Tesco plan thrown out after 600 objections

Hugely controversial plans for a new Tesco - which it was feared could irreparably damage a village - were thrown out as a capacity crowd of passionate residents looked on last night.

A packed out Windsor’s Guildhall played host to a planning battle royale as members of the Windsor development control panel unanimously rejected the plan by the supermarket giant for a proposed new store in High Street, Sunninghill.

More than 600 letters of objection had been received by the council regarding the scheme, compared to just two in favour.

Val Woods, Headteacher of St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, which is opposite the proposed site, told the meeting: "The community of Sunninghill is threatened by this proposal which could result in irreplacable damage."

Matthew Roe, appearing on behalf of Tesco, defended the application, which he said would only result in an additional 68 vehicle movements a day.

However Cllr Alison Knight (Con, Sunninghill and South Ascot), who chaired the panel and who seconded refusal, said: "We went to great lengths to consider every aspect of the proposal and we heard compelling evidence that if the store went ahead there would be serious and highly dangerous implications for road users and pedestrians.

"The panel’s unequivocal view was that the application failed in a number of critical areas and that refusal was the only option."

Speaking after the meeting,  concerned resident Adam Jezard, father to a young child, who had expressed worries over the traffic situation, said he was 'very pleased' with the council’s decision.