Traders in Witney are fighting plans to change the former Woolworth’s site into a restaurant.

More than 150 people from town centre cafés, restaurants and pubs have signed up to a campaign against site owner the Manny Davidson Trust’s request to change the permitted use of the 10,000 sq ft shop into a restaurant.

Last Thursday, West Oxfordshire District Council sent out letters to traders informing them a planning application had been lodged.

Traders claim the town is already well catered for with food establishments and fear a large outlet in such a big store would kill off competitors.

They believe Witney would be better off if a High Street retailer took over the shop to attract more shoppers.

Jan Bowes, of Café Bakehouse, who started the petition last Friday, said: “Both my husband and I, and some local traders, decided we had to fight it. We put a petition together and it snowballed from there.”

Larry Bowes, 53, added: “Everyone I have spoken to is opposed. If it does become a restaurant, it would be right near us and would put us out of business.”

Witney Chamber of Commerce chairman Lesley Semaine said: “The Woolworths site is so big we don’t want to see something like a Wetherspoons go in there.

“It will sell everything very cheap and before you know it, the town will have another late night venue.”

Kaz Hakimi, 52, of the Coffee House, said: “We are struggling.

“If something else opens, we would be on the brink of bankruptcy.”

However, town mayor Alvin Adams said a restaurant would bring jobs to the town.

He said: “Obviously any opportunity for employment is welcomed in any town.”

Manny Davidson Trust agent Huw Thomas said: “The landlord has no preferences. It is open to offers, be it a restaurant, or High Street retailer.”

West Oxfordshire District Council’s area planning manager Phil Shaw said: “The application is currently out to consultation and the deadline for responses is March 5.

“Following this a report will be produced identifying all the key issues before a decision on the application is taken.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk