A SUPERMARKET extension could further damage trade in nearby town centres, retailers have warned.

Tesco wants to add 20,000sq ft of floorspace to its Catterick Garrison store, which opened in 2000.

But a group representing businesses in Richmond and the town manager fear the development could force more shops to close.

Mike Nicholls, vice-chairman of the Richmond Business and Tourism Association (RBTA), has urged the planning authority to wait for the results of a study into the effect of the superstore on nearby towns.

"Tesco claims that Richmond is in a good state of health in terms of vitality and viability - this cannot be true," said Mr Nicholls, in a letter to Richmondshire district council.

"The RBTA requests that this application be considered after the Yorkshire Forward Retail Impact Study has reported, when hopefully an independent analysis of the retail scene for the area will indicate whether Tesco's proposals place it in a dangerously monopolistic position, thus destroying any freedom of choice in the long-term."

Town manager Colin Grant, who works with the Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative to promote the town, has also written to the council.

"Richmond has been experiencing the effects of retail dislocation for a number of years," he said.

"This decline was merely accelerated by the Garrison Tesco.

"By 2002, of the 100 shops in Richmond Town Centre, 18 were empty, 11 were hairdressers and seven were charity shops."

Mr Grant says the situation has improved recently - there are now only nine empty shops - but he fears the planned extension would only hinder the town's regeneration.

Highways chiefs have also raised concerns about the extension.

They say not enough provision for pedestrians and cyclists has been included in the plans.

The extension would mean extra floorspace for goods, a small cafe, additional storage and more car parking spaces. Tesco says the new development would create an 70 jobs.

The plans have already been approved in principle by Richmondshire district councillors, but another meeting on Tuesday will consider the proposal again in light of these comments.

Planning officers are again recommending that planning permission be approved.