Traders in Marlborough met Tesco executives on Tuesday to voice fears that an out-of-town store at the Salisbury Road business park will take business away from the High Street.

Chamber president Peter Davidson introduced Tesco regional corporate affairs manager Melanie Chiswell and four colleagues to some 40 members at the meeting at the Castle and Ball Hotel.

Ms Chiswell said Tesco was preparing a planning application to open a convenience store on the business park and it was due to be submitted in the autumn. It was hoped the new shop could be open by Christmas 2010.

The same Tesco team met town councillors last week and explained that the proposed building would be mainly a food store, with free parking for 100 cars.

Miss Chiswell told the traders “We want to work with you to stop the daily procession of shoppers to other towns,” she said, adding: “We hope to give people the opportunity to stay in Marlborough and have more reason to go into the town centre itself.”

Tesco development manager Tim Robinson said the company had been looking at Marlborough for some years and had stepped up its search after Somerfield closed.

Sue Rumbold, who runs Cats Whiskers gift shop in Kingsbury Street, said: “A lot of traders are worried that people will go to Tesco’s and then go home. It would help if Tesco could provide a bus service down into the town.”

Jeweller David Dudley asked why Tesco had not looked at the two empty shops in Marlborough, Woolworth and the M&S Simply Food. Mr Robinson said they were too big for a convenience store and too small for a supermarket.

Antiques centre owner Gary Wilkinson said: “People are worried that it (the business park) is going to turn into a retail park and the town centre will be closed.”

Giles Weare from Marlborough Business Park said there were very few units or land unspoken for so there was no chance it could become a retail centre.

After the meeting Mr Davidson said traders were happier having Tesco’s assurance the new shop would be primarily a food store.