Store plans will go on show for public
7:00pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007
Comments (29)THE plans for a new multi-million-pound Waitrose supermarket for Wimborne will be lodged with the council this week.
The proposal is a store of nearly 20,000 square foot on the former Hanham Cricket Ground off Park Lane, about one-and-a-half times the size of the Somerfield in the town.
There would be 213 car parking spaces of which 65 are on the surface level, and the remaining 148 spaces in an underground car park, connected by a lift.
The new plan includes footpaths to the town centre but no bridge link to Crown Mead.
There would also be two acres of public recreation space as parkland with no designated playground.
As part of the scheme, the existing roundabout at Lewens Lane, Park Lane and Rowlands Hill would be widened to provide access to the site for customers and delivery vehicles.
Keith Harrison, development surveyor for Waitrose, said they had worked on the amount of landscaping for the area by Park Lane, and had new planting proposed all around the site plus ornamental beech hedging on Park Lane and along Rowlands Hill.
Mr Harrison said support had risen during two public consultations over two years.
"Currently the traders seem to be strongly in favour of what we are doing," he said.
The store would be open from 8.30pm to 9pm on some days and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
Wimborne mayor Anthony Oliver said: "When the plans are submitted they will go to the district council.
"They will then come to the town council.
"The council will look at the plans when they are received."
Philip Atlay, chairman of Keep Wimborne Town Green, said they were not against Waitrose but thought the site was the wrong one.
"To create a large steel and glass supermarket on that space will destroy the visual amenity of the town. It will create 2,000 cars a day."
Mr Atlay added: "I fear it will cause traffic chaos."
Mike Hirsh, head of planning and building control at East Dorset District Council, said: "The council will be making arrangements for the plans to be displayed at Allendale House in Wimborne, as well as at the council's offices.
"The council will be carrying out substantial consultation with all interested parties.
"It is likely that the planning committee will make its decision on the plans in the new year and, if interest from the public is high, a special meeting of the planning committee may be arranged."
James Hampton, chairman of Wimborne Minster and District Chamber of Trade, was unavailable for comment.
Wimborne Cricket Club's lease on the site ran out earlier this year and was not extended.
In July they were granted planning permission to move to The Leaze.
Your Say YourThisisdorset
Vikki27, Poole says...
9:17pm Tue 2 Oct 07
I don't believe this. We have the govenment saying they want to battle pollution and over-development and preserve rural Britain yadi yadi yada and then they go and stick yet ANOTHER supermarket on a beautiful patch of grass.
I don't understand this. For starters, part of the charm of Wimbourne has always been the smaller shops, which will undoubtedly suffer as a result of this, causing havoc with the local economy. It will increase traffic in the town (which at times is a hellish experience anyway) and in the process of making this 'development' they are also taking away an area that can be used for much needed recreation for all local people.
If the council has any sense at all, they will decline the application.
I don't understand this. For starters, part of the charm of Wimbourne has always been the smaller shops, which will undoubtedly suffer as a result of this, causing havoc with the local economy. It will increase traffic in the town (which at times is a hellish experience anyway) and in the process of making this 'development' they are also taking away an area that can be used for much needed recreation for all local people.
If the council has any sense at all, they will decline the application.
Shedmans Friend, Bournemouth says...
10:09pm Tue 2 Oct 07
Vikki27 wrote:It's a fait accompli then vikki27 Common sense unfortunately won't enter into it.
I don't believe this. We have the govenment saying they want to battle pollution and over-development and preserve rural Britain yadi yadi yada and then they go and stick yet ANOTHER supermarket on a beautiful patch of grass. I don't understand this. For starters, part of the charm of Wimbourne has always been the smaller shops, which will undoubtedly suffer as a result of this, causing havoc with the local economy. It will increase traffic in the town (which at times is a hellish experience anyway) and in the process of making this 'development' they are also taking away an area that can be used for much needed recreation for all local people. If the council has any sense at all, they will decline the application.
