CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to march to a council’s offices tonight to protest against a supermarket being built in the centre of their town.


People in St John’s Road in Epping and the surrounding streets will carry placards down the town’s High Street to Epping Forest District Council’s offices in time for tonight’s meeting of councillors at 7.30pm.


There was overwhelming public support for a leisure centre to be built on the former site of Epping Primary School and the surrounding area, rather than a supermarket, in a survey earlier this year.


But protesters are angry that some councillors are still insisting a supermarket is needed to make development of the site viable.

Steven Harding, 37, of St John’s Road, said: “We’re hoping for a good turn-out.


“Our objective tonight is to be seen and heard and ensure that Epping Forest District Council recognises that local feeling is still strong.”

Councillor Anne Grigg, who is heading the project, said during a council cabinet meeting last week that a new store could bring more trade to the centre of Epping.


The council is due to discuss additional funding for the ongoing consultation on the St John’s site at tonight’s meeting.

The march is due to start in St John’s Road at 6.30pm.

Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Twitter