Politicians are being urged to reject a second plan for a new Tesco supermarket in Bath – but approve an expansion by Sainsbury's.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's development control committee is due to consider planning applications from the rival firms at a meeting next Wednesday.

Councillors are being advised to turn down plans for a Tesco superstore at the former Bath Press site in Lower Bristol Road for a number of reasons.

These include the impact it would have on shops in nearby Moorland Road, concerns about traffic around the Windsor Bridge junction, and the failure to so far agree on the terms for the safe removal of the old gasworks at Windsor Bridge.

A report says: "Whilst the scheme has some accepted benefits, there are very significant concerns raised from a health and safety, highway and retail impact perspective.

"It is considered that the harmful impacts identified clearly outweigh any benefits and refusal is recommended on these grounds."

Christopher Borkowski, managing director of St James's Investments, the developer behind the scheme, said he was surprised at the recommendation and hoped councillors would see things differently.

He said: "I sincerely hope that B&NES councillors will embrace the opportunity to not only solve the identified obstacle to delivering housing within their core strategy (a planning document) but in addition to enable the provision of hundreds of jobs. The significant positive impact this will have on Bath cannot be ignored.

"Added to this, high-quality design, quality workspace for the creative and knowledge-based industries which are worth twice the amount generated by Bath's tourism industry, new homes, community facilities, greater retail choice and significant financial backing to support the decommissioning of the gas holder site on Western Riverside will provide a massive boost to the local community and the city of Bath."

The meeting will debate the first application which St James's Investments submitted for the £50 million scheme, with the second one currently waiting to go to public inquiry.

Councillors have already said they would have rejected that plan, but the final say will go to a Government-appointed inspector.

Meanwhile, officers are recommending the approval of the expansion of the Sainsbury's supermarket at Green Park. The plans are for a 30 per cent increase in the size of the store, as well as other work including the improvement of access links with the riverpath.

Tim Watkins, development manager for the chain, said: "Green Park is one of our most successful stores and we need to make sure we are keeping pace with customer expectations.

"Due to the store's physical limitations it has become increasingly challenging to meet our own operational needs as well as our customers' desire for greater shopping choice and a more pleasant shopping experience.

"We believe the proposal before next week's committee, which has been recommended for approval by officers, reflects the consultation we have undertaken and represents the right scheme for the current time."

This is separate to a recent £160 million proposal to move the store to the nearby Homebase site, with a planning application expected in the spring.

Mr Watkins added: "Our longer-term aim is to regenerate the Western Riverside with a flagship replacement store and other development.

"These exciting regeneration plans would take a number of years to become reality and are subject to the necessary planning permission. An extension to the store will allow us to better fulfil our customers' needs in the immediate future."

Letters, page 61