ANGRY campaigners are vowing to fight proposals by retail giant Tesco to build a new supermarket off Loose Road in Maidstone. About 200 residents in the area attended a public meeting on Sunday to discuss a plan of action following the announcement last week that Tesco wants to down downsize its Tovil store and build a new one.

Almost 1,000 people signed a petition opposing the idea when it was last proposed in 1998. At Sunday's meeting at the Y-Centre South Ward councillor Malcolm Luxton (Lib Dem) called for residents to work together collecting signatures for another petition, leaflet dropping and writing letters.

He said: "What happens is down to you. If the borough council see the strength of opinion that there is in the area I don't think they can ignore it."

Campaigners are this week picketing alongside a display about the proposal at the Tesco store in Tovil. The site for the proposed development lies between the Kent Fire Brigade training centre and the ambulance headquarters. It is set aside in the local plan for housing and an outline application for housing has also been submitted to Maidstone Borough Council.

Residents say the proposal is ludicrous and will cause further traffic chaos in Loose Road. May people are angry at suggestions by Tesco that the project is a positive scheme for residents and traders in Loose. The firm says it is an "exciting opportunity" and has asked residents to consider the proposal before opposing it.

Plans for the proposed store include 326 car parking spaces and a mini roundabout on the Loose Road for ease of access.