A COUNCIL admitted today that it did not consult traders before launching a campaign to block a massive retail development.

Hailsham Town Council is aiming to stop Northern retail giants Great Mills opening a 22,000 sq ft store, claiming the development would "suck the life" from the town centre and its traders.

But most local shop keepers want the new store.

Mayor Geoff Rowe said the council had "reached a logical conclusion" on the controversial scheme itself.

But Chamber of Commerce chairman Bill Bentley said he was bemused by the council's view.

He said: "It all came as a bit of a surprise because the majority of our members are quite enthusiastic about it.

"Most of the traders I have spoken to want the store and see it as a way of bringing people into Hailsham instead of them going to Eastbourne and other towns to shop.

"There are a few traders who are worried but the site is earmarked for development and this proposal is far from the worst case scenario."

The council is pursuing its campaign.

Mr Rowe said the chamber's view was "twisted logic".

He added: "It's going to be very difficult for shops to compete with the warehouse stores.

"I'd rather Great Mills didn't come here at all. We've done a lot of work building the town centre up and if eight or nine shops close it could be disastrous."

A planning application for the store and another proposed retail development at the Diplocks Way site was deferred by Wealden's planning committee last week.

Officers have already recommended the scheme be given the go-ahead, as the site is specified by the district council for a non-food retail development.

The matter will be discussed again at a meeting next month.

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