Have your say on plans for town's sixth Tesco store

The Royal Stag shut in November 2014, because its managing brewery did not see a future for it.

After losing the social hub, regulars were up in arms – many of whom had fond memories of the pub dating back to its opening in the 1960s.

But in a letter to Dacroum Borough Council, Tesco said the building is now in a ‘poor state’ and ‘offers little to the wider street scene’.

The supermarket giant added that the derelict building has a ‘negative value to the community’ and has even been a ‘source of anti-social behaviour’ on occasions.

It said an Express store in Fletcher Way will provide a ‘valuable function’ and ‘quality facility’ to those living and working in the Highfield area.

Tesco highlighted the fact that The Old Bell is less than a mile away and with Highfield Community Centre, situated opposite the site, a community facility is ‘already provided’.

The Tesco Express, proposed to be 276 square metres in size, will be primarily used for ‘top-up shopping’ and as it will serve a ‘walk-in catchment area’, it will ‘encourage walking rather than driving’.

A consultation period has begun and Tesco said it is using it to ‘ensure a high quality scheme to the betterment of the local community’.

Currently there are five Tesco stores in the town, including the Tesco Extra hypermarket in Jarman Way and four smaller Express stores.

Have your say by submitting an online comment at www.dacorum.gov.uk