RESIDENTS of a quiet street are up in arms over the size of a proposed supermarket.
Tesco wants to open the store off Butt Road as part of the redevelopment of the former Colchester Garrison.
The plans are for six small shops, 14 homes and the store, which would open next summer.
But residents in nearby Errington Road have challenged the supermarket giant over its proposals for 188 car parking spaces.
They say that would encourage traffic, which would aggravate an existing problem along the residential road.
They say it is against the firm’s claim that it wants the store to serve as a “neighbourhood hub”.
A total of 28 residents, including celebrity TV garden designer Sven Wombwell, have signed a letter of objection.
One of the protesters, journalist and writer Bill Hayton, said: “The car park would be similar in capacity to the Waitrose supermarket in St Andrew’s Avenue.
“That serves a wide catchment area and we think Tesco is being somewhat disingenuous in suggesting its new store would be a neighbourhood hub.”
The householders have asked for action to be taken to reduce traffic along their road before.
A Facebook site, called Traffic Using Errington Road, has been set up.
Mr Hayton said: “We would like a 20mph limit to slow down the traffic and to offer protection to the residents and schoolchildren in the area.”
Concerns are heightened as Sainsbury’s also wants to open a store, at the nearby former pub, the Drury Arms.
Mr Hayton said: “We are not against the Tesco store in principle, but the car park arrangements should reflect the neighbourhood.”
Louise Gosling, Tesco’s regional corporate affairs manager, said: “While we will endeavour to encourage customers and staff to use non-car modes of transport to visit the site, we need to provide an adequate level of parking to avoid overspill on to the residential roads at busy times.
“The number of car parking spaces we are proposing is considerably fewer than the maximum set out in Colchester Council’s own car parking guidelines.
“In fact, we are proposing to decrease the car parking spaces even further.
“This has been made necessary in order to accommodate minor changes to the design of the new housing element of the scheme.
“The role of this new local centre at Butt Road will be to specifically serve the local community.
“We want to provide residents with shopping facilities closer to home.
“This will cut down long car journeys to do the weekly food shop in other parts of town.”
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