A TOUCH shopkeeper fears a plan to turn a pub into a Tesco outlet will “kill my business”. 

Mohammed Sharif owns H&S Stores and claims a subsidiary of the retail giant is aiming to convert the nearby East End Inn at Mercer Place. 

There are already more than 20 objections to the plan and he said: “It’s a new type of Tesco, a One Stop, they’ve got more than 800 of these stores across England and now they’re bringing them north. 

“I own the shop in Mercer Place and have done so for more than 37 years. 

“Bringing in a new store will pretty much kill my business. I just feel it’s very unfair.

“I am very disappointed that after so many years of giving service to the community that I was not notified of this proposal.”

The planning application to Fife Council does not mention Tesco or One Stop, it was submitted by an ‘East End Inn Ltd’ with a Dunfermline address and seeks: ‘alterations and change of use of public bar to retail unit’. 

The Press was unable to get any comment from the applicant or the agent. 
One Stop shops are smaller, neighbourhood outlets and the firm has been a subsidiary of Tesco since 2003. 

A One Stop spokesman said, “We’ll always consider any opportunities to open a new store to serve customers in Dunfermline.”

Mr Sharif said: “The way things are going, all the big supermarkets are going to kill off all the smaller shops.” 

He has received support from locals, with Kimberly Simpson objecting online to the application, stating: “There is already a more than sufficient local store just seconds from the pub which has served the community for more than 30 years. 

“The Sharif family are well respected within the community and the opening of another retail unit so close would kill off the only store that has been supporting the Touch community for decades.”

Brian Griffiths said: “It is a part of the fabric of the community and run by a much-loved, well-respected and extremely popular family.

"They consistently go out of their way to cater to many of the people who live in the community and even neighbouring areas.”