Mill End traders have promised to fight the latest plans from supermarket giant Tesco for an Express convenience store – resubmitted seven months after similar plans were abandoned in the face of strong public opposition.

The company has already had two applications rejected for the store and residential development, which it wants to build on the site of the former Happy Man pub, in Berry Lane.

Revised plans, revealed today by Three Rivers District Council suggest a scaled down development, comprising four flats instead of eight.

Nearby shop-owners in Tudor Parade claim that the supermarket has again ignored public concerns and failed again to listen to residents and traders of Mill End.

Paresh Patel, owner of the nearby A to Z Convenience Store, again promised to fight the plans all the way.

He said: “As far as I can see there is nothing new in this application – nothing that is different from the last one that was rejected.

“When the council rejected it before it was for inadequate car parking and the parking is still inadequate.

“We have already started a new petition against the site and the support out there is marvellous. Residents do not want Tesco here and we will fight this all the way.”

Shop owners are asking Hertfordshire Highways and Three Rivers District Council to hear their concerns for the parking issues and access problems for buses which could be caused by the store.

Tesco lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in July last year after the second application was deemed too large for the site, but withdrew before a decision could be made.

You can view the new planning application, 10/0329/FUL, via the related link below.

Comments to the council can be submitted online but will will need to be received before April 2 so they are considered before the Development Control Committee on April 22.