Twenty six years after it first proposed a store in Hadleigh, Tesco has at last admitted defeat and has withdrawn its application to build a supermarket there.

The supermarket giant has finally conceded that they cannot get past spirited public defence of Hadleigh High Street – which on this final occasion was led by Lib Dem David Busby and the Babergh Planning Committee.  District councillors voted seven to six to reject the plans. They decided they would be gambling  on the future of the whole town’s economy if they  the 2,500 square metre store to go ahead.

“Tesco would do more harm than good,” said Cllr Busby.“If we get the decision wrong and the high street goes down, we will never get it back.”

However he warns that the future of the town doesn’t end here.  ”This can only be seen as the start of the survival of the High Street, it doesn’t guarantee it,” says Cllr Busby.  ” A sustainable future can only be ensured by constant attention.It is now down to the people of Hadleigh, the retailers and the town councillors to make it happen!