WAITROSE has vowed to press ahead with plans to open a store in Faringdon, despite Tesco securing permission for a new out-of-town supermarket.

The battle between the two chains has divided the town, with some campaigners claiming class war had broken out between rival camps of supporters.

Last Tuesday, Tesco won its fight for permission to build a 2,140 sq m store in Park Road, when planning inspector Christine Downes overruled Vale of White Horse District Council after a public inquiry.

But Waitrose, which has applied to build a 2,042 sq m store next to Gloucester Street car park told the Oxford Mail it would not abandon its ambitions.

Spokesman James Armstrong said: “We are committed to our proposal for a store in Faringdon and remain confident that our plans would encourage more shoppers to visit the town centre.”

The council will decide whether to back Waitrose’s application in the coming months. Tesco’s victory could affect decision-making, as planners previously said there was only enough demand for one big food retailer in the town.

Meanwhile, Budgens told the inquiry it would abandon its plans to extend its town centre store.

Tesco has not yet confirmed when construction will start on its new store.

Corporate affairs manager Sophie Akokhia said: “Naturally, we are extremely pleased by the inspector's decision. We have always strongly believed that the Park Road site offers the best opportunity for meeting Faringdon’s urgent need for a new foodstore in the town, and that this site was far preferable to Gloucester Street, which was why we rejected that option from the outset.”

Faringdon residents remain split on whether Tesco’s arrival will benefit the town.

Mayor Mike Wise said: “Some food retailers are not particularly worried about Tesco because they have high quality provision, while non-food retailers wanted Waitrose because it would bring customers into town.

“Personally, I think the people who shop in Tesco do not shop in the centre of town anyway.”

He added: “A lot of people do want Tesco, and it is quite obvious that the planning inspector said we are losing 80 per cent of food purchases to shops outside of Faringdon.

“There has been a definite anti-Tesco lobby, part of which is possibly snobbery, but also people do not like Tesco.”

Town centre trader Denise Palmer, from Presentation Gifts, warned businesses could close.

She said: “I think this will affect footfall in the town, and whether that is temporary or not, who can say? It is not Tesco I am opposed to, it is a supermarket out of town.

Chamber of Commerce chairman Paul Brame hoped the decision would end division in the town.