BUSINESSES and residents have rallied behind a petition against plans for a Tesco superstore on the outskirts of Thame amid fears it could harm the town centre.

Last month the supermarket chain applied to build a 2,522sqm store and petrol station on the DAF site in Howland Road, saying the development would create 200 jobs.

Tesco spokeswoman Fflur Sheppard said the opinions of residents and businesses had been considered and the decision would now lie with South Oxfordshire district councillors.

She said: “We know that around half of all main food shopping is done outside the town, so our hope is to encourage those customers to stay in Thame and shop with Tesco.

“If we are successful in doing that, other retailers may also benefit from customers who currently choose not to use town centre shops and services.”

But campaign group Thame Centre First has launched a petition, with support from 30 businesses, pleading that the store goes against the town’s 2013 Neighbourhood Plan, and could drive business out of the town centre.

John Edwards, managing director of Robert Stanleys Opticians in Thame and a petition supporter, said: “It is a busy town centre with a lot of independent businesses. A lot of independent businesses could suffer.”

Former traffic warden Peggy Long, who has lived in the town for 60 years, said a Tesco in the area would bring in vital new jobs.

The 70-year-old said: “I think the job situation is very important because someone who leaves school may not have good exam results, or young mums might need to work part-time and it would give them jobs.”

A spokesman for South Oxfordshire District Council said it was aware of the petition and would consider it as part of the planning process.

Thame Centre First member Helen Johns, from Tetsworth, said the Neighbourhood Plan did not envisage the town needing a large food or convenience store for at least the next 12 years.

Ms Johns added: “There are many examples of businesses closing down because of out of town retail parks. All retailers in Thame currently get a fair share of the cake and we want to stop that happening to them.”

Thame resident and charity worker Alex Taylor added: “Local residents should not stand by and allow this development to be approved, risking irrevocable changes to the character of Thame.”

Thame Town Council said it could not comment on the application until it had been considered by members of its planning committee.