A PROPOSED new Co-op store planned for the edge of a West Devon village is due to be conidered by planners later this month.

West Devon Borough Council development committee is due to consider whether to recommend approval for the store on the Tavistock side of Bere Alston adjacent to the first housing on the approach to the village and opposite the bowls club. The meeting is on Tuesday, February 27.

The shop would be several times larger than the current vilage centre Co-op, give customers more choice of products and be open from 7am to 10pm seven days a week.

Co-op spokesman John Hillman said: “We have been part of the local community for several decades and are keen to continue to provide an important service to residents. However, there are a number of deficiencies with the existing store which has resulted in us seeking an alternative location. The deficiencies with the existing store include, the store being poorly configured due to internal structural restrictions which limits space.”

Also, shoppers and staff find it too small, and there is no off-street parking for customers or Co-op delivery HGVs to restock the store, causing congestionon the high street and slowing deliveries. The limited range of products is causing locals to shop in Tavistock or in Plymouth, with only ten per cent of villagers doing their main shop in Bere Alston.

Mr Hillman, writing in support of the plan, added: “The proposed store will continue to serve residents and, importantly, will provide an improved and wider range of goods for both top-up and main food shops. Significantly, being able to provide a store to cater for main food shops will reduce the need for local residents to travel elsewhere. If the new store is not built, then it is unlikely the existing store will remain viable beyond 2025.” Bere Ferrers Parish Council supports the new store because of its advantages over the old store, subject to Devon County Council including the site, now a field, being included in the 30mph speed limit and a pavement added to improve safety for pedestrians and the hourly bus serve the store. The south west corner of the site, is shown in the 1737 map as Gallows Gate - the site of the village gibbet with the belief that bodies may have been buried there. The parish council suggests the county archaeologist be informed of this to check whether this was the case and is so whether building work would disturb it. Opponents of the new Co-op say it would lead to extra traffic dangers and disturb wildlife.