Public meeting held over Tesco plans for Golden Harp pub

'We don't want you here' was the message to Tesco at a public meeting over the supermarket giant's plans for the Golden Harp pub in Maidenhead last night.

Dozens of residents packed in to the hall at St Piran's School to question Simon Petar, the chain's corporate affairs manager, over its takeover of the building in Furze Platt Road.

He told them applications for the site would be 'forthcoming'.

"I'm keen to hear how we can improve what will be a fantastic offering in the community," he said.

But Mark Newcombe from the Save the Harp opposition group told him: "Our survey shows that nobody in our area wants your shop."

The group has already collected more than 3,000 signatures against the plans and held a protest in the High Street on Saturday last week.

Tesco does not need change of use planning permission to turn the building into a convenience store.

Applications to install a cash machine and for changes to the shop front are expected in the coming weeks.

Pub company Enterprise Inns, which owns the Harp, declined to attend the meeting.

Read more in tomorrow's Advertiser.