A NEW Tesco Express store has opened in Portishead despite a fierce residents’ campaign against it.
The store has been created in the former Royal Oak pub building in West Hill and will be open from 6am-11pm everyday.
It was officially opened on Tuesday morning when members of the Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat Trust went along to cut the ribbon and receive a cheque of £500 toward their work.
Tesco Express store manager, Ben Cason said: “We were delighted to be able to support the Portishead Lifeboat Trust as it does such fantastic work. We are so pleased the crew came to open the new store and join in the celebrations with us.”
When Tesco’s intention to open the outlet was revealed last year, a campaign against it was started by residents who feared it could threaten the future of a nearby, family-run Costcutter store.
As a result, almost 2,700 signatures were collected on an anti-Tesco petition which was handed over to North Somerset Council.
The supermarket giant pressed ahead with the scheme but the store is without a cash machine or a car park after planning permission for them was refused by the council.
On Tuesday morning, some anti-Tesco campaigners were seen outside Costcutter in Avon Way holding banners encouraging people to shop there and not at the new store.
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