Store upgrade plans revealed

A new bigger Tesco store for Stalham, and a rejigged entrance road into the town centre, will be unveiled this weekend.

The retail giant says it wants to double the size of its store in the Broads town, to meet customer demand and be more competitive with bigger supermarkets in neighbouring towns.

Today and tomorrow the scheme will be outlined to local people in a consultation session ahead of lodging official plans.

Opponents of the original 1,400sq m store, who say it has harmed the town centre, are likely to repeat their concerns about the 1,600sq m extension.

But local community leaders have been more positive in their early responses, saying Tesco has been a major job creator and had reinvigorated the high street.

Tesco put in a new access road, which also served the town, when the store was first built in 2002.

Expanding the store on to the former abattoir land, and enlarging the car park from 198 to 360 spaces, means shifting the road again - this time with a new roundabout on the A149 to improve the junction.

Tesco spokesman Nick Gellatly said: “The existing store and car park is too small for the trade it already does. We need to improve our offer to existing customers. The improved store will also attract new people into Stalham. We know many currently drive a long way to use bigger stores elsewhere.”

The company would listen to comments during the consultation session - where people can ask questions of officials - before submitting plans later this year - with the aim of opening the new-look store before the end of next year.

“We are committed to working

with local communities and want to try to get the best for both our customers and the town,” said Mr Gellatly.

Tesco said the roundabout was the result of comments from an earlier consultation on a possible expansion two years ago.

The exhibition runs at the Stalham Baptist Church Hall, High Street, from 2.30pm to 6pm today and 10am to 2pm tomorrow.