RESIDENTS of Evesham's Cheltenham Road were this week preparing to resume battle with Tesco after petrol company Esso re-submitted plans for the redevelopment of its petrol station into an Express store.

The proposal, which would almost double the floor space of the current forecourt shop, is a revised version of one condemned by local residents when it was submitted in May.

Tony Goodman, owner of Bluebird Stores on Cheltenham Road, said: "It is impossible for a small shop like ours to compete with the likes of Tesco and it will put us out of business, causing the loss of eight local jobs.

"We heard the news on Friday and have started another petition with local residents. We collected over 700 names before, and have around 150 signatures already."

As well as being larger, the garage will incorporate a Tesco Express shop with almost double the current shop floor space, nine new parking places and a drop in the number of pumps from 12 to six.

An independent traffic survey conducted in September this year predicted that if the development got the go ahead, traffic on the already busy road could rise by two per cent during the morning peak, 8.15am - 9.15am, and by up to as much as 20 per cent during the evening peak hour, 4.45pm - 5.45pm.

"The whole situation is stupid" said Mr Goodman. "The idea was that this road was supposed to be downgraded from an A to a B road after the by-pass was built, and the increase in traffic will increase the danger to elderly people and children living along Cheltenham Road.

"From my point of view, as both a resident and a shop owner, this development is unnecessary and the majority of local residents are opposed to it" he added.