Sainsbury's want more views over Bishop's Waltham store (From This is Hampshire)

Sainsbury's want more views over Bishop's Waltham store

9:40am Sunday 8th November 2009

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SUPERMARKET bosses are to hold a second round of consultations over plans for a controversial new store in a Hampshire town.

Another 13,000 residents in and around Bishop’s Waltham are set to receive details on the altered plans for a Sainsbury’s store at the Abbey Mill site this month.

Sainsbury’s chiefs are also set to update residents on the results of the first consultation held last July, which contained a strong mix of views.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “With over 3,500 comments forms received, we are pleased that so many people have taken an interest in our proposals for Bishop’s Waltham.

“We are keen to deliver a store which respects the sensitive setting of the Abbey Mill site while meeting the need for increased main food shopping to enhance the local retail offering in Bishop’s Waltham.”

Following the first round of consultation of 13,000 homes, more than a quarter of the forms were returned with views on the redevelopment plans.

But the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group (BWAG) fears that the 35,000 sq ft store will have a detrimental effect on independent shops and could put many out of business.

They also claim the store will bring high volumes of traffic and have an environmental impact on the Palace Ruins and South Pond, which are next to the site of the proposed superstore.

Henry Fryer, chairman of BWAG, said: “They are obviously still moving forward to build the store but we still think it’s inappropriate for Bishop’s Waltham.

“We look forward with interest to Sainsbury’s further consultation and we remain opposed to a Sainsbury’s store in Bishop’s Waltham.”

Up to 500 people crammed into the town’s Jubilee Hall on May 28 to voice almost unanimous opposition to the building of a store.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Sainsbury’s bosses admitted that regardless of public opinion they would submit a planning application.

If built, the store would cover an area of land more than two times the size of an Olympic swimming pool and would employ about 350 people.

For more information contact Sainsbury’s community information line on 0845 602 1151 or the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group at bwactiongroup.org.uk.

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