CONCERNED residents fear a controversial planned new Tesco could expand into a larger supermarket following the closure of a car showroom.

The Geoff Bray dealership on Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, has now completely closed down.

Yet it was only two weeks ago Tesco was granted permission to transform half the site into a Tesco Express.

Keith Mael, 61, of Eastwood Road, said: “We sincerely hope the council will step in before it gets out of hand. It is going to be totally ridiculous if it expands.”

Many residents are suspicious the supermarket giant may have been planning to take over the whole site all along.

However, a separate planning application must be granted by Rochford Council if any expansion is to take place.

Mark Houghton, 43, of Eastwood Road, who spearheaded the original anti-Tesco campaign, has been inundated with residents worrying about the future of the site.

He said there was also a lot of concern for local independent businesses as the site is only a mile from Rayleigh town centre.

He said: “I can only see negatives, it is just not needed. At this rate there is going to be a Tesco every half a mile. It will all depend on how much backbone the council has. I will definitely campaign against any future plans.”

Keith Hudson, councillor responsible for planning at Rochford council, reassured residents each individual application will be judged on its own merit.

He said: “I understand their concerns. We have to look at any application we receive and apply planning laws.”

The closure of the Rayleigh branch of Geoff Bray means the car dealership firm is no longer in operation The company’s other base in Milton Road, Westcliff, closed three years ago and permission was granted in May for it to be transformed into a three-storey block of flats. Rochford District Council has not yet received a planning application for the second half of the former car showroom.

A spokesman for Tesco was unavailable for comment.