PROTESTORS against controversial proposals for a Tesco supermarket on Portland were left reeling after councillors backed the scheme.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s planning and traffic committee agreed to delegate the scheme for approval during a heated meeting at the Pavilion.

More than 20 opponents to the proposed development at the Bottomcombe Quarry masonry works site at Easton – which will also include a 68-bed nursing home and 36-unit housing development – voiced their disapproval to the committee.

However, the majority of members voted in favour of the scheme – subject to a raft of planning conditions – and a planning agreement will now be thrashed out between the developers and council planning officers before the store is given the green light.

The heartfelt objections from residents focused on issues such as the increase in traffic around the store and Easton Square, the threat to trade of local shops and the inappropriate size of the supermarket.

Developers Chelverton Deeley Freed and Tesco claim the scheme will bring around 200 jobs to Portland and that it will stop islanders heading over to Weymouth to do their food shopping.

Susan Mayo, owner of Miss Piggy’s Pantry at Easton and a member of the Keep Easton Alive protest group, said the arrival of Tesco would be a serious blow to small businesses like hers.

She said: “We have a fragile economy with small local shops existing on a small turnover. We simply do not have the same buying power as Tesco.

“My only conclusion, having reviewed the facts, is that this monster store will be an unmitigated disaster for the island and particularly for the island community.”

Regional organiser for the Wessex region of the Federation of Small Businesses Colin Jamieson echoed Mrs Mayo’s sentiments.

Resident and Keep Easton Alive member Catherine Bennett said that Easton simply would not be able to cope with the added traffic brought into the area.

She said: “This is not a town centre but a village and such volumes of traffic are entirely inappropriate.”

Easton Square resident and mother Christine Jung said she was also concerned over the impact of more cars using the square to get to the new store.

She said: “I feel very strongly about my children’s safety and well being.

“No child should be expected to live on a roundabout or have to play on a roundabout of this monstrous size.”

There were also speakers in favour of the scheme, such as Portland historian Stuart Morris – who claimed the supermarket could provide a boost to local independent traders.

Mr Morris said: “Easton will adapt and there is a greater chance of it prospering with a supermarket there. It will be an anchor store and bring great opportunities. We all want to Keep Easton Alive and I feel this is the best way of injecting a stimulus in the area.”

Carenza Hayhoe also spoke in favour of the scheme on behalf of the Portland Carers support group. She said there was a need for the proposed residential home as well as more housing on Portland. After lengthy debate, the committee voted by eight to four to support the scheme, with Councillors Margaret Leicester, Hazel Bruce, John Birtwistle and David Mannings opposing the plans.

The conditions to be finalised will cover such areas as opening hours, highway improvements, delivery hours, goods for sale and landscaping.

After the meeting, Mayor of Portland Sandy West said it was time for islanders to ‘look to the future’ and focus on the positives of having a large food store at Easton. She said many people on Portland were elderly or had restricted mobility and would welcome the prospect of having a shorter distance to travel for their supermarket shop.

Coun West added: “You also got to look at the fact it is going to bring an extra 200 jobs to Portland and we have got loads of kids on the island who need work.”

Coun West said that, as an employee of Asda in Weymouth, she had every right to object to the scheme but she said she would welcome the arrival of any new supermarket on the island.