A POLITICAL party has announced its opposition to a new £150 million John Lewis-led shopping plaza on the outskirts of Worcester - urging the council to 'say no'.

Worcester's Green Party branch has published a new manifesto putting the Worcester Woods debate right at the top.

The two-page business manifesto, drawn up to offer support for independent traders, says the branch fears the city becoming a "clone" destination full of chain stores.

It calls upon Worcester City Council to "maintain the current footfall" by rejecting the out-of-town shopping park, which is proposed for acres of land off Newtown Road.

The move is the first time any of Worcester's political parties has publicly declared its opposition to the shopping centre.

Former Worcester parliamentary candidate Louis Stephen, who chairs the branch and drafted the manifesto, said: "We want Worcester city centre to remain interesting for tourists and not fall into becoming a clone.

"You've only got to look at Merry Hill to see what that did to areas like Stourbridge to see what could happen, it really suffered.

"You don't always see it when you're rushing around but if you take a look around the city centre, there is actually space there for any retailers to come.

"Worcester needs its independent shops, rather than more big clones and it's got to remain focused on the city centre."

A planning application for the Worcester Woods development is sitting with the city council and is expected to be voted on soon.

As well as John Lewis Land Securities, the biggest developer in the UK, has already signed up Marks & Spencer, Next Home and Garden and Sainsbury's to the 13-unit plaza bid.

The existing Next and M&S stores in Worcester would stay open if the complex got the nod, with the firm adamant it would boost the city centre rather than detract from it due to the vastly improved overall shopping offer.

Chris Fleetwood, the firm's development director, has repeatedly stuck to that stance despite concern from city centre traders.

"Worcester Woods will be anchored by leading national retailers including John Lewis which will help to retain more shoppers locally within Worcester," he said.

"This means more money in the local economy and more jobs for local people.

"It will complement rather than directly compete with Worcester city centre.

"Next and M&S want to invest further in Worcester by expanding their offer with new stores at Worcester Woods.

"Both companies are committed to maintaining and further enhancing their existing stores in a thriving city centre."

The scheme would create 551 jobs.