CONCERNED shop owners in Kilkhampton are urging residents to attend a parish council meeting on Monday to voice their concerns over a controversial plan to open a Co-operative food store in the village. The Co-op has applied to Cornwall Council planners for the change of use of a vacant building, which previously housed the Simply Wood kitchen showroom. As the Post went to press, 159 comments had been made on the council's planning portal website, with only two in support of the plan. The objections raised include problems with parking, access, traffic movements and the opinion that the village is already sufficiently catered for by existing stores. The owners of these stores have spoken out against the plan, which some feel would be a threat to their business and their livelihood. They all encouraged residents to attend the council meeting on Monday at 7.30pm in the Grenville Rooms, where the application will be discussed. Adrian Hitchcock, who runs the Spar shop, said: "The whole village is against it. Kilkhampton runs independent businesses where the money stays in the local economy. If it's turned into a large convenience store, that would change everything. "As time goes on, I would probably have to lay off people; there would be job losses in the store. It's very detrimental for the village. All the stores in the village support local staff and local suppliers so it could have a knock-on effect." For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.