AN ALTRINCHAM residents' group is calling on council chiefs to consult fully over development schemes for the town centre.

The Oakfield and surrounding area residents committee spoke out after Tesco was chosen as the preferred tenderer to develop a site bounded by Moss Lane, Manor Road and Lloyd Street.

The supermarket chain's ambitious scheme for a store on the 8.25 acre site should be completed by the end of 2000.

Now the residents committee is calling a public meeting to discuss the plans. It is being held at Altrincham Leisure Centre on Thursday, May 6 at 8pm.

A spokesman for the residents' committee says: "We are pleased that at long last decisions are being made and we may soon see some changes in Altrincham.

"We still have serious concerns about the size of this store, the traffic and parking implications, and the specific siting of such elements as the petrol station, delivery vehicles and refrigeration plant.

"We look forward to constructive and open dialogue with developers Peel Holdings, Tesco and the council to ensure that these plans are developed only after full consideration has been given to the views of nearby residents, whose lives will be seriously affected by the construction of a major superstore and leisure development."

He adds: "Once we have seen the outline plans and consulted with the members of the community we represent, we will be ready to make a further statement."

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