”.

Twenty objections have also been submitted on the council’s website.

Tony Herbert said in his objection: “The Tesco is to be sited on the main road, which has already seen an increase in traffic over the years.

“The badly laid-out current crossroads already makes it difficult to turn onto Woodsetts Road or Quarry Lane as it is.

“I regularly access Rackford Road from Ryton Road, which is already difficult to negotiate the oncoming traffic speeding down the hill.

“The Tesco will only add more traffic to this awkward right turn.”

Diane Graham said: “The impact of this development will increase not only traffic, noise, litter and pollution but is not necessary as there is adequate local provision.”

A council spokeswoman said: “As the planning application is still being processed, a date has yet to be set for its consideration by the planning board.

“Any petition or objections raised will be dealt with as part of the planning process.”