A PETITION opposed to another Sainsbury’s store in Colchester has gathered the support of more than 1,500 people in three weeks.

Shopkeepers have launched a campaign to try to block the store opening at the former Drury Arms pub, in Layer Road.

The petition objects to the scale of the proposal.

Under planning rules, Sainsbury’s does not have to apply for permission to use the site as a convenience store, but it has applied to extend the building.

Petition sheets are in nearby stores Ralph and Rita’s, in Layer Road; S&K Supermarket, in Drury Road, and Krishna News, in Butt Road.

Ralph Martin, of Ralph and Rita’s, said: “ We want to thank all our customers and residents of this area who have taken the time to express their opposition to this proposal over the last few weeks.

“With the number of the signatures on the petitions rising to well over 1,500, to agree to build a Sainsbury’s at the Drury site – less than 500 yards from a proposed, very large Tesco supermarket and on an already very busy and dangerous junction that even now struggles to cope with the volume of traffic at times – is just sheer madness.”

Colchester Council refused the plans to extend the building to create storage space, but the applicant, the Property Portfolio, has appealed.

The application would be looked at by an independent inspector in Bristol next week, said Mr Martin.

He added: “We all hope the inspector has time to study, in considerable detail, the weight of our opposition, and he will make the right decision and reject it outright.”

The petition will be sent off later this week.

Sue Beard, owner of S&K Supermarket, said: “We feel the community has been served well over the last 30 years and the area is clearly becoming over-developed.

“These people state they give choice, but eventually the only choice will be their choice and nobody else’s.”

The Drury Arms closed last summer and was briefly replaced by a temporary furniture store.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said it was aware the planning application to extend the building had been rejected and supported the developer’s decision to appeal against this.

He added: “Across the country our shops trade successfully alongside a mix of national and independent retailers and we look forward to bringing Sainsbury’s to the area, as it will increase shopping choice and create jobs.”