by Alan Smith
ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

It's just like buses. You wait years for a supermarket and then two come along at once.

Staplehurst residents are still absorbing the September announcement from Sainsbury’s that the firm intends to create a new store on the DK Holdings site in Station Approach.

Now less than six weeks later, Tesco says they too will build at Staplehurst – some 300 yards from the proposed Sainsbury’s store.

The Tesco plan includes a petrol filling station and promises a major re-arrangement of parking at the station and the creation of a bus terminal.

Although Tesco had previously put forward a scheme for a store adjacent to the station, it dropped an application in 2005, citing “insurmountable planning difficulties with officers at Maidstone Borough Council.”

However, it seems Tesco has continued to beaver away at its plans with Network Rail in the meantime.

Tesco claims the new store would create 150 new full and part-time jobs – which coincidentally is the same figure quoted by Sainsbury’s.

It plans to recruit local people via Jobcentre Plus.

Tesco will hold a public exhibition of its proposals at the Staplehurst Village Centre on Friday, November 11, from 1pm to 5pm, and again on Saturday, November 12, from 10am to 4pm.

It has not yet submitted a formal planning application to Maidstone council but invites those seeking further information to email info@tescostaplehurst.co.uk or call 0207 822 0757.