MORE than 500 people have signed a petition to stop their local pub being turned into a small supermarket.

Residents in Yarm living close to the former Layfield Arms pub, which closed down 18 months ago, are concerned turning it into a supermarket will put the estate's current corner shop out of business.

They also expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour, noise, HGV deliveries and the loss of a community facility.

Many objectors said they would like to see it turned back into a family pub. In the 1980s it was a Harvester pub and more recently it offered food and Sunday Carvery.

Prism Planning, agents for the Layfield's developers Sigma Marlborough, have submitted plans to Stockton Borough Council for permission to make external alterations to the property and install an ATM.

There are also plans to create three flats within the development, but a planning application for those has not yet been submitted.

However, the owners do not need planning permission for a change of use from a pub to a shop.

Objector Sandra McLeavy said: "We do not need another shop. I have lived on this estate for 38 years and supported my local, family-run shop at Willey Flats. The owner is very friendly and community-spirited and it would be terrible for him if another shop opened up."

She said there were concerns about extra traffic at all hours of the night to use the ATM, and residents felt they had enough shops in the area, with an Aldi and Spar also nearby.

It is not known which shop it will be turned into but it is understood it could become a Co-op.

Local shop owner Onkar Somal, who has run the shop on Turton Street, Willey Flats for seven years, said he and his wife were "devastated" when they heard the news.

He said he had an ATM inside his shop and was in negotiations to make it free to use so he could compete.

He said: "I have a licence until 11 but I close my shop at 8pm because that is what the community want. They don't want people driving through the estate at all hours."

Rod Hepplewhite, from Prism Planning, agents for the developers, said: "We actually don't need planning permission to change the use. The only planning permission we are seeking is for some external alterations and the ATM. I understand that often when pubs are converted into shops up and down the country it often does cause some community angst."

He said the shop would likely close earlier than the pub had done, but the details had not been confirmed.

Anyone wanting to sign the petition against the plans can do so at Mr Somal's shop, Lifestyle Express.