Plans for new Sainsbury's in Darlington slammed

Sainsburys has bought an empty unit at Duke Street, Darlington, and the retail giant is set to open a mini store at the site next month.

But Mike Barker, a Liberal Democrat member at Darlington Borough Council, and the partys candidate for the town seat at the forthcoming general election, said the development could harm local businesses.

Coun Barker, who runs a health food shop in nearby Post House Wynd, said locally owned shops in the area would not welcome the "brash new neighbour" when it opens its doors in February.

In a post on his online blog at cllrmikebarker.blogspot.com, he wrote: "First the big supermarkets destroyed most of our town centre butchers, bakers and greengrocers: now they won't stop until they've put our local convenience stores out of business too."

The Sainsburys Local store will be the firms fourth shop in Darlington, joining the large supermarket at Victoria Road, and the smaller stores at Clifton Road and Corporation Road.

The unit earmarked for the new shop formerly hosted the Sandersons estate agents, and was once home to the Golf World sports store.

Shop fitters are on site at the moment preparing the building for the supermarkets opening on Wednesday, February 24.

Emily Annable from the Sainsbury's property team said: "We have taken over a vacant unit on Duke Street and have begun works, ready to open a Sainsbury's Local in February."

She added that local businesses should not be worried about the prospect of the new competition.

"We have stores in many locations which trade well alongside a mix of successful independent traders and national retailers," she said.

"We are confident that a Sainsbury's Local will be a positive addition to the area, bringing a shop back into use and providing more shopping choice for local people.

"Our convenience stores are the smallest in the Sainsbury's estate and are designed to meet the needs of local residents who can walk to the store."