The Cricket Green as it was has always been synonymous with the character of the town - therefore if at all any developement of the green should only be accepted if it is totally in keeping with its character - i don't think a 20000ft2 supermarket fits the bill - perhaps the Planners will accept it if it has a "wavy" modern roof with some astrotutf on it so that it "looks green"
ctessex, London says...
12:30am Wed 3 Oct 07
Wimborne is certainly a lovely town and a real gem but greedy landlords have done a terrific job of forcing out smaller independants. My mother is a resident of the town and has limited mobility other than a mobility scooter. Her ability to browse for a selection of produce is prevented either through lack of choice or poor access. Whilst there is the Somerfield there, she finds the choice poor and the quality terrible. As such her appetite is non-existant and I worry that her health could suffer. Perhaps this sounds dramatic and those with the option of heading to Ferndown or Fleetsbridge would not appreciate it, however I know she is keeping her fingers crossed that permission goes through. Let's face it, how likely is the opticians in The Square will ever revert to being a butchers again ?
norbitonpaul, says...
8:31am Wed 3 Oct 07
Waitrose appeals to a very upscale customer. Its high prices mean that it's a poor option as the 'main' supermarket serving the community. OK, so Wimborne is obviously over-represented with the gourmet green-wellies, that is why Waitrose wants to pitch-up there. But there's a double whammy for many in the community on average incomes and below. Not only will the store be too expensive, but the stores they've been accustomed to using will buckle under the competitive pressure from this newcomer.
As a rule of thumb, the UK is now very well served by supermarkets. There are very few areas in the UK where there isn't a supermarket within a 10-minute drive time. They should be kept to the ring roads, not be given permission to plunder valuable green space.
As a rule of thumb, the UK is now very well served by supermarkets. There are very few areas in the UK where there isn't a supermarket within a 10-minute drive time. They should be kept to the ring roads, not be given permission to plunder valuable green space.
philip.eades, Civic Centre, Poole says...
1:30pm Wed 3 Oct 07
As a rule I stay out of issues not affecting Poole but on this one I can't stay silent as a local cricketer of some 20 years standing - I think to lose Wimborne Cricket ground would be an absolute travesty for both the game of cricket in Dorset and for the town of Wimborne - it is quite my most favourite away ground and always has a good crowd to watch Premier League games.
On the planning side any councillor who could possibly vote in favour of building a supermarket on a cricket ground ought to find it very difficult indeed to sleep with their concscience at night after such a decision
Philip Eades
Poole Town Cricket Club
On the planning side any councillor who could possibly vote in favour of building a supermarket on a cricket ground ought to find it very difficult indeed to sleep with their concscience at night after such a decision
Philip Eades
Poole Town Cricket Club
philip.eades, Civic Centre, Poole says...
1:31pm Wed 3 Oct 07
As a rule I stay out of issues not affecting Poole but on this one I can't stay silent as a local cricketer of some 20 years standing - I think to lose Wimborne Cricket ground would be an absolute travesty for both the game of cricket in Dorset and for the town of Wimborne - it is quite my most favourite away ground and always has a good crowd to watch Premier League games.
On the planning side any councillor who could possibly vote in favour of building a supermarket on a cricket ground ought to find it very difficult indeed to sleep with their concscience at night after such a decision
Philip Eades
Poole Town Cricket Club
On the planning side any councillor who could possibly vote in favour of building a supermarket on a cricket ground ought to find it very difficult indeed to sleep with their concscience at night after such a decision
Philip Eades
Poole Town Cricket Club
fardo, Ringwood says...
5:06pm Wed 3 Oct 07
I notice that most of these comments are from people who don't actually live in Wimborne. I lived there for many years and my mother still lives there, she relies on buses to get her around and is fed up to the back teeth with the pitiful range on offer at Somerfield. She is praying this application goes through to improve her quality of life in terms of choice.
Wimborne has been going down the drain for years with shops closing every 5 minutes and quite frankly this Waitrose store would be a kick up the backside for trade.Better to draw people to the town and put money into the coffers than pander to a group of cricket fans who can get in there 4 wheel drives and go to Poole and Bournemouth for their shopping......
