An independent retailing family in Basingstoke is breathing a sigh of relief after plans to build a 63,000sq ft Tesco Extra less than half a mile away from their store were thrown out.

Jenny Buttress owns Jay Bee’s Convenience Store, which has been trading on Winchester Road for 35 years. She told Convenience Store that the decision by members of the development control committee at Basingstoke Borough Council to reject the plans was a “huge relief”.

With the help of her son Mark, Jenny and store staff collected protest signatures from 1,300 local residents. “In addition to losing us thousands of pounds each week, the development would also have put the safety of local schoolchildren at risk,” Jenny explained.

“The new road system that Tesco was proposing to build would have required many children to cross six pelican crossings to get to school.”

The advice and support of other independent retailers who had successfully fought supermarket developments had played a crucial role in Jay Bee’s campaign success, Jenny added.

Tesco now has six months in which to appeal the decision.