A RIVAL chain has submitted a formal objection to Tesco’s plans to open a supermarket in Little Lever — despite not having a store in the village.

Asda has sent a letter of objection to Bolton Council’s planning department, citing itself as an “interested party”.

The nearest Asda stores are in Farnworth, Burnden Park and Radcliffe.

In October, Ladson Commercial Ltd, acting on behalf of Tesco, submitted a plan for a superstore on the former Pennine Pets site in Lever Street.

Tesco says the store will generate 100 new jobs on top of the 49 staff already at the existing Tesco Metro in Market Street, who are guaranteed jobs at the new store.

Residents have set up a Facebook group — Say No To Little Lever Tesco, Save Our Village— because of concerns about the impact it will have on the village and potential traffic problems.

Asda’s three-page document is the latest objection to be sent to the planning department.

It claims the number of jobs the store will create is wrong, that there are too many car parking spaces and there are more preferable sites elsewhere.

An Asda spokesman said: “We have submitted an objection to the plans.

“We feel as though the size of the site that Tesco is proposing will have a negative impact on the town centre.”

Little Lever resident Sean Hornby, a former councillor and former chairman of the planning committee, said he had never known of a supermarket objecting to another store’s plans when they were not directly affected.

He added: “It is very unusual, I must admit.

I was a bit shocked myself. It will kill off the village. This will be just the final nail in the coffin.”

Residents are also calling for a public consultation on the traffic proposals, which would see Lever Street made one-way.

Tesco spokesman Matthew Magee said: “We've had great feedback from the residents of Little Lever who are excited about a new store in their town, that would create new jobs and regenerate the Pennine Pets Factory site.”