Wimborne has been going down the drain for years with shops closing every 5 minutes and quite frankly this Waitrose store would be a kick up the backside for trade.Better to draw people to the town and put money into the coffers than pander to a group of cricket fans who can get in there 4 wheel drives and go to Poole and Bournemouth for their shopping......
Tru Belle, purbeck says...
11:10pm Wed 3 Oct 07
My son played there so did husband years ago,and also saw some very fine exhibition matches,even saw some real wellknown international cricketing worthies. Mark Nicholas(Hampshire)w
as a wellknown face. What can they be thinking off swapping a beautiful sport facility for an upmarket baked bean purveyor. NO NO No, this will not do.
as a wellknown face. What can they be thinking off swapping a beautiful sport facility for an upmarket baked bean purveyor. NO NO No, this will not do.
Adrian Williams, Wimborne says...
5:56pm Mon 8 Oct 07
If Waitrose was already on the site occupied by Somerfield and it was Somerfield applying for permission to develop the cricket pitch, I can't see that there would be any public support at all. The Local Plan says that there is already enough supermarket provision for a town of the size of Wimborne. I would like to think that Planning Committee Members would take no account of which retailer is to be the first of many future occupiers of the site but test the application against Local Plan Policies alone. It might suit some of us now if the cricket ground becomes a Waitrose, but in ten, twenty years time when it's been bought up by SupaSava then we should never forgive ourselves for destroying forever such a precious jewel in the very heart of our town.
velnorm, Broadstone says...
12:56pm Tue 9 Oct 07
If a Waitrose appears where proposed,no doubt I would get used to the idea - but I will not get used to the traffic and the road changes which will inevitably result. Supermarkets of this size are not for town centres particularly when they are built on inner town green spaces, cricket grounds or otherwise. As to it revitalising other trade in the town I suspect this would prove to be minimal. One aspect of course is that instead of local people popping into town because they've forgotten something at Tesco/Sainsbury/wher
ever ; or going to local traders because their requirements are not sufficient to justify the longer journey ; they will now be able to go to, or back to,Waitrose for those forgotten items!
ever ; or going to local traders because their requirements are not sufficient to justify the longer journey ; they will now be able to go to, or back to,Waitrose for those forgotten items!
rod, wimborne says...
1:59pm Tue 9 Oct 07
c'mon guys. you know how it works. there's a legal process that has to be run thorugh, backhanders either do or don't get taken, the land owner (for no earthly good reson) suddenly decides to end an on-going lease that's never been in question before, waitrose gradually wins over the public and the rest of us either lie down and die or keep shouting until it's actually there, built, in the middle of the ever expanding commercially viable success that every small town with any character left will slowly become.
could someone ask waitrose if they'd like to buy my soul, i don't think i need it anymore. rOD.
could someone ask waitrose if they'd like to buy my soul, i don't think i need it anymore. rOD.
robl, Wimborne says...
2:30pm Tue 9 Oct 07
This has to be one of the most depressing developments I've seen. Gaze in awe at how the architects have managed to design a structure which is so unique and fits into Wimborne's assembly of archiecture almost seamlessly. It looks like a car dealership or DIY depot. Utterly crass, unimaginitive rubbish!
A deli and a bakery have recently opened in Wimborne, and along with the grocers, butchers etc already there, it's possible to do without a supermarket altogether. How many of these shops will still be open when Waitrose wins away much of their trade? Hardly any I'd guess. We can then look forward to the shops being converted to opticians, charity shops and estate agents. Just what we need.
What's next - conversion of the Minster into flats?
A deli and a bakery have recently opened in Wimborne, and along with the grocers, butchers etc already there, it's possible to do without a supermarket altogether. How many of these shops will still be open when Waitrose wins away much of their trade? Hardly any I'd guess. We can then look forward to the shops being converted to opticians, charity shops and estate agents. Just what we need.
