Epsom does not need any more big supermarkets, according to its MP who said he will oppose any plans for a big Waitrose or Morrisons in the market town.

Speaking to the Epsom Guardian this afternoon, Chris Grayling said he is unhappy with unconfirmed plans that Waitrose is looking to develop a supermarket on the Upper High Street site - development options for which are currently being considered by Epsom Council - and Morrisons is aiming to bring one of its stores to the gasholder site in East Street.

He said that while he is not against a "sensibly-sized" supermarket on the Upper High Street, no supermarket should be built in East Street and he has already contacted Morrisons to express his lack of enthusiasm for the proposal.

The Secretary of State for Justice, 52, said more housing and office space is required in Epsom, rather than any more "unnecessary" supermarkets.

Mr Grayling said: "Whilst there may be the case for a smaller food store on the Upper High Street site, we should be using the development sites in Epsom for housing and business and not for any more big supermarkets.

"It’s really important to get the balance right on the Upper High Street site and a moderately-sized food store there, as part of mixed-use of the site, would be fine.

"There should be no supermarket on the gasholder site.

"We already have a Sainsbury’s store in Kiln Lane, an Asda up on the Downs, a Tesco in Leatherhead, planning consent for a Tesco store in Ashtead and a Waitrose in The Ashley Centre." 

He said that he is sceptical that a new supermarket would boost trade in the town centre as a whole. 

"Having any more will squeeze small shops and we should say no to this. 

"There is no obvious reason to give planning consent for another supermarket in the area," he said.

"At the moment people do tend to coalesce around The Ashley Centre end. 

"But my worry is we end up with a giant supermarket which people drive in and out of, which contributes to traffic and development issues and will suck away business from the centre of Epsom. 

"The biggest need in Epsom is for housing. 

"A sensibly-styled block of flats that fit in with the area would be good as clearly there is a shortage. 

"At the end of the day it is a decision for the local council. 

"But there is no obvious reason why they would have to give planning consent for a big supermarket."

Mr Grayling said that the imminent departure of Epsom’s business development manager Adam Worley is "a great loss" and believes people want to retain the character of the town.

In this year’s Epsom town centre survey, 32 per cent of people who completed it said they definitely or probably would shop in the town more often if a large supermarket was built there, while 68 per cent said they probably or definitely would not. 

A poll on epsomguardian.co.uk last month found that 42 per cent of participants would prefer a new Morrisons in the town, compared with 34 per cent for Waitrose.

A total of 13 per cent said they didn't want a new store from either supermarket while 12 per cent said they wanted both.

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Waitrose and Morrisons battle to open new supermarket in Epsom town centre

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