AN ONLINE campaign objecting to Tesco taking over Sandbanks’ Sandacres pub has more than 800 supporters.

The Facebook campaign was established by Poole resident Sean Murphy just a few days ago, but it already seems to have struck a nerve.

Sean, 48, who works as an estate agent, believes a Tesco Express store on Banks Road would “ruin” the area around Sandbanks Beach.

“I know I’m setting myself up for criticism,” he said. “But I just think this is simply the wrong decision. We are all up for development but this is going too far.

“I don’t live in that area but it is a beautiful part of the world. Many people in Bournemouth and Poole are very proud of Sandbanks Beach.”

Sean believes a supermarket on the site of the former pub – which closed down recently – will create more litter in Poole Harbour, extra traffic and could even attract an anti-social element.

“I know a lot of the councillors’ hands are tied – it is the law that should be changed. Supermarket companies should not be going around buying up all these old pubs,” he said.

Tesco confirmed last week it had signed contracts to lease the ground floor of the building on Banks Road, Sandbanks, Poole.

The Sandacres was the last pub remaining |on the Sandbanks peninsula and proved a popular haunt with visitors to Poole’s award-winning beaches.

Residents were being told in a letter that the vacant property had been acquired by the supermarket giant, which will be creating 20 local jobs. It is unclear how many people lost their jobs when the Sandacres closed.

Tesco community liaison manager Melanie Chiswell said: “In my experience lots of people welcome Tesco Express stores because they regenerate buildings no longer in use, such as closed down pubs.”

Under permitted development rights regulations, pubs can be converted to shops without planning permission.