What's next - conversion of the Minster into flats?
richard, says...
2:35pm Tue 9 Oct 07
Wimborne's own IMAX!!
Supermarkets can stand empty in town centres for years, just ask Blandford!
Indeed some of us remember how long it took to fill the new shops around Safeway!
This development will finally close the remaining small shops that are still left and allow even more charity/bargain shops to move in.
Still on positive - the new park will do wonders for Wimborne's night: it will replace the demolished toilets which used to stand opposite the cricketers and also provide somewhere for kids to have sex, drink and take drugs when Wimborne goes down hill even more thanks to all the housing estates planned on land around Wimborne.
Indeed I am sure a certain housing landlord with a criminal conviction is looking forward to expanding his housing empire the short distance from the recently highly improved Ferndown.
It's time to move....
Supermarkets can stand empty in town centres for years, just ask Blandford!
Indeed some of us remember how long it took to fill the new shops around Safeway!
This development will finally close the remaining small shops that are still left and allow even more charity/bargain shops to move in.
Still on positive - the new park will do wonders for Wimborne's night: it will replace the demolished toilets which used to stand opposite the cricketers and also provide somewhere for kids to have sex, drink and take drugs when Wimborne goes down hill even more thanks to all the housing estates planned on land around Wimborne.
Indeed I am sure a certain housing landlord with a criminal conviction is looking forward to expanding his housing empire the short distance from the recently highly improved Ferndown.
It's time to move....
trfster, Wimborne says...
3:36pm Tue 9 Oct 07
I am a 40 year married family man who has lived in Wimborne and the surrounding villages all my life. Reading some of the comments above I am led to believe that Wimborne is dying a slow death and the arrival of Waitrose will ony accelerate its demise. I for one do not agree and feel Wimborne still has a lot to offer.
Currently I live right in the middle of town and one of the joys of this is being able to park my car on a Friday night and not have to use it again until Monday morning. I am able to get my vegetables from the green grocers, my bread from the newly opened bakery and my meat from the butchers that has resided in town for over 100 years. Along with this I can purchase quality audio and electronic goods, tools and gardening is catered for along with furniture for most of the house, utensils for the kitchen, shoes for the feet and birthday presents from many a gift shop and jeweller. I can also sort out my finances with the majority of big name banks and building societies having a presence in town. During my wander around town I can take a break in several coffee shops and in the evenings go to any of a selection of vey good restaurants and finish the evening off with a pint at a local pub. There are certain areas of retail that I think could be improved on such as good clothing outlets for men and children and there are, in my opinion, too many charity shops and estate agents but all in all the majority of your retail and social needs are catered for within the town. I for one look at Wimborne with a glass half full attitude rather than a half empty one.
I will be sorry to see the cricket pitch go but it is my understanding that the cricket team themselves wish to leave the ground based on the termination of their current lease. Currently the Cricket pitch is not an open space available to all to use as it is privately owned. It can be used whilst a match is on but at other times specific permission must be gained to use the area. The cricket pitch is likely to be developed on at some point. The council do not have the finances or resources to buy the land, or even keep it up together, so a private enterprise is the next obvious solution. If Waitrose does come to town it will make part of the existing cricket ground open space for all to enjoy and it will be responsible for its up keep.
Back in the seventies when Crown Mead was built on there was outcry and it was labelled as the death of the smaller retail outlets. It was not. Times change and in retail the main thing that people want these days is choice. They will have the choice to shop at Waitrose or Somerfields or Minster Greens or indeed online to by their fruit and veg. And there will always be a perentage of people that does at least one of these.
In conclusion I think Waitrose will improve the shopping experience of Wimborne and bring additional life to an already wonderful town. Yes there will be an increase in traffic and congestion but that is due to the pitiful road and public transport system we have but thats another letter.....
