Anti-Tesco protesters get Sir Nick’s backing

SIR NICHOLAS Winterton has thrown his weight behind a campaign to fight against a new Tesco store in the heart of Poynton.

The MP for Macclesfield said he shares the concerns of "a large number of constituents" about the supermarket giant’s plans to build an outlet on the village’s busiest thoroughfare, London Road.

At a recent demonstration, almost 500 protesters stood united at the village’s civic hall displaying signs and banners such as ‘Tesco Chain Store Massacre’ and ‘Tesco Grid Lock Poynton’.

And now Sir Nicholas has declared his personal opposition to the development.

The new store would be built on the site of the Texaco garage and old cinema building.

He said: "Another Tesco store will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the local community and, in particular, on the small retail sector.

"Whilst Tesco’s corporate affairs manager for the North West assures me that Tesco will help bring both jobs and customers back to Poynton, this will surely be at the expense of local independent retailers.

"Secondly, the village is unable to cope with the increased traffic pressure that a Tesco supermarket with 110 parking spaces would cause. Poynton already suffers greatly during rush hour with congestion.

"Finally, a new Tesco development would mean the destruction of the old cinema building and its replacement with a construction which is far less pleasing to the eye and deprive Poynton of its filling station.

"That will mean that drivers will have to go to Hazel Grove to fuel their vehicles."

Sir Nick has shared his concerns with planning bosses at Macclesfield Borough Council and Poynton Parish Council.

Neil Skitt, Tesco’s corporate affairs manager for the North West, said the company would not make fresh comments about the proposals, but added: "We believe that all the issues raised by Sir Nicholas Winterton will be addressed in the application to Macclesfield Borough Council in the coming weeks."

Mr Skitt said previously that the new Poynton outlet would employ 150 people from the local area, and create parking for 110 cars.