PRINCE OF WALES IN ROW OVER NEW SUPERMARKET

THE PRINCE OF WALES HAS BECOME EMBROILED IN A ROW WITH LOCALS AFTER GRANTING PERMISSION TO BUILD A SUPERMARKET ON HIS CORNISH ESTATE. WAITROSE ALREADY HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRINCE, WHICH BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE NEW CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL HAS OUTRAGED LOCAL BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS WHO FEAR THE NEWLY PLANNED SUPERMARKET WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE AREA. THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD THE STORE ON DUCHY OF CORNWALL LAND AT UNION HILL IN TRURO COMES ONLY MONTHS AFTER WAITROSE SIGNED AN EXCLUSIVE DEAL TO LICENSE THE PRINCE'S DUCHY ORIGINALS BRAND. BUT THE TRADE MAGAZINE THE GROCER REPORTED THAT LOCAL GREEN AND BUSINESS GROUPS ARE UP IN ARMS AT THE PLANNED PROJECT. WAITROSE CLAIMS THE STORE WOULD SHOWCASE THE BEST OF CORNISH PRODUCE. THE PLANS WILL BE PUT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AT A MEETING IN JUNE AND, IF THEY GO AHEAD, WAITROSE HOPES TO OPEN THE STORE IN 2013. IT WOULD BE THE THIRD SUPERMARKET TO OPEN ON DUCHY-OWNED LAND ADDING TO AN EXISTING TESCO IN DORCHESTER AND A BUDGENS IN POUNDBURY. A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE DUCHY ORIGINALS SAID THAT THE PLANS WERE UNCONNECTED TO THE LICENSING DEAL. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRINCE WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.