"St Albans people want new Tesco"

12:34pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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Tesco has published further research suggesting local support for its planned branch in London Road.

Last week the Review reported how Harpenden firm Adroit-e Research, challenged over its independence, had denied receiving any payment for controversial market research indicating public support for Tesco.

Now, further polling in St Albans city centre suggests only 18 per cent of local people are opposed, and nearly half are positively in favour.

Tesco corporate affairs manager Michael Kissman said: "These results continue to be very interesting and there certainly seems to have been some movement between the two polls.

"Once again we have a silent majority either in favour of, or neutral about, the proposed development.

"It is encouraging that the number of people in favour has risen substantially."

A planning application for a store on the former Eversheds print works, under consideration by the district council, has sparked vocal opposition from critics who argue it will clog up roads and badly affect trade for other shops.

Adroit-e Research director Jonathan Brill said: "In our view this is a sound and reliable sample capable of good predictive validity.

"The improvement is statistically significant."

Responses such as "I don't care" or "They should just get on with it" were not included in the results, even as neutral responses.