TRADERS in Oxford’s Cowley Road fear for their futures after supermarket giant Sainsbury’s unveiled a plan to open its first store in the street.

The new supermarket, at Tyndale House, would be just across the road from a Tesco Metro store.

Sainsbury’s last night confirmed it wanted to open the shop, months after unveiling a separate plan for an outlet at The Plain.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said, “Sainsbury’s has acquired the unit at 134 Cowley Road for a new Sainsbury’s Local store and subsequently submitted an alcohol licence application.

The proximity of the current and proposed stores

“The new convenience store will provide local people with quality, fresh, affordable food within walking distance of their homes and for those needing to top up their shopping.

“Work on our other new Sainsbury’s Local at The Plain is progressing well and is still on track to open in early November.”

Mehrban Mohd, owner of the nearby Eastern & Continental food store, said: “The prospect of two Sainsbury’s stores in the area is a big problem.

“It’s not right. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

“It really is the worst of times for everyone here. I have been here since 1977. It’s going to be very difficult to survive.”

The site was previously used by the Department of Health and Social Security. Blockbuster Video and a music shop occupy other parts of the building.

Domenico Iorio, owner of the Il Principe Italian Delicatessen, said Sainsbury’s plans would cast a shadow even over specialist outlets in East Oxford.

He said: “We already have a big Tesco store here.

“But Sainsbury’s put more Italian food and wines in their stores. For me it’s very bad. It’s already a struggle.”

Avtar Singh only opened his new food shop Oxford Convenience Store in May and said he did not relish having both Sainsbury’s and Tesco as neighbours.

He added: “How can you compete selling groceries? This will affect everything.”

Tesco recently opened new supermarkets in Botley, St Aldate’s and Magdalen Street.

But the company faced strong opposition from local shopkeepers to proposals to build another store on the site of the former Fox and Hounds pub, in Abingdon Road. They warned they would be squeezed out if the plan went ahead.

Two planning applications from Tesco were turned down by city councillors in the summer.

And campaigners last week urged the company to drop plans to build a store in Marston, on the site of the boarded-up Friar pub, after that scheme was also refused planning consent.

Sainsbury’s is yet to submit a planning application for the Cowley Road project. But a notice has been put up outside giving notice that the company has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm daily.

Erica Steinhauer, of Bead Games, who is shortly to leave Cowley Road, said: “We really have now got supermarket wars here.

“It’s terrible news. The small food retailers are just about the only retail presence. And now they will be under intense pressure.

“I think the writing was on the wall when people started talking about creating a ‘night-time economy’.”