A RETAIL study commissioned by West Devon Borough Council has concluded that it may be difficult for Okehampton to support a fourth large supermarket in the town.

A consultation based on the findings of the draft study by independent consultants will now be the subject of a six week consultation, in which local people will be asked to give their views.

This week, results of a survey carried out by an offshoot group of the Chamber of Trade, showed that the majority of people were against another large supermarket.

Of the 591 who responded, 445 were against and 120 for.

The survey was done in response to Tesco plans to build a superstore on the edge of the town.

A formal planning application for the site at North Road/Link Road is expected to be submitted by Tesco in the next few weeks.

In the retail study, it states that the amount of people choosing to do their food shopping in Okehampton, almost 60%, showed that the town was catering well for the needs of local people.

In particular, Waitrose was an important attraction and added to the variety of food shopping in the town.

The three town centre supermarkets also collectively helped to bring people into the town centre and encouraged them to use other shops in the town.

The findings showed that there was only capacity in the town for a limited amount of new shopping space by 2031 and that it may be difficult for Okehampton to support a fourth large supermarket.

Any future need, the report suggests, could be met by expanding one or more of the existing stores or having a fourth smaller local or express store elsewhere in the town.

Speaking on behalf of Okehampton Chamber of trade offshoot group, Okehampton Community First, Jan Goffey said she hoped people would support the findings and recognise that the main shopping area should stay in the centre of the town.

She said all the new housing at the edge of the town would benefit from a small corner shop but another large supermarket would be detrimental to the town as a whole.

Spokesperson for Tesco Melanie Chiswell said she had been talking with the businesses in Okehampton and Tesco would be listening and taking on board all the local views before submitting a planning application.

She said: 'We still think that customers in Okehampton and the surrounding area would like the chance that a new Tesco would create in terms of shopping opportunities and jobs.

'Many people are still travelling to other towns like Launceston and Crediton to do their main shop.'

People will be able to respond to the retail survey online and there will be copies in libraries and town council offices. There will also be consultation days, yet to be arranged.

The final draft of the survey to be decided by the borough council will not form policy but will be used in evidence when deciding planning applications.