AN ANTI-tesco campaign group has called on Tendring Council to give out information from meetings held with the superstore giant.

Stour Community First has written a letter to cabinet member for planning, Sarah Candy, and leader of the council, Neil Stock, asking for more information to be made public about secret talks held between the two parties.

It comes after the council admitted in October that the meetings had taken place regarding the conrtroversial planning application for a new superstore to be built in Manningtree.

Michael Coultharde-Steer, chair of the group, said: “Really we just want to find out what has been discussed.

“The poeple of Manningtree should know what has been discussed and what has been agreed on their behalf. It has to be out in the open.

“I would like to know what an elected council is doing have commerically sensitive discussions with a huge supermarket with and application for the area.”

The letter asks under the Freedom of Information Acto to be provided with all the agendas and minutes of such meetings as well as full details of any offers made by Tesco.

Mr Coultharde-Steer added: “We would like to have a chance to have a talk about 106 agreements. This is land that is not meant to be used as retail, they are meant to offer something in return.

“If they are going to be offering something to sway the council and the residents then the residents have to know what it is.”

Neil Stock, leader of the council, said he had not yet seen the letter.

“If it was down to me I think it is better to have a totally open book policy to it but I am not the one running the planning department, I have to abide by policy and protocol.

“The fact the regeneration company, INTend, has been having private meetings with Tesco was a complete surprise to us when we first took over running the council in May.”

He added that he would look into what he can tell Stour Community First and get back to them.