Battle buses booked as Newport store D-Day looms

Two coach loads of protesters are expected to travel from Newport to Telford next week as planning bosses run the rule over a controversial bid for a new Sainsbury's supermarket in the town.

Fifty-seater buses have been booked to transport campaigners against the plans to Telford & Wrekin Council headquarters at the Civic Offices in the town. Police have been asked to attend by the council, according to bus organisers.

The application for a 50,000 sq ft store in Station Road will be discussed at the meeting on Wednesday at 6pm.

It has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The Save Newport Campaign Group, which was formed last year to fight a string of proposed developments in Newport, expects the application to be approved but vowed the fight would go on.

Chairman David Parker said: "We'll continue to protest up to and beyond Telford & Wrekin's decision. We're not throwing in the towel. The next step is to ask the government to call it in."

Coaches are expected to leave from the Guildhall, in High Street, at 4.45pm. A booking system will be put in place shortly.

A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman said: "The council chamber where the plans board meets can accommodate 80 members of the public. If any more than that attend, we have adjacent committee rooms where members of the public can listen to audio from the plans board so they can follow the debate."

But Councillor Adrian Meredith, a Save Newport member, said: "The council promised me publicly that the meeting would be in a bigger venue or even at the theatre in Oakengates but that has completely changed.

"But even if there is an overspill of people outside it will show the strength of feeling against this."

A spokesman for the campaign group added: "We reject both the conclusions outlined in the planning officers' report."