Tesco's multi-million master-plan for Belper is revealed

TESCO today said its multi-million pound bid to build a new store in Belper would create 400 jobs.

The supermarket giant has, for the first time, revealed full details of its plans which, it says, would feature a new "sports quarter" for the town, including a new ground for Belper Town Football Club, if its scheme for the Meadow's Edge area, off Derwent Street, gets the go-ahead.

And the company confirmed it intends to build a relief road from Morrisons roundabout, by the River Derwent, to the A6 at The Triangle.

But not everyone is happy at the announcement.

Protest group Belper Against Tesco was formed after it became clear that the company was planning a development in the town. It says the master-plan is a smoke screen, as many of the facilities being offered already exist and would be moved into new buildings to make way for the scheme.

The group said it had taken legal advice and would be fighting the development "all the way".

Members fear it would take business away from the town centre, cause flooding problems and infringe on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Chairman Vickie Minion said large supermarkets had already damaged the economy in three other Derbyshire towns.

She said: "In Heanor, Matlock and Long Eaton supermarkets have caused large numbers of stores in the traditional town centres to shut down.

"Why do Tesco have to have this one-size-fits-all policy?

"They need to understand that they must compromise on size and scale."

Tesco's regional affairs manager Eoin Dardis said a planning application was expected to go to Amber Valley Borough Council by the end of the year – possibly even as early as autumn.

He said the company would be careful to make sure the plans fitted in with the world heritage site and that it was keen to ensure that Belper town centre did not lose out.

Mr Dardis said: "We could be seeing additional businesses being brought into the town.

"There would be free parking there so people could do their weekly shop and then walk into town.

"The linkages between ourselves and the town centre are critical."

He added that the relief road would take heavy traffic away from outside shops in Bridge Street and Chapel Street

This would make it a more pleasant area, he said.

Mr Dardis said the plans meant that Belper Town FC would need to move to make way for the relief road but that it would get new floodlights, a stand, more parking and a new practice pitch as a result. He said: "We have been in contact with the football club for sometime.

"With new facilities will, hopefully, come the chance to move up the divisions."

New hockey, tennis and cricket facilities are included in Tesco's plans. It wants to knock down the current library on Bridge Street to make way for the relief road and build a new one off Derwent Street.

And it said a new community hall would be built for the town's Methodist Church.

Tesco is holding a public display of its plans at Firestone House, Derwent Street, on Thursday, from 2pm to 8pm, Friday, noon to 6pm, and Saturday, July 18, 10am to 2pm.