Currently I live right in the middle of town and one of the joys of this is being able to park my car on a Friday night and not have to use it again until Monday morning. I am able to get my vegetables from the green grocers, my bread from the newly opened bakery and my meat from the butchers that has resided in town for over 100 years. Along with this I can purchase quality audio and electronic goods, tools and gardening is catered for along with furniture for most of the house, utensils for the kitchen, shoes for the feet and birthday presents from many a gift shop and jeweller. I can also sort out my finances with the majority of big name banks and building societies having a presence in town. During my wander around town I can take a break in several coffee shops and in the evenings go to any of a selection of vey good restaurants and finish the evening off with a pint at a local pub. There are certain areas of retail that I think could be improved on such as good clothing outlets for men and children and there are, in my opinion, too many charity shops and estate agents but all in all the majority of your retail and social needs are catered for within the town. I for one look at Wimborne with a glass half full attitude rather than a half empty one.
I will be sorry to see the cricket pitch go but it is my understanding that the cricket team themselves wish to leave the ground based on the termination of their current lease. Currently the Cricket pitch is not an open space available to all to use as it is privately owned. It can be used whilst a match is on but at other times specific permission must be gained to use the area. The cricket pitch is likely to be developed on at some point. The council do not have the finances or resources to buy the land, or even keep it up together, so a private enterprise is the next obvious solution. If Waitrose does come to town it will make part of the existing cricket ground open space for all to enjoy and it will be responsible for its up keep.
Back in the seventies when Crown Mead was built on there was outcry and it was labelled as the death of the smaller retail outlets. It was not. Times change and in retail the main thing that people want these days is choice. They will have the choice to shop at Waitrose or Somerfields or Minster Greens or indeed online to by their fruit and veg. And there will always be a perentage of people that does at least one of these.
In conclusion I think Waitrose will improve the shopping experience of Wimborne and bring additional life to an already wonderful town. Yes there will be an increase in traffic and congestion but that is due to the pitiful road and public transport system we have but thats another letter.....
lizzyloo, Wimborne says...
4:56pm Tue 9 Oct 07
As said Somerfield is depressing and useless as a supermarket and we badly need Waitrose in Wimborne. The cricket club don't want to remain at the ground and the owner is going to sell it. It will be much better to have it as part green space, part decent supermarket rather than it all go for housing surely? I think it will attract the right sort of customers to Wimborne and that traders like the new baker and deli and the fab Minster Greens will flourish. Take a look at thriving Dorchester with its town centre Waitrose and its varied and interesting shops. We might attract decent retailers then instead of all the shoe shops and estate agents etc. We need to get realistic or that land will go for expensive housing.
jiharvey, Wimborne says...
10:02pm Tue 9 Oct 07
I have lived in Wimborne for the last 42 years and one of the nicest things about the town in that it has a cricket pitch in the town centre that frames the beautiful Minster behind it as you drive down Rowlands hill. This guarantees a green space all year round and sets Wimborne apart from the normal urban sprawl you get in most towns of a similar size. I think it would be a disaster for Wimborne if the Cricket pitch is lost to an overpriced soulless supermarket. What is needed is to retain the Cricket pitch and build a decent sized proper supermarket (i.e. Tesco) on the outskirts of the town (e.g. Brook Road). This plan has always been blocked by the narrow minded traders of Wimborne who do not understand that their petty vested interests are destroying the town. That will eventually probably result in a town consisting of Charity shops and nothing else.
pjw, Wimborne says...
9:45am Wed 10 Oct 07
The respondent who claims that he can do all of his shopping and business transactions in Wimborne must live a very different lifestyle to me and the other people who make up the 70% of Wimborne people who are compelled to shop elsewhere. There are two reasons why we are losing local shops - high costs (rent and taxes)and lack of support. Waitrose will bring shoppers back into town. Academic research on market towns all over the UK shows that what is needed to keep people shopping there is an "anchor store" - not necessarily a supermarket, but a shop that will draw people to the town. The sort of place that you make a special trip for. The evidence shows that without such a business, people will find another centre nearby where their shopping needs will be met.
