RETAIL giant Tesco has resurrected plans for a new superstore in Maidstone four years after residents thought the scheme had been killed off.

The surprise announcement looks set to re-ignite the protests that greeted similar plans for a store on the same site in Loose Road in 1998.

Tesco spokeswoman Katherine Edwards said this week that the development was an "exciting opportunity" for Maidstone and asked residents not to dismiss it out of hand. The company is seeking outline planning permission from Maidstone Borough Council to downsize its current store in Farleigh Hill, Tovil, and build 25 houses on the leftover land.

It wants to build a new store with parking space for 326 cars on land it has bought next to and behind Kent Fire Brigade's training centre in Loose Road.

The multi-million pound store, that could be open by the end of next year, would be a third bigger than the current store in Tovil. The plans include a new mini roundabout on Loose Road for ease of access.

Tesco has spent huge sums improving its outdated store in Tovil but says it has to move because the site is now too small to expand any further.

South ward Cllr Malcolm Luxton (Lib Dem) said: "The proposal's horrifying. I thought residents made their opinions clear four years ago when they organised a massive petition against a supermarket being built in Loose Road."

Tovil parish council chairman Cllr Canon Chris Morgan-Jones said: "My personal view is I think it is very sad that Tesco want to build a lot more houses in Tovil instead of expanding the original store."

Cllr Luxton is holding a public meeting at the Y Sports Centre in Melrose Close, Tovil, on Sunday (May 26), at 10am, to discuss the plans. He has also urged people to write to the council with their views.

Tesco is holding a public exhibition at the Loose Road site on Monday (May 27) from noon to 6pm, on Tuesday (May 28) from 10am to 8pm and on Wednesday (May 29) from noon to 6pm.

Mrs Edwards added: "We are hoping as many people as possible will come to the exhibition and discuss any issues. We want to work with residents and allay any of their concerns."