Chipping Norton Sainsbury's supermarket plan refused

Sainsbury's said its store would focus on food products

Plans to open a Sainsbury's store outside an Oxfordshire town have been turned down.

West Oxfordshire District Council refused permission for the 30,000 sq ft (9,100 sq m) supermarket on the former Parker Knoll site at Chipping Norton.

Objectors had complained a new store would increase traffic and affect smaller businesses.

Sainsbury's said it would have provided greater food choice and created about 200 jobs.

Steve Pitz, of the Stop Chippy's Out of Town Supermarket (Scoots) campaign group, called the decision a "tick in the right box for common sense".

He said: "The advent of a new superstore development would have just been disastrous for the town retailers.

"They're all struggling... We need to support the town centre and not pull it apart."

Sainsbury's set up a website outlining its proposalsand said 50% of residents currently "travel considerable distances to do their main food shop".