Wimborne people want their cake and to be able to eat it too! People complain that the proposed Waitrose and the new deli and bakery are "too up market", but those businesses wouldn't open without the right sort of population to support them in the first place. If you want to shop at Asda, go ahead, but don't knock people who want to bring jobs to this town, especially a company like John Lewis who are renowned for how well they treat their staff.
Secondly, as to architecture - just who was it who decided that anything built since WWII "isn't nice", and has to be replaced by fake ye olde buildings? When you try to enforce that you end up with a ridiculous pastiche. Frankly, a town that continues to grow and have new life injected into it seems a better idea to me than insisting that things have to look bland, dull and uniform. Waitrose are proposing a building that will be light and airy to work and shop in. It will be filled with natural light, and probably much more "green" than our existing convenience store. Anyone who is concerned that the view of the Minster from Rowlands Hill will be lost should look at what is obscuring it at the moment - Crown Mead, a tribute to ugliness, but deliberately build that way so as to try to create that ye olde look. I imagine in the Victorian period there were people who thought that the new buildings weren't as nice as the Georgian ones, but now we view them as part of the interesting architectural heritage of Britain.
Bring on the Waitrose, the jobs, and the public access to what has long been only for the privileged few.
Wimborne people want their cake and to be able to eat it too! People complain that the proposed Waitrose and the new deli and bakery are "too up market", but those businesses wouldn't open without the right sort of population to support them in the first place. If you want to shop at Asda, go ahead, but don't knock people who want to bring jobs to this town, especially a company like John Lewis who are renowned for how well they treat their staff.
Secondly, as to architecture - just who was it who decided that anything built since WWII "isn't nice", and has to be replaced by fake ye olde buildings? When you try to enforce that you end up with a ridiculous pastiche. Frankly, a town that continues to grow and have new life injected into it seems a better idea to me than insisting that things have to look bland, dull and uniform. Waitrose are proposing a building that will be light and airy to work and shop in. It will be filled with natural light, and probably much more "green" than our existing convenience store. Anyone who is concerned that the view of the Minster from Rowlands Hill will be lost should look at what is obscuring it at the moment - Crown Mead, a tribute to ugliness, but deliberately build that way so as to try to create that ye olde look. I imagine in the Victorian period there were people who thought that the new buildings weren't as nice as the Georgian ones, but now we view them as part of the interesting architectural heritage of Britain.
Bring on the Waitrose, the jobs, and the public access to what has long been only for the privileged few.
pjw, Wimborne says...
9:45am Wed 10 Oct 07
The respondent who claims that he can do all of his shopping and business transactions in Wimborne must live a very different lifestyle to me and the other people who make up the 70% of Wimborne people who are compelled to shop elsewhere. There are two reasons why we are losing local shops - high costs (rent and taxes)and lack of support. Waitrose will bring shoppers back into town. Academic research on market towns all over the UK shows that what is needed to keep people shopping there is an "anchor store" - not necessarily a supermarket, but a shop that will draw people to the town. The sort of place that you make a special trip for. The evidence shows that without such a business, people will find another centre nearby where their shopping needs will be met.
Wimborne people want their cake and to be able to eat it too! People complain that the proposed Waitrose and the new deli and bakery are "too up market", but those businesses wouldn't open without the right sort of population to support them in the first place. If you want to shop at Asda, go ahead, but don't knock people who want to bring jobs to this town, especially a company like John Lewis who are renowned for how well they treat their staff.
Secondly, as to architecture - just who was it who decided that anything built since WWII "isn't nice", and has to be replaced by fake ye olde buildings? When you try to enforce that you end up with a ridiculous pastiche. Frankly, a town that continues to grow and have new life injected into it seems a better idea to me than insisting that things have to look bland, dull and uniform. Waitrose are proposing a building that will be light and airy to work and shop in. It will be filled with natural light, and probably much more "green" than our existing convenience store. Anyone who is concerned that the view of the Minster from Rowlands Hill will be lost should look at what is obscuring it at the moment - Crown Mead, a tribute to ugliness, but deliberately build that way so as to try to create that ye olde look. I imagine in the Victorian period there were people who thought that the new buildings weren't as nice as the Georgian ones, but now we view them as part of the interesting architectural heritage of Britain.
