Residents in Machynlleth have turned to social networking site Facebook to voice their opinions over the biggest development to come to the town in years.

Retail giant Tesco wants to open on the former Travis Perkins site in Doll Street. But an application for a 27,000 sq ft store, submitted to planners last month, has divided the residents of Machynlleth.

• Letter: Click here

A group supporting the plans was launched on Facebook earlier this month called “We Want Tesco” and has 334 members as people face driving 20 miles to Morrisons in Aberystwyth or 58 miles to Shrewsbury.

But an alternative group called “Stop Tesco Invading Machynlleth” has now also been set up on the site and has 118 members. They claim it will destroy “everything that is special and precious” about the town.

George Monbiot, who lives in Machynlleth, said: “More than 300 people, roughly one fifth of the adult population, have sent letters of objection. The case against the store and the strength of local feeling is so strong here that if we can’t beat Tesco, no-one can.”

But Councillor Michael Williams said: “A lot of people have told me that we as a town just couldn’t afford not to have these 140 jobs come to Machynlleth. And I feel we will need a very good reason on why we should refuse this application.”

Felix Gummer, a Tesco spokesman, said a public consultation held earlier this year showed 79 per cent of residents were in favour.