MORE than 50 people protested against a supermarket being built in the centre of their town last night.


Families from St John’s Road, Epping, and the surrounding neighbourhood are opposed to a store being included as part of plans to develop the former Epping Primary School site and surrounding area.

Despite a public consultation showing massive opposition to a supermarket being built there, councillors have said the development may not be viable without one.


Protester Steven Harding, 37, of St John’s Road, said: “We were very pleased that there were people still determined to send the council a strong message.”

He said the next step for residents would be to make sure the remaining results of the public consultation, which took place in April, were published soon.


“The third question was an open question, which just invited respondents to say what they wanted to see,” he added. “I expect there will be some very interesting responses.


“The consultation ended on April 23 and we’re now in August, so it’s taking longer than I would have expected.”

Councillor Anne Grigg, who is heading the consultation, said she and other members would meet with their consultants in the next few weeks to discuss the remaining results.


“At that point, we will know when the full details will be put into the format they’re required to be in to be published,” she added. “We will consider (protesters’) views – that’s part of it.”


She said that the consultation would be used to inform a design brief for the area, which would be completed by September at the earliest.

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