Supporters of Shipston supermarket hit back

CAMPAIGNERS have hit back at claims a proposed supermarket for Shipston would turn it into a ghost town.

Last week we reported how Coun Jonathan Gullis, who represents the town on the district council, slammed proposals submitted by developer Ainscough Strategic Land for a large development, including a supermarket and homes, on land west of the town.

Coun Gullis said a supermarket would kill off independent traders in the town and was unecessary and unwanted.

But hundreds of campaigners have joined a group on Facebook in favour of a supermarket in the town and many responded angrily to his claims.

Resident, Marion Cox, said the exact opposite of what Mr Gullis had said was true.

She said: "Shipston needs this development to prevent it becoming a 'ghost town'.

"With a supermarket and garage close to the town it will encourage shoppers from neighbouring villages, as well as locals, to use the supermarket and the town shops, instead of them going to Stratford or Banbury to do their shopping."

While Les Grinnell said the town was already a 'ghost town' and was in need of the development to rejuvenate it.

He said: "Most people are having to travel to other towns to shop if they want to have any choice or pay a fair price for their food.

"Do they not realise that they will not only create jobs for the stagnant local area and attract people to the town when they normally go elsewhere?

"Because there is nothing here apart from a few out-dated shops which can't cope now Shipston has doubled in size.

"Why does everyone have to travel elsewhere in order to live, it makes no sense what so ever!"

Ainscough Strategic Land, which lodged the planning application last week, insisted it had a significant amount of support from townspeople for the scheme.

Meanwhile the Transition Shipston group, which promotes sustainability in the town, has arranged a meeting at Townsend Hall in the town on Tuesday (March 6) for those opposed to the development.

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