Residents are encouraged to lobby a planning committee that will decide on controversial proposals for another mini-supermarket in a Chester suburb.

More than 1,700 people signed a petition in opposition to an application to convert The Elms Medical Centre, Hoole Road, Hoole, into a convenience store, with rumours Tesco is behind the project.

The scheme will be decided at Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee at 4pm on Tuesday, February 3 at the HQ building where it would appear the plan will be recommended for approval.

There are also concerns about the transfer of GP services from The Elms into a city centre-based NHS building in Delamere Street.

Lib Dem campaigner Mark Williams said: “This is not about whether it’s Tesco or not. Hoole does not want a new supermarket opening around the corner from its cherished local independent shops on Faulkner Street. It is also not an appropriate use of what was a public asset and is a loss to the community

“As one resident said to me the other day, ‘no one wants this supermarket but it looks like we are getting it anyway’. Well, we all need to turn up and tell those councillors ‘No!’.

"It will not be in keeping with the surrounding area to have big illuminated signage there and I am amazed that highways didn’t object at all! Traffic along Hoole Road is already busy and if there are delivery wagons pulling in and out of there then it’s only going to get a lot worse.

“The evidence document that they provided to show its potential impact on the area clearly shows that it intends to leech business away from the surrounding shops and considers that some may close. Well, that is not acceptable to the community.”

A letter from Steve Edgeller agent for the applicant, to the planning department states as fact that the store ‘is not unacceptable in planning terms’ indicating officers are to recommend approval.

Doctors behind the plans have never commented but an accompanying document submitted to the council from Drs Mills, Lowrie and McNutt states: “The existing medical centre is due to relocate in 2015 and the premises will become vacant.

“The purpose of this application is to widen the potential uses for which this building can be reoccupied.”

Tesco has not confirmed it is behind the plan but spokesperson Mark Thomas said: “We think a small Tesco store would complement the retail offer in Hoole. We’d be happy to review any options for a store in the local community.”