Bourne End waits on store options

11:30am Saturday 6th September 2008

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ANXIOUS Bourne End residents will have to wait and see whether Tesco will pursue its plan to build an Express store in the village.

The supermarket giant has not announced any future proposals for the land in The Parade, after its application to build a store and four flats there was rejected in August.

Tesco has admitted it was disappointed with Wycombe District Council’s refusal and said it is now considering its options for the site.

Jim Penfold, chairman of Bourne End Residents' Association, said: “It’s exactly what we expected they would do. They would obviously consider their options. I think we have just got to wait and see.

“There’s always going to be someone who thinks it’s a good idea, but no-one has come up to me and said anything other than ‘great’. Yet we don’t think that’s it. We’re by no means complacent about it.’’ Tesco’s latest plans were turned down after council officers warned they could result in the closure of other shops. The officers’ report also said there was no need for an additional convenience store in Bourne End.

This followed two previous rejections of similar plans to build an Express store and eight flats.

Cllr Clive Harriss warned the latest refusal may not be the final chapter in the story.

Speaking at the planning meeting in August, he said: “My one concern is that we have another application from a substantial company, which will come back and come back until they get it right.’’ Mr Penfold agreed there were worries other stores would shut if Tesco opened, but stressed the association was not against the supermarket.

“There isn’t a particular anti-Tesco feeling,’’ he said. “We have one at Loudwater and we have one in Wooburn Green so we have enough Tescos already round here. We just don’t need any more. It’s overkill.

“We have a nice, diverse selection of shops in the village centre and I’m afraid a Tesco Express would possibly, if not probably, mean a demise of some of those.’’ Carol Leslie, a Tesco spokesman, said: “At the moment, all I can tell you is that we are considering our options.’’ The future of the Bourne End site was likely to be discussed at a Tesco meeting later this month, she added.