Alert for town as Tesco hits traders

The struggle faced by traders in Ellesmere since the arrival of Tesco should set alarm bells ringing, an Oswestry campaign group claimed today.

Traders in Ellesmere say takings have plummeted since Tesco opened in August, with some forced to cut jobs and others having to reduce employees' hours.

With no less than four planning applications for a new superstore in Oswestry, the Oswestry 21 group fears the town could suffer if one of them gets the go-ahead.

The group, which campaigns for sustainable development, says the problem is being mirrored across Britain.

At a recent Ellesmere Town Council meeting, traders urged the town council to do something to encourage more shoppers into the town centre.

They said since Tesco opened at the Wharf, the town was often deserted.

Mark Evans, from Oswestry 21, said it was worrying news. He said: "Ellesmere's plight should really set alarm bells ringing in Oswestry.

"Yes Ellesmere is smaller than Oswestry but equally the new Tesco there is smaller than those proposed for Oswestry.

"We already have four supermarkets in Oswestry - more and more people are now saying that we have enough. There are real, genuine fears that one superstore could really damage Oswestry."

Shropshire Council is expected to have the supermarket applications on a planning agenda later this year.