ROYSTON Chamber of Commerce is calling on plans for Tesco to expand to be rejected. The chamber is urging North Herts District Council to refuse planning application as it will undermine even further the viability and vitality of the town centre". The mo

ROYSTON Chamber of Commerce is calling on plans for Tesco to expand to be rejected. The chamber is urging North Herts District Council to refuse planning application as it will "undermine even further the viability and vitality of the town centre". The move comes from chamber chairman Steve Larcombe, who said: "The council's own economic study indicates the fragility of the town centre economy. "It is clear that action must be taken to protect what is left of the retail heart of the town." The chamber is mounting the offensive against the supermarket giant as it believes Tesco intends to "expand aggressively" into do-it-yourself, sports, home entertainment, bakery and on-line goods. A statement released by the chamber says the planning application is in direct contravention of Government objectives to promote "vital and viable town centres". The chamber also ask the district council to take on board the environmental cost of expanding the store. Mr Larcombe said: "It has been estimated that a typical superstore generates many tonnes of air pollution when the huge number of inward and outward movements, both cars and distribution lorries, are taken into account." A district council spokesman said the council was willing to receive any comments from the chanber which will be "taken into consideration" when the planning application is considered by members of the Royston area committee. A Tesco spokesman said the expansion was "all good news for customers in Royston and would make shopping more convenient". The spokesman confirmed that "enabling work" had begun at the site and pending planning approval. The 2,368 sq-meter expansion will take 30 weeks to complete. - The Tesco planning application is likely to be considered by the area committee on April 26.