SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has announced it wants to move to Carterton — reviving hopes of a town centre rejuvenation.

The food chain has revealed it is in negotiations with the land owner of a derelict site behind High Street.

In August, Sainsbury’s submitted a planning application to create a 26,000 sqft supermarket at West Oxfordshire Retail and Business Park, in Upavon Way.

But civic leaders and traders are keen to revitalise the town centre, and want a supermarket in the hub of Carterton.

Janet Eustace, clerk at Carterton Town Council, said: “Representatives from Tesco met with town councillors earlier this month to outline their plans for a store in the town centre.

“The town and district councils have been working hard to bring about the refurbishment of the town centre to provide better retail opportunities.

“A new food store in the town centre would provide a much needed catalyst for regeneration.”

Tesco representative, Felix Gummer, said: “We are very excited about the opportunity to progress this plan for a town centre supermarket.

“The size of store that we are looking at is a bit larger than the Waitrose in Witney. Our store would have a good food selection and some non food as well.”

Mr Gummer said the site would provide good foot links and ample parking that would be used for both Tesco and High Street customers.

He added: “The plans and contract still need to be finalised, but as soon as they are we will undertake a full public consultation, giving all the residents and business people of Carterton a chance to see and comment on our proposed plans, before any planning application is submitted.”

The site was previously owned by The Co-operative.

When it was sold, The Co-operative created a ‘restrictive covenant’, which meant the land could not be used as a food store.

But now the business has pledged to modify the covenant in a bid to get a supermarket into the town centre.

The new Tesco store would employ about 200 people.

Harry Watts, 59, of The Robert and Doris Watts Healthcare, in Carterton, owns most of the land.

He said: “It will be a great win for the whole community to get a store.

“It’s about time we have some decent shops, so that we have a variety of prices and a good choice.

“The town council has worked really hard — we really now deserve the icing on the cake.”

It is expected that Sainsbury’s planning application will be decided by West Oxfordshire District Council in the next couple of months.

Ben Littman, development surveyor at Sainsbury’s, said: “We have always maintained that we do not believe that the town centre site is a viable option for a large food store. Our proposals for a new store at the West Oxfordshire Retail and Business Park work operationally, and we have a deal in place with the landowner, which means that the store can be delivered quickly should planning permission be granted.

“Our proposals would also kick-start the retail park, which has been vacant since it was built.

“If our proposals for the retail and business park are refused, there are likely to be more years of delay before Carterton residents are provided with a significant improvement in local food shopping facilities.”

Source: Witney Gazette