An architect is calling for a civic society to be set up in Wallingford to combat bad planning, writes Ian Townsend.

Architect Richard Neale wants residents to get together and fight for Wallingford.

He said the views of a civic society would be independent of the town council and business interests.

Mr Neale, former conservation officer for Westminster in London, said he was concerned about the proposed Waitrose development in the town centre.

He said: "Most significant towns have their own civic society and Wallingford should have one." Mr Neale, of St Leonard's Lane, said he was very much in favour of in-town supermarkets.

"They are an essential part of a town. But I have forebodings over the proposed Waitrose development.

"The prospect of Waitrose acting as developer of a large building complex and deciding the character and fate of a major element of the town centre rightly concerns many of us. We have seen random and unfocused development in Abingdon and Didcot." He said he was worried about Waitrose's plan to develop the whole of the corner opposite the Lamb Arcade and incorporate the existing Gateway store as well as buildings behind and alongside.

Wallingford Business 2000 has already stated its opposition to Waitrose taking over the town centre and said the development would need very careful planning so it did not swallow up other businesses.