Tesco submits plans for former Sedgemoor Splash site
Plans to build a new Tesco Extra superstore on the site of a former swimming pool in Bridgwater, Somerset, have been submitted to the council.
The supermarket giant wants to develop land at the Brewery Field, Northgate, with offices, shops, parking and a play area, creating 260 new jobs.
But opponents claim the town does not need another supermarket.
Tesco said it had carried out an extensive public consultation and taken comments on board.
Campaign group Bridgwater Forward said there was already a Sainsburys and an Asda in the vicinity and that a leisure centre should be built there to replace Sedgemoor Splash.
'Damage to traders'
Brian Smedley, Labour councillor for the Westover ward, said: "The people of Bridgwater have said all along that they do not need yet another supermarket and that this location is bad for the town centre and for local residents.
"The development going through would mean the destruction of one of the last green spaces in the town centre, lasting damage to traders in the town centre, a redistribution of lowly paid jobs around the town rather than the creation of well-paid new ones, inconvenience and long-term intrusion for local residents, and traffic chaos."
But Tesco said the store would regenerate a key town centre site and provide greater retail choice.
It said the new store would improve pedestrian links between the Bridgwater Canal and the town centre, and provide extra free parking.
Out of 215 responses to its consultation, the company said 134 people replied that they supported a Tesco store in Bridgwater.