Scarborough Tesco supermarket plans expected to be approved
Plans for a new £14m Tesco supermarket in Scarborough are expected to be given the go-ahead by councillors later.
Tesco wants to replace its existing store, in Westwood, with a larger one on Dean Road, creating about 350 jobs.
A 5,000-signature petition against the proposal was handed in to Downing Street in September amid concerns about the possible impact on the town centre.
But planning officials have reported to councillors that the impact on the town would be "within acceptable levels".
Tesco's proposals for the Dean Road store, on a brownfield site, include a new car park and petrol station.
Campaigners against the proposals have said they fear the new supermarket will hit other traders in Scarborough and could lead to increased congestion on roads in the nearby Columbus Ravine area.
Neil Price, member of campaign group Scarborough Town Against Tesco Store, said many local residents and businesses did not want the shop to be built on the Dean Road site.
"It's the scale of the building, the congestion problems and access to properties near the entrance to the store," he said.
"A lot of people are going to suffer in this area as a result of this store being built."
But Deborah Hayeems, from Tesco, said "significant improvements" had been made to the plans for the new store after the company had listened to the views of people in the town.
"We have improved the landscaping on the site and we now have parking provision for some of the guesthouses on Columbus Ravine who had raised concerns," she said.
"We have also moved the store away from some of the nearest residents."
Ms Hayeems added that, if approved by councillors, the new store would bring a "significant boost" to businesses in Scarborough.
Members of Scarborough Borough Council's Planning and Development Committee will consider the plans at a meeting later.