By Geoff Barnes

EASTHAM villagers are up in arms at the prospect of a supermarket development worsening an already serious traffic situation at a major junction - writes Geoff Barnes.

Scores of people have signed a protest petition against the proposed complex at the junction of Mill Park Drive and Eastham Rake.

Campaigner Bob Williams, who has lived in Eastham for the past 30 years, said: "The village already has horrendous problems with traffic and parking and a lot of people feel very strongly about the impact a supermarket would have on local shops.

"We are in the privileged position of having all shops occupied. The introduction of a supermarket will sound the death knell for some local shops. We don't want the eye-sore of boarded-up shops ruining the environment.

"We do want development in Eastham, but not this development, which we consider to be ill-conceived."

Mr Williams, a retired factory shift manager, delivered a petition to Wirral planning authority this week, which stressed the severity of Eastham's traffic headache. The petition claimed that a supermarket would compound the problem by generating even more traffic.

It also pointed out that Eastham Rake was a crossing point for children attending local schools and that the community had a duty to provide a safe environment for its young people.

Eastham Cllr Phil Gilchrist said: "This is the biggest redevelopment proposal Eastham has seen for many years and it represents an over-development of the site.

"We are anxious to see a viable shopping centre retained at the heart of Eastham as well as finding a solution to the traffic problems which blight the village.Villagers had expected to see a planning application for flats to be built on the site of a former petrol station which has been derelict for about three years.

"Everyone was taken aback when a proposal for a combination of flats and retail turned up out of the blue."