SHOPPERS in Oxford may soon own their local supermarket as plans for a new breed of store get underway.

Community Grocer Chris Waites wants to open up a ‘People’s Supermarket’ in either Cowley Road or Marston by the summer.

Under the scheme shoppers can opt to pay a membership fee and volunteer to help cut out the management and staff costs, resulting in cheaper goods.

The idea is based on a store inLondon which saw celebrity eco chef Arthur Potts Dawson tries launch a supermarket to serve the local community with good cheap food that's fair to consumers and producers. It was featured in a Channel 4 series last year.

Oxford founder Mr Waites, from Long Wittenham, believes the method will work in Oxford and could save shoppers a third off their grocery bills.

He said: “The idea behind it is that rather than the traditional supermarket you have a supermarket owned entirely by members.

“If you can staff it by owners you bring the cost down a lot.

“But you can come in and do your normal shopping.

“It’s a normal supermarket but the prices are much, much cheaper. And it will have a nice community feel to it.”

Members would pay an annual fee of about £12 and volunteer for four hours a month. In return they will get 20 per cent off their shopping.

There are currently shops in Camden and one in Hackney.

Mr Waites founded his own delivery business – the Community Grocer – some 18 months ago. The 24-year-old is currently working with a steering committee and is looking at small sites of about 4,000 sq ft.

The group is seeking grants and loans to start the independent business up.

But Mr Waites said the store would be a not-for-profit venture with surplus being invested into the store or put into the community.

There are eight members on the committee and organisers said more than 80 people have expressed interest in becoming members.

There will be a launch event with free refreshments on Wednesday, April 25, at 7pm in Cowley Road Methodist Church.

Committee member Miles Gavin-Taffel said: “It really is a great community-led alternative to the big supermarkets, some of which have a monopoly.

I think it should change food shopping in Oxford forever.”

Mr Waites also said there were plans to open a store in Didcot. Lord Mayor of Oxford Elise Benjamin said: “I think there will be a lot of interest from people who are getting fed up with the number of chain supermarkets opening up in the city.

“It sounds a bit like what I remember supermarkets being when I was a child – far more emphasis on the local supermarket.”

Graham Jones, chairman of traders’ group Rox, said: “We are always looking for new ideas and something to excite the market place.

“If they have done their homework it should be great.”

Mr Waites hit the headlines last month after he said he was banned from Tesco in Didcot for buying vegetable oil to fuel his delivery van.