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Campaigners are gearing up for another planning battle as Sainsbury’s pushes again to open another store in Blackstock Road.

They fear the supermarket giant is edging closer to getting its way after the Town Hall granted an alcohol licence for the former Highbury Vale Police Station last month.

It appeared last year that campaigners had won after planning permission was granted for a gym in the building, but the developer has since applied for a “minor amendment” to change it back to a supermarket.

The nearest Sainsbury’s is less than half a mile down Blackstock Road.

“This will add £25-£30,000 onto the value of my house but I don’t care,” said one objector at a protest yesterday (Thursday). “These local businesses have contributed to Islington but Sainsbury’s do not.”

Numerous businesses in the diverse shopping area have told the Tribune they fear for their future if the store goes ahead.

Highbury Wines, just metres away, closed just weeks after Sainsbury’s launched its latest bid. Residents said the owner did not think he could compete against a Sainsbury’s Local.

Residents fear Ali Yavuz, the well-loved owner of Arsenal Supermarket, could be next.

Janice Acquah, who lives nearby, said: “We love our corner shops here. Ali knows our kids and there is a real sense of safety and community in the shops round here – it would be a shame to lose that.”

Mr Yavuz, who has been in Blackstock Road for 14 years, said: “They have one shop just down the road. Why do they need another? My sales will be seriously affected.”

Resident Sophie Wright said: “This is totally unnecessary – there is such a sense of community in this road.”

There has been strong criticism of the “sly” and “surreptitious” way the developer applied to drop the plan for a gym – approved in 2014 – and switch back to a supermarket.

An Islington Council spokesman said: “This application has been subject to a full consultation. It is still under consideration and no decision has been made.”

Highbury East Green councillor Caroline Russell said Sainsbury’s would “suck the life out of our popular local high street”.

Former Lib Dem ward councillor Terry Stacy, who started a 3,000-strong petition, against the original plan, said the council was wrong not to take into account the petition this time round.

“I have never heard such total and utter rubbish from council planners,” he said.

“This application will see local businesses driven out of business, at the expense of big business, and proves what we said – that the original Labour council’s conditions attached to this planning application when they agreed it have been shown to be totally worthless.

“Islington should turn this application down.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We have been looking to open a Sainsbury’s Local in this area for some time.

“Should the developer be successful in obtaining planning permission, we will go ahead with our plans for a store which will bring additional shopping choice to the area as well as creating 20 to 25 jobs, which will go predominantly to local people.”