FOCUS DIY – fighting to bring a new store and garden centre to Ely – has collected a further 923 signatures on a second petition. The show of support from the people of the city comes on top of an earlier petition signed by 685 shoppers. It has been prese

FOCUS DIY - fighting to bring a new store and garden centre to Ely - has collected a further 923 signatures on a second petition.

The show of support from the people of the city comes on top of an earlier petition signed by 685 shoppers.

It has been presented to East Cambridgeshire District Council after planners deferred their decision on the company's £7 million project on the G&J Peck site in Lisle Lane at their meeting last month.

They wanted changes made to the design of the new store and assessments carried out on the impact the scheme would have to Ely's conservation area and traffic management.

Focus has already lodged an appeal with the Government after planners rejected its earlier planning application.

Simon Hoare of Location 3 Properties, working with Focus DIY to bring the new store to the city, said: "These two petitions represent a good cross section of people who support this project.

"If you look at the level of support the electorate has given to our scheme it should encourage the decision takers to sit back, pause and reflect on how best to build a city in terms of residential, retail and commercial in terms of what the people want to see.

"There is a very clear message going out from local people that they want to see this development on that site. They are saying that this is a great site close to the city centre."

Focus DIY has launched a new email address - ely@L3P.co.uk - for people to get in touch with questions and messages of support.