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Locals blast new Tesco plans
MULTI-MILLION pound plans to build a new superstore in Layton have been blasted by neighbours.
Tesco has revealed plans to knock down the Windmill pub on Westcliffe Drive and residents were invited to an exhibition to showcase the proposals.
The supermarket giant says 100 jobs could be created at the 10,000ft store, which would have free car parking for 50 cars.
Tesco insists the new shop is a real investment in Layton and would help boost trade in the area.
But many people who saw the plans were against the idea.
Eric Martin, 86, of Highbury Avenue, Layton, said: "This is the wrong place. My concern is about the traffic.
"I think it will cause an increase in traffic in a busy area.
"I still maintain the best place for a supermarket like this would be the Grange Park estate, where residents have no local shops and really need such a facility."
And Ken Benson, of Poulton Road, added: "We don't need it here. We have shops. Layton has just got itself sorted out and is now a nice, pleasant place to live.
"We want to keep the local community as it is and feel if Tesco was to be built here the local shops might as well pack up and go home."
His wife Muriel said: "We have started a petition and got 800 signatures so far. The Windmill pub is the hub of the local community.
"Layton is a village, it is not part of Blackpool. We want to keep it that way.
"We are just about to get a new supermarket, Lidl on Devonshire Road, so why do we need another supermarket?"
But Gemma Harvey, 26, of Jackson Street, believes the plans will be a boost to the area.
She said: "I actually want there to be a new Tesco. I just moved here in February, I'm a single mum and I used to live somewhere with a Tesco Express – which was really handy.
"I miss it. You can't even get coffee for less than 2 in Layton.
"I think the design is good and I would be happy if Tesco was to come here."
Tony Hind, development executive from Tesco, said the idea behind the exhibition plans at Salem Church was to give local people a chance to have their say.
He said: "People can give their views by filling in a comment card and either posting in the box or taking it home and using freepost to send it to us. We were on-hand for everybody to ask questions.
"We want to provide the convenience of having a supermarket in the local area, meaning people will not have to travel to go to a big supermarket.
"We hope it will mean people will stay in Layton and others will come into Layton, because at the moment many people are making the trip further afield to the supermarket.
"We think this could increase the footfall in local shops."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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