Civic leaders in Street have backed the village's chamber of trade and commerce in opposing a planning application for a flagship Tesco store in Glastonbury – but only just.

The parish council had been contacted by Street Chamber of Trade and Commerce to support its objection to the proposed new store, which will be decided by a planning inquiry.

Speaking at Thursday night's meeting of Street Parish Council, Councillor Graham Coles said he could not support the chamber's attempt to fight the application.

"I cannot do this with a good conscience," he said.

"Glastonbury didn't object when we had planning applications for Clarks Village or Sainsbury's. I don't like that long standing businesses are saying that they will leave the High Street if the application gets approval. To me, that is emotional blackmail."

Street's county councillor Terry Napper said he endorsed Mr Cole's comments.

"I'm worried that we will start to look like we are something of a bully-boy," he said.

"It looks as though we are trying to apply pressure on Glastonbury, when they put none on us."

However Councillor Alan Copping disagreed, saying the council should support businesses in Street.

"I was at the meeting when this was passed and the officer had information saying if this application went ahead, the area would be over-shopped – we'd have more shops than needed for our population.

"I can well believe that the traders in Glastonbury weren't worried about the developments we had in Street – their High Street is a very unusual High Street, and many of the traders won't have been affected by what our development had to offer."

Councillor Lindsay Stevens agreed, saying: "Our High Street will be affected by Tesco – the free parking alone will drive people out of our village.

"I feel quite strongly about this – shops in Street need our support."

A number of councillors who run businesses in Street were asked to step out of the room while the vote was taken. Councillors Alan Copping, Joe Ready, Lyndsay Stevens and Barbara Cowell voted to support the Chamber of Commerce. Councillors Terry Napper, Graham Coles and Brian Perry voted against the proposal.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Coles said he was saddened by the decision the council had made to support the objection to the planning application.

"Street and Glastonbury are neighbours," he said.

"I would like to think that both places could work together."