Prince Charles' supermarket row

Apr 12, 2010, 12:30 GMT

Britain's Prince Charles has sparked outrage over a controversial supermarket plan.

The Prince of Wales - who recently granted a proposal to open a new Waitrose store on Duchy of Cornwall land at Union Hill in Truro, South England - has angered local businesses and environmental campaigners because they claim it will have a negative impact on the area.

Truro and Falmouth Green Party candidate Ian Wright believes the supermarket would reduce consumer choice.

He said: "Building on this site will cause significant ongoing traffic congestion. To build on Greenfield land when we already have more than enough supermarkets in Truro is wrong."

However, a spokesman for Waitrose dismissed the concerns, saying that a park-and-ride scheme would be included in the proposal.

He said: "It is in the best interests of all concerned to ensure that there is convenient access, otherwise it won't achieve what we want it to."

The scheme comes only two months after Waitrose signed an exclusive deal to licence the prince's food company, Duchy Originals.

A source close to Duchy Originals has denied the plans were connected to the deal.

He said: "Duchy of Cornwall is a straightforward commercial venture and could just as easily have made a deal with B and Q."