WE WANT a Tesco is the message from a growing number of residents in one Ryedale market town.

A Facebook site set up by two local mums is attracting followers backing plans for a store in Kirkbymoorside, arguing it will bring more people to the town and benefit local shoppers.

Cheryl Johnson, one of the mums who has lived in Kirkbymoorside all her life, said: “There are people against having a Tesco here and I totally understand why they feel like that but to me, it would be brilliant.

“I am bringing up a three-year-old and a 11-month-old so I am always having to travel to Malton or York for nappy supplies, baby food and baby clothes,” she added.

“It will do Kirkby good with the number of people this will bring to the town. When I do a supermarket shop I always take time to walk around the local shops too, so hopefully this will help the local shops.”

Laura Cummins, who lives in Nawton, said she thought a Tesco in Kirkbymoorside would help the villages and surrounding towns.

She said: “Not everyone can drive. I rely on the bus service and find it difficult getting to a supermarket.

“I think local shops prey on people like us and you end up paying twice the price for children’s things and lots of people have to travel to York to shop at Tesco every week.”

Tesco’s plans are for a store of 10,000 sq ft sales area, making it similar in size to the Co-op in Pickering. The site earmarked is on land at the back of Russell’s Yard, adjoining a residential development which is currently being built.

It would create 100 full and part-time jobs, with recruitment focussed on the Kirkbymoorside area. It would also provide about 80 free car parking spaces.

Denise Smith, who has lived in the town for more than 50 years, said the town needed a Tesco.

She said: “As a born and bred citizen of this community I have been disappointed in the past at things Kirkbymoorside didn’t get such as a swimming pool. Instead it went to Pickering.

“Growing up here when we boasted three butchers, three or four greengrocers and two tailors and seeing what we have now saddens me. Yes, let’s welcome Tesco.”

Denise said the store would bring people to the town for a coffee or lunch instead of travelling to York or Scarborough.

“A little competition is a very healthy diet. Kirkbymoorside is now big enough to support Tesco and our local businesses. We do have to move with the times and cater for an ever-increasing population.”

Denise added: “Do I shop online? Yes. Do I support local business? Yes. Will I continue to do so? Yes.”

Coun Chris Dowie, mayor of Kirkbymoorside, said the town council was currently working on a poll of residents to find out their views on the Tesco plan.

“We decided that as we represent the people in the town we should find out what they thought,” she said.

An additional meeting of the town council will be held on Monday at the Methodist Hall, which is open to the public. It will start at 7pm.

Members of the team which carried out a consultation on the Tesco store will give a presentation on their findings.

A spokesman for Tesco said there had been a huge response to the public exhibition held in the town.

“We are currently working our way through the feedback forms and are looking at starting a trader working group to see how our investment can benefit the traders in the town,” he added.

“We are keen to move on with the plans and expect to submit a planning application in the next couple of weeks.”