ENGINEERING firm John Boone and Congleton Tennis Club are at the centre of the latest dramatic turn in Congleton's escalating store wars.

Somerfield, Sainsbury's and Asda are in the running for a planned new supermarket off West Street, one of several major stores earmarked for the town.

Development company Bushwing is hoping to develop a 35,000 square foot store on the site, which would see Congleton Tennis Club move to a new home.

However Manchester-based development company Morrison has launched a rival bid to develop a larger supermarket on the site.

Morrison wants to build a 41,000 square foot store on land occupied by John Boone Engineering and a telephone exchange.

In addition the company aims to create a 31,000 non-food store on land taking in the tennis club, alongside a 10,500 square foot garden centre.

The Morrison scheme could be considered by councillors alongside the Bushwing project and plans for the redevelopment of West Heath shopping centre and a new Tesco store off the Clayton Bypass.

A Morrison spokesman said their scheme would benefit Congleton and the town centre.

However Chris Boone, the managing director of John Boone, said the firm had no intention to move from its home for the past four decades.

"We are keen to stay where we are, and it seems to me some of the tales circulating about what is happening bear no resemblance to what is going on here and create nothing but ill-feeling.''

The Morrison scheme includes a 279-space car park, 75 less spaces than provided by Bushwing, with the service area at the back of the site between the supermarket and non-food store.

West Heath shopping centre is earmarked for redevelopment into a 35,000 square foot supermarket or 30,000 square foot store and seven small shops.

Tesco hopes to open a 26,000 square foot store, while as part of its scheme Bushwing is offering £625,000 towards a new roundabout at the Waggon and Horses junction, a new borough council car park and town centre improvements.

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