A CONTROVERSIAL plan for an out-of-town supermarket in Carterton has been rejected.

Sainsbury wanted to build a 26,000 sq ft food store in the empty West Oxfordshire Business Park, in Upavon Way.

But on the advice of planning officers, West Oxfordshire district councillors voted to throw out the proposal.

Peter Handley, who was among those who voted against, said: “It is against the local plan for the area, which is concentrated on developing Carterton town centre.

“There is new legislation from the Government that says all out of town development must be refused until the town centres are developed, as one would starve the other.”

For many years Carterton Town Council has planned to redevelop the old market site, in the centre of the town, with new shops and houses.

A project team is working on the long-awaited revamp, which is reliant on a supermarket coming to the site to attract further shops.

Mr Handley added: “The application by Sainsbury’s would have just pulled the rug out of the deal on the town centre.

“As ratepayers, we want to make a sustainable deal for the town.”

A Sainsbury’s survey claimed that 2,339 households and businesses – 92 per cent of respondents – expressed their support for a store.

Carterton resident Andrew Ashman said: “The West Oxfordshire Retail Park site has been left empty for far too long and the new store would have resulted in more interest in the site.

“It could be argued that the site is now in the middle of Carterton given the expansion of the town to the east.”

He added: “A new store on the old market site would mean more traffic in the centre of town, including large delivery vehicles passing close to primary schools.

“There would be three food stores in close proximity, all requiring several deliveries a week.”

Ben Littman, Sainsbury’s development surveyor, said: “We are naturally disappointed that our proposals have been refused. Our planning application generated overwhelming support from the local community.”

He said the company would monitor progress on the market site plans “with interest.”