Oswestry town centre’s future is “at a crossroads”, campaigners against plans for a new multi-million supermarket warned today.

The warning from the Oswestry 21 organisation comes at the launch of a new poster campaign urging the public to say no to the new store. And it comes just a week before 7,500 anti-supermarket leaflets are delivered to households throughout the area urging residents to object to the store plans.

A special Shropshire Council meeting will be held on March 18 at the Lion Quays Hotel near Oswestry to make a decision on which of the four rival supermarket bids should get the go-ahead.

Those behind the bids say Oswestry needs a new supermarket which will provide jobs and greater choice.

But Oswestry 21, in coalition with Oswestry Civic Society, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Oswestry Chamber of Trade, has organised for posters proclaiming “Keep Our Town Special” to be distributed around the town.

And next week Royal Mail will deliver leaflets on behalf of the coalition to thousands of homes. The leaflet will contain an objection letter, which residents are being urged to sign and send to Shropshire Council.

Mark Evans, from Oswestry 21, said: “It’s a crossroads for this town. It can be one of the few towns to not opt for supermarket retail supremacy, and forge a workable and viable 21st century identity for itself, or one of the last to settle for selling its retail economy down the river and becoming a town centre of boarded shop fronts.

“The posters will raise awareness of the campaign, and the leaflets will provide information about the consequences for the town centre and its economy if Oswestry were to have another supermarket, and part of it will form an addressed objection letter that will require and address and a signature and a stamp.

“The pace is hotting up as March 18 approaches, but it’s likely that any decision will lead to a long period of appeals and possible judicial review, so this looks likely to be one battle in a long war.”

By Iain St John