GRAVE concerns over the future of Christchurch town centre’s vitality led to councillors refusing an application for a major supermarket in Somerford.

The application for outline planning permission for the former Stylesouth Interiors site in Somerford Road went before the council’s planning committee last week.

The proposal was for a large food store for the Meteor Retail Park including the demolition of PC World, Allied Carpets and the Bathstore.

Agent Saville’s who conducted a survey claiming 95 per cent of local people supported the proposal for a supermarket at the site, also said there had been interest from the “big four” – Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury’s.

Paul Tucker, QC speaking on behalf of Saville’s at the meeting last week urged councillors not to dismiss the proposal and take any decision in the public interest.

He said the site was “an embarrassment to a borough of this calibre” and emphasised the scheme would bring investment and up to 231 jobs to the area.

Grange ward councillor Denise Jones said: “This is probably the most difficult of all the applications in my ward that I have spoken on.

“I certainly have no wish to see row upon row of empty shops, however, I have to say that I am not totally convinced by the arguments that have been put forward.”

She added: “Many elderly people have got fixed incomes and incomes that have drastically reduced and they need to be able to shop and get the food that they need.

“I think a convenience store that provides jobs and competitiveness and cheaper goods and also stops the movement of income out of the borough to shop in those large stores open would be of benefit.”

However, objections were submitted from Waitrose, Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and Saxon Square Shopping Centre with concerns also raised by Christchurch Council’s economic development manager, Paul Riley.

Concerns centred upon the new store stripping trade away from the existing shops, which could in turn lead to job losses.