Bring on the Waitrose, the jobs, and the public access to what has long been only for the privileged few.
Wimborne people want their cake and to be able to eat it too! People complain that the proposed Waitrose and the new deli and bakery are "too up market", but those businesses wouldn't open without the right sort of population to support them in the first place. If you want to shop at Asda, go ahead, but don't knock people who want to bring jobs to this town, especially a company like John Lewis who are renowned for how well they treat their staff.
Secondly, as to architecture - just who was it who decided that anything built since WWII "isn't nice", and has to be replaced by fake ye olde buildings? When you try to enforce that you end up with a ridiculous pastiche. Frankly, a town that continues to grow and have new life injected into it seems a better idea to me than insisting that things have to look bland, dull and uniform. Waitrose are proposing a building that will be light and airy to work and shop in. It will be filled with natural light, and probably much more "green" than our existing convenience store. Anyone who is concerned that the view of the Minster from Rowlands Hill will be lost should look at what is obscuring it at the moment - Crown Mead, a tribute to ugliness, but deliberately build that way so as to try to create that ye olde look. I imagine in the Victorian period there were people who thought that the new buildings weren't as nice as the Georgian ones, but now we view them as part of the interesting architectural heritage of Britain.
Bring on the Waitrose, the jobs, and the public access to what has long been only for the privileged few.
robl, Dorset says...
4:07pm Wed 10 Oct 07
Fair points jtw about jobs etc - but some have left me a bit confused. Maybe I'm not one of the 70% of Wimbornites who feel compelled to shop elsewhere, but what everyday item is it not possible to buy in Wimborne already (genuine question)? I suspect most people shop elsewhere purely for convenience at a large supermarket then go home - one of the arguments against the supermarket.
Architecture is a matter of taste - Crown Mead is a mess and if it were to be knocked down I can't see too many protestors. What's annoying most of us who are against this is that it's on a greenfield site, and the new design is bland dull and uniform. Who would have guessed that a new building would be - shock! - a chrome and glass box. I can hardly contain my surprise. Brick would be much better and blend in with the town - hell even new Tesco shops look marginally less naff than this (again only an opinion)!
But I'm really stumped by your final point - in what way will building a very expensive supermarket allow access to Wimborne to those who aren't the 'privileged few'? Surely it will make it even more upmarket an expensive? As far as I'm aware, anyone can park and shop in Wimborne at the moment.
I'm really not trying to be difficult - just seeking further clarification.
Architecture is a matter of taste - Crown Mead is a mess and if it were to be knocked down I can't see too many protestors. What's annoying most of us who are against this is that it's on a greenfield site, and the new design is bland dull and uniform. Who would have guessed that a new building would be - shock! - a chrome and glass box. I can hardly contain my surprise. Brick would be much better and blend in with the town - hell even new Tesco shops look marginally less naff than this (again only an opinion)!
But I'm really stumped by your final point - in what way will building a very expensive supermarket allow access to Wimborne to those who aren't the 'privileged few'? Surely it will make it even more upmarket an expensive? As far as I'm aware, anyone can park and shop in Wimborne at the moment.
I'm really not trying to be difficult - just seeking further clarification.
pjw, Wimborne says...
