Campaigners are urging council bosses to write to Sainsbury’s to urge the company not to open any more stores in Brighton and Hove.

The council’s chief executive has been asked to pen a letter to the supermarket giant to say residents do not want another store in the city.

It is one of the suggestions to be sent to the council’s cabinet as part of a 1,421-strong petition called Keep Brighton Unique.

The call to arms against high street heavyweights has been prompted by Sainsbury’s plans to move into the former Taj store in St James’s Street – meaning four chain supermarkets on the same street.

The petition calls for more powers to restrict the number of large stores in response to concerns “about Brighton becoming another 'clone town' city, swamped by large chain stores that pose a threat to the unique character of our city”.

At Thursday night’s council meeting it received cross-party support and prompted several additional suggestions, including one from the Green Party that chief executive John Barradell should make the opinions of residents clear to Sainsbury’s.

Read the full story in today's Argus.