ANTI-TESCO campaigners are urging the supermarket to drop a plan to build a store in Marston, Oxford, after the scheme was rejected by city councillors.

The supermarket wanted to build an Express store on the site of the boarded-up Friar pub, above, in Marston Road.

But Oxford City Council’s north east area committee dismissed the proposal over concerns about traffic and parking – and questioned whether the area needed another supermarket.

The supermarket had previous plans for the site turned down in April 2009.

Campaigner Mick Haines said: “I think it is brilliant decision.

“The shops around here have been going for many years and serve us well, so there didn’t seem to be any point in the new Tesco. I think this time they should give up, as it is the second time they have been rejected and it is clear most people don’t want them.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We are obviously disappointed by the decision that we cannot develop a building that is no longer viable as a public house.”