MORE than 1,000 residents have backed a campaign to stop a pub being turned into a Sainsbury’s store.

The supermarket intends to turn the former Drury Arms, on the corner of Layer Road and Drury Road, into a “local” store, creating 20 jobs.

Under planning rules Sainsbury’s does not have to apply for permission to use the site as a convenience store, but it has applied to extend the building.

Shopkeepers and residents believe the enlarged store, less than 500 yards from a planned 1,328 sq m Tesco supermarket, would create traffic chaos and overdevelop the area.

Ralph Martin, of Ralph and Rita’s, in Layer Road, Sue Beard, of S&K Supermarket in Drury Road, and Vince Patel, of Krishna News, in Butt Road, have launched a petition and collected 1,000 signatures in a week.

Mr Martin said: “We hoped people would feel this way, but I’m staggered so many people have so quickly been willing to sign it.

“We’re worried about the effect it will have on our businesses.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years and I’m concerned about what’s going on in the area. This supermarket is a step too far.”

The Drury Arms closed last summer and was briefly replaced by a temporary furniture store.

The petition, which will be sent to an independent planning inspector, is opposed to the scale of the plans.

Traders believe Essex County Council’s highways team is wrong to say there would be no problems with increased traffic and deliveries if the supermarket goes ahead. Mrs Beard said: “Buying up these pubs is appealing to the likes of Sainsbury’s and Tesco.”

A planning application by site owner Property Portfolio to build a storage extension at the site and create more space for goods, was rejected by Colchester Council planners in February.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We recently teamed up with Property Portfolio as we would like to open a small Sainsbury’s Local on Layer Road.

“We are aware a planning application to extend the building was previously rejected and support the developer’s decision to appeal this.

“Across the country our shops trade successfully alongside a mix of national and independent retailers and we look forward to bringing Sainsbury’s to the area as it will increase shopping choice and create jobs.”