BUSINESS leaders and residents have objected to plans for a major new Tesco distribution centre.

Tesco bosses said the site at Milton Hill, near Didcot, will create up to 750 jobs, but neighbouring businesses and homeowners are concerned about traffic on the A4130.

Martin Dare-Edwards, country manager of fuel additives firm Infineum, has written to the Vale of White Horse District Council.

He said: “There is a general congestion issue on the A4130. It is extremely difficult, verging on dangerous – you only have to have a small amount of extra traffic and you will have a real issue.”

The application proposes a 119,155sq ft warehouse with 28 delivery van loading bays and 193 van parking spaces.

Angela Bradley, co-owner of the Core Business Centre, which houses about 10 firms on Milton Hill, said: “It is such a busy road – I don’t know how much busier it can get.”

Tesco spokesman Beth Greenhouse said: “Our delivery vans are carefully scheduled to go out on the roads using up-to-date traffic information and complex routing software.

“This makes sure vans are sent out at an appropriate time to reach our customers, avoiding peak times such as the school run or when people are travelling home from work.”

Vale of White Horse District Council spokesman Andy Roberts said: “We are hoping to put the application to the planning committee at the end of July.”