Opposition to fourth Tesco plan

Tesco has three supermarkets in Inverness

Residents of an Inverness community have objected to plans for a fourth Tesco supermarket in the city.

At a public meeting chaired by Holm Community Council, all of the 130 people present said there was no need for a store in their local area.

The meeting also discussed Highland Council's draft plan for development in Holm - which includes a proposal for more than a thousand houses.

Tesco said the site has been identified for retail by Highland Council.

Inverness has three Tesco stores, earning the city the nickname Tesco Town.

Asda also have plans to build a supermarket in the Highland capital.

'Continuing commitment'

Tesco said the reason it was applying for planning permission for the site on the road between Inverness and Dores, Loch Ness-side, was because it had been earmarked for such a development.

A spokesman said the supermarket chain's relationship with the city had become confused and plans for a fourth store represented its continuing commitment to Inverness.

There is a Tesco Extra at Inverness Retail Park off the A96 and stores at Inches and Tomnahurich Street, near the city centre.

He added: "The plan is not at a particularly advanced stage.

"We are planning for what is called a format 30 on that site, which is a supermarket store about the same size as Inches but smaller than the Extra."