TESCO’s plans to close one of its Oxford supermarkets’ doors for 30 weeks are continuing to anger residents, who are worried about where they will turn to for essentials instead.

The Tesco Metro on Cowley Road is due to close this spring at some point so the shop can be ‘reconfigured’ and that extra floors can be built above containing 137 student flats.

Residents shared their worries about having to travel further afield to shop for essentials, and local MP Anneliese Dodds has also written to the supermarket chain.

Now, a local councillor, Craig Simmons, has written to Tesco trying to ask them if there are alternatives to closing the shop while work goes ahead.

ALSO READ: 'Cancelled' artist accused of transphobia speaks out on free speech plans

Mr Simmons, a Green councillor for St Mary’s Ward, said: “The way the building work is being done makes it very difficult to social distance on the Cowley Road.”

He described how hoardings and a temporary fence had been placed outside the entrance to the shop, which gave a narrow walkway for pedestrians on the roadside instead of a pavement.

He added: “If planning permission had been given at the time of the pandemic rather than prior to it, I think there would be some kind of conditions placed on this development.”

Mr Simmons has contacted Tesco asking the company to reconsider its decision to start the work now, instead postponing it until after the pandemic.

St Marys ward councillor, Craig Simmons. Picture: Damian Halliwell.

St Mary's ward councillor, Craig Simmons. Picture: Damian Halliwell.

He also recommended the supermarket giant provided more capacity for home deliveries in East Oxford, which is served by the Cowley Road shop.

He said: “People are concerned: this is their main shop and for many it is a lifeline. Households around here are also less likely to have a car than other areas, and there are no direct bus routes to other supermarkets in the city: there are no buses going direct to the out of town Tesco, for example.”

Tesco has previously said it has nine alternative shops within five miles of the Cowley Road.

A spokesman for the supermarket was asked why building works could not be delayed, as planning permission usually has a five-year grace period for works to be carried out.

They said: “Because of the size of the project, including the new accommodation, the date for works cannot be delayed or changed; and it is not possible for the shop to continue to trade whilst the work is being carried out.”

READ AGAIN: What are the plans for 137 flats above Tesco Cowley Road?

The spokesman also said: “Customers are also welcome to shop with us online for home delivery. There continues to be extremely high demand for online grocery shopping and we are working around the clock to serve as many customers as we can. We have more than doubled our online capacity since the start of the Coronavirus outbreak and now have around 1.5 million slots each week.

“We continue to ringfence priority slots for vulnerable customers and now have over 800,000 on our list. As with previous lockdowns, in order to free up slots for those who need them most, we are encouraging customers to prioritise shopping in-store where possible and as indicated have nine alternative stores within five miles of Cowley Road.”