Huge demand for jobs at new Tesco store in North Bersted

The clamour to work at the Tesco Express on Chichester Road has left the company sifting through more than 30 applications for each vacancy.

Tesco recruited its new employees from the surrounding area to work in the outlet being created from the former Rising Sun pub.

Store manager John Killip and his team worked with the Jobcentre in Bognor Regis to fill the positions.

“I was thrilled by the huge response we received to our recruitment drive,” he said.

“It is great we are able to create jobs for our local community and help get people back into work.

“I am really pleased with my new team and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

The store will be one of the first in the country to offer the Tesco Express Click and Collect service.

Click and Collect offers the benefits of shopping online with the added convenience of picking up groceries at a suitable time for the customer.

No opening date has yet been given to the store but it is likely to be later this month. Its opening hours will be from 6am-11pm daily.

The plan for the store created controversy in the surrounding area.

Tesco was able to convert the former pub without planning permission because of the national planning rules.

But it faced considerable opposition to the planning applications it had to submit for minor changes to the building.

A total of 273 letters opposing the proposal were received by Arun District Council along with a 540 name petition.

Bognor Regis Town Council voiced its concerns and Bersted Parish Council also made known its opposition, though it withdrew its formal objection.

The objectors centred around the new store’s impact on existing shops, disturbance to nearby residents and the affect of the extra traffic using the store on the already busy Chichester Road.

But the plans were approved by the district council as no reasons existed for them to be refused.