Tesco Express plan '“ shops fear impact on Felpham

The retail giant wants to open its latest Express outlet on the site of the current Richmond Hyundai car showroom and service centre.

The company has submitted its proposals to Arun District Council for a decision.

Fears about the prospect of Tesco gaining another presence in the area has united surrounding post office owners at Felpham, Summerley, Middleton and Elmer Beach.

They are protesting about the impact of the proposed stores and warned the area's shops could become just another carcase which the big supermarkets have fed upon.

They said: "We are sure our voices will be among many opposing the Tesco Express location in Felpham. The retail and Post Office businesses surrounding the proposed Tesco site will not escape being diluted into oblivion as Tesco's empire grows bigger.

"We have major supermarkets all around us for people to do their mammoth weekly shops and another venue yet to possibly come with Asda. When do we say enough and enough and why can't people... get on their bikes and cycle or walk to the great local farm shops close by and utilise the Co-op and Budgens and smaller retail outlets for their top-up groceries instead."

But Alban Henderson, of Tesco's planning agent GL Hearn, says in a statement to Arun that existing shops had no reason to fear the new Tesco.

He viewed the catchment area of the Tesco as about half-a-mile walking distance as well as some drive-by trade from motorists.

He states that enough convenience store trade exists in the area to ensure no business is drawn away from outlets along Felpham Way and Londis in Summerley Lane.

"In our view, these existing shops fail to provide the top-up shopping requirements of the local residents and, specifically, households within the identified Tesco Express catchment, as a consequence of either their size, range of goods, accessibility to residents or combination of all three factors.

"The proposed Tesco Express would address this identified need and allow top-up convenience shopping to be made locally and on foot, thereby reducing the need to travel to other convenience stores elsewhere within Bognor Regis."

Tesco's plans became public knowledge in April. As reported, the company circulated a leaflet about its plans to neighbours of its preferred site at the junction of Middleton Road and the A259 Felpham Way.

The company is proposing to move the entrance to the store from its current point by the roundabout at the road junction.

It estimates that 152 vehicles will enter and leave its intended store during the afternoon peak hour.

This works out at two to three a minute at the busiest time. It compares with the current 17 vehicles in two-way peak-time traffic.

Tesco maintains it can control its deliveries '“ a subject of frequent criticism for its Aldwick Road and Nyetimber stores '“ to ensure they are only made between 7am and 4pm.

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