Over 1,000 people have signed a petition to keep Sainsbury's in Bletchley open with residents branding the store a 'lifeline' for the elderly.
Sainsbury's at the Brunel Centre is set to close in January next year due to a "range of factors".
The chain's groceries will instead be sold in a food hall at Dobbies Garden Centre down Watling Street in Fenny Stratford.
And although Sainsbury's will not completely vanish from the area, residents are now campaigning to stop the supermarket closure with many saying that the store acts as a "lifeline" for elderly residents.
Five days ago, local resident Colin started an online petition called 'Keep Bletchley Sainsbury's Open' stating that the store "is very popular and a lot of the staff have been there a long time".
Colin also added that there is currently one supermarket in the town centre and should Sainsbury's close there will be two more a "short drive away", although some people may not be able to travel this far.
"A lot of elderly people live in central Bletchley, they don't drive and the local store is a lifeline," he added. "The government wants us to leave the car at home as much as possible, this closure does the opposite. I suppose Sainsbury will argue that you can always shop online as a lot of us have done during the pandemic.
"Shopping online is ok, but you don't get the interaction with other people as you do by going to the store, also you don't always get what you ordered and you can't check use-by dates. During the pandemic I ordered a chicken for a Sunday lunch, it was delivered on the Thursday with Friday's date on it. Bletchley needs this store, it has lost so much over the last 20 years. If this store goes a lot more will follow as there will be fewer people going to the town centre."
Since launching, the petition has been signed by nearly 1,300 people with dozens of people writing emotive reasons for why they want the store to remain open.
One respondent wrote: "It is used by a number of vulnerable customers who cannot travel elsewhere and get support from staff."
While another added: "The Bletchley locals need a supermarket. The only thing killing Sainsbury's is having to pay for parking and at the moment the railway alterations that has closed the main road into Bletchley. I think it's short sighted of Sainsbury's. If Bletchley is going to become a vibrant commuter town then a decent supermarket will be vital. Everyone needs to get together and start using Sainsbury's regularly, time's running out!"
Another local media outlet reports that Sainsbury's is actively reviewing its estate, adding that a spokesperson said: “We have updated colleagues on the difficult decision to close our Bletchley store and we are doing everything we can to find alternative roles within Sainsbury’s for those affected."
You can access the petition here.
