THE Mayor of Pocklington fears the imminent closure of a supermarket will be “another nail in the coffin” for an area of the town.

The town council is considering calling for a judicial review of the decision to approve plans to replace the Co-op store, in George Street, with 34 retirement apartments.

Co-op has told The Press that the store will close on March 18, and the supermarket’s 27 members of staff are at risk of redundancy.

The site will be rebuilt as 34 retirement apartments by housebuilder McCarthy and Stone. The proposals were recently approved, subject to conditions, by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s western area sub-committee.

Mayor, councillor David Sykes, said: “It’s going to be detrimental to the town. It’s another nail in the coffin of that particular area.”

A meeting was held at the town council’s offices on Wednesday, where councillors discussed the possibility of seeking a judicial review.

Cllr Sykes said: “It was very well attended, full of residents.

“The town council agreed the claim for a judicial review is worthy of further exploration at this preliminary stage.”

A spokesperson for the Co-op said: “Regrettably, staff at the store are at risk of redundancy and very effort is being made to help find them alternative employment either at the Co-op store in Market Place, Pocklington or elsewhere in the area.”

A spokesperson for McCarthy and Stone said: “We are now looking forward to getting onsite and starting work on the development and will ensure to keep people updated throughout the construction process.”