NEWS that Sainsbury’s has expressed an interest in building a store in Chipping Norton has received a mixed reaction.

The supermarket giant – which already has a Market Place store – is considering building on the disused Parker Knoll site, off London Road. It claims it could create up to 200 jobs.

Last night, Chipping Norton town councillor Gerry Alcock said he would prefer industrial or commercial units for the site.

He said: “I think it will kill the town centre – it will be a disaster, but people seem to be willing to accept that the town centre is going to suffer.”

However, fellow councillor Keith Greenwell said: “It has long been my belief that there was never any prospect of industrial or commercial units being built on the site and I fear the area Sainsbury’s is now interested in would just become more housing.

“A large Sainsbury’s will have an impact on the other businesses in the town, but that is the difficult side of economic progress and giving our local population what they are clamouring for.

“The future of our town and its town centre will not be solved by denying Sainsbury’s the right to build a supermarket on a site that will soon be totally surrounded by housing.”

Town councillor Gina Burrows said: “It has never been our policy to encourage edge-of-town development if it would compromise the nature of our town centre.

“I don’t think I could let this go without a fight.”

But resident Annie Barker said: “Many residents currently travel out of town to shop and top up in Chipping Norton.

“A local superstore, therefore, could encourage shoppers back into town, enhance existing facilities rather than compromise them, and enable the small traders in Chipping Norton to retain business by continuing to offer personal, friendly service.”

Town councillor Rob Evans, 60, of New Street, said: “I am not very pleased with the idea as I feel quite strongly that we need to develop retail in the centre of the town, whereas this seems to be an out-of-town supermarket.”

Mark Sanders, 42, of London Road, said: “I would be worried that people would just come in and out in that part of the town and not park in the town centre to do the rest of their shopping. I think the town centre could suffer.”

Sainsbury’s spokesman Paul Vicary claimed most Chipping Norton residents shopped in Banbury.

He said: “Sainsbury’s has been very pleased with the popularity of its town centre store in Chipping Norton and is keen to provide an even better offer to residents of the town.

“As such, the main food shopping choice in the town does not meet the needs of local residents, forcing them to travel elsewhere to shop, with a resultant increase in car journeys.”

Sainsbury’s does not own the four-acre site, but the supermarket claims it is in talks with the owner.

Mr Vicary added: “Sainsbury’s does not believe it is possible to develop a suitable store in the town centre and has therefore been considering the vacant Parker Knoll site in London Road.

“Discussions are still at a very early stage and we need to undertake a number of technical studies to understand the key issues.

“Once these have been concluded we will undertake widespread consultation with the local community before submitting a planning application.”