BARNSTAPLE could become a ghost town if Tesco is allowed to build a store half-a-mile from the High Street, North Devon's MP has warned.

Nick Harvey said the supermarket giant's plan to replace its Brian Ford's shop with an Extra store might have a "devastating" impact.

"People have seen elsewhere a ghost town effect after superstores have opened," he said.

"Town centre businesses in Barnstaple, if not exactly thriving, have at least survived. And when failures have occurred, alternative businesses have taken their place.

"But if we see a shiny new one-stop shopping centre at Seven Brethren, the danger is footfall in the traditional shopping area will fall, potentially tipping the balance of viability against some businesses."

At 8,858sq m (29,000sq ft), the Extra would be one of the biggest in Devon, three miles from the Whiddon Valley Tesco. Some councillors fear the quantity of non-food items on sale (35% of the total) would damage local firms. Tesco has agreed to give North Devon Council £7.75million for the land, which also contains a council depot.

In January the council's planning committee deferred a decision on the application after new Government planning guidance, called PPS4, was issued.

PPS4 says councils should "proactively plan to promote competitive town centre environments and provide consumer choice". Tesco believes its application meets guidelines and does not need to be changed.

But the Barnstaple and District Chamber of Commerce believes the plan is not in line with PPS4 because the "sequential test" (whether or not other sites have been properly considered) was not met.

The Chamber claims Anchorwood Bank, where Leaderflush Shapland is based, has been "totally disregarded" even though it is more suitable because it is nearer to the town centre and is linked to the ancient bridge.

An Anchorwood Bank redevelopment would also protect jobs at Shapland, which wants to relocate, the Chamber argued.

Asda is considering an application to build on the Shapland site but no application has been lodged.

Brian Ford's was given outline planning permission in 2001 to build a 7,400sqm store. In 2003 Brian Ford's was secretly sold to Tesco.

In 2007, before the Tesco sale was revealed, Brian Ford's submitted a planning application for an 8,175sqm supermarket with petrol station and link road. The council planning committee will meet on Wednesday to determine the Tesco plan. Officers have recommended the plan be approved subject to conditions. Tesco declined to comment before then.