5:04pm Wed 10 Oct 07
Have you ever actually shopped at a Waitrose store, robl? I wish people would stop this business about it being "expensive"! If you mean that it sells good quality, sometimes you do have to pay more for quality. But it isn't always true - yesterday I paid 75p for a large bulb of garlic at Somerfield in Wimborne. My husband, not realising that I had bought it paid 49p for a large, organic bulb at Waitrose Ringwood. And bought a really good quality bottle of wine, which is not something you can't buy at Somerfield. (Thresher also has a very limited range.) Wimborne Somerfield is really only a convenience store, with high prices and a very limited range. I like to cook food from scratch, not buy ready meals and pre-packaged products. Perhaps you have all day to go shopping, but like the vast majority of the adult population I work, and I would like to be able to shop for these items close to home. And up until now the Farmers' market has been on a weekday, when I'm at work. I do patronise local shops like Delihart and the Long Critchel Bakery, again for the quality of their products, but I am prepared to pay the additional cost. I would like to be able to use a local butcher, but again I cannot get the quality that I expect in Wimborne. I can't buy lactose-free milk for my allergic husband in Wimborne. I can't buy ironing starch in an environmentally-frie
ndly package anywhere except at Waitrose (I won't the buy aerosol cans available in the larger supermarkets). The fruit shop in Wimborne is quite good, but horrendously expensive (yes, even compared to Waitrose), and often I can't get what I need. The fruit and veg at Wimborne Market is cheap but of poor quality. I am certainly not tempted to buy my fish from a caravan in an unsealed car park, irrespective of the produce! Where can I buy arborio rice? A decent range of herbs and spices, not just salt with flavourings? Try shopping for just about anything on a Sunday in Wimborne - which is the only day my teenage son has off school, by the way. When do you do DIY, and therefore need hardware? Sunday in my household, and the local shops are closed.
Yes, anyone can park and shop in Wimborne at the moment - and many of those people park illegally in my private carspace on a regular basis. At least Waitrose would add some more parking spaces! The privileged people I refered to are the very few people who are allowed to use the cricket ground AT ALL . It is not a public park. Ask my young son who once made the mistake of using the nets on a bank holiday and was soundly told off for trespassing! Waitrose would open up two acres of the site for use by everyone and anyone, even the ASDA shoppers out there. The sort of people who shop at Waitrose are not the
ial than you might expect.
ndly package anywhere except at Waitrose (I won't the buy aerosol cans available in the larger supermarkets). The fruit shop in Wimborne is quite good, but horrendously expensive (yes, even compared to Waitrose), and often I can't get what I need. The fruit and veg at Wimborne Market is cheap but of poor quality. I am certainly not tempted to buy my fish from a caravan in an unsealed car park, irrespective of the produce! Where can I buy arborio rice? A decent range of herbs and spices, not just salt with flavourings? Try shopping for just about anything on a Sunday in Wimborne - which is the only day my teenage son has off school, by the way. When do you do DIY, and therefore need hardware? Sunday in my household, and the local shops are closed.
Yes, anyone can park and shop in Wimborne at the moment - and many of those people park illegally in my private carspace on a regular basis. At least Waitrose would add some more parking spaces! The privileged people I refered to are the very few people who are allowed to use the cricket ground AT ALL . It is not a public park. Ask my young son who once made the mistake of using the nets on a bank holiday and was soundly told off for trespassing! Waitrose would open up two acres of the site for use by everyone and anyone, even the ASDA shoppers out there. The sort of people who shop at Waitrose are not the
quoteprivileged few
quote- they suit the demographic of Wimborne almost perfectly, which is younger and more professional/manager
ial than you might expect.
robl, Dorset says...
6:05pm Wed 10 Oct 07
Sorry pjw - I misunderstood what you meant by the 'privileged few'.
However, your shopping needs are obviously very different to mine!
Yes I do occasionally go to Waitrose on the way back from the New Forest. However it's goods, though very well presented are, to my wallet, markedly more expensive than Sainsbury's or the cheap and cheerful Somerfield.
I'm sure Waitrose has done it's research, and has concluded that the population of Wimborne is suitable for it's immaculately presented goods. However, the population out and about in Wimborne most days is to my eyes, mainly over 50 and not particularly over furnished in the bling department (thank goodness).
And we must agree to disagree about Sundays - no shops open - just like it should be!
Some cones might work on your reserved parking place by the way - people just assume they're put there by an official.
However, your shopping needs are obviously very different to mine!
Yes I do occasionally go to Waitrose on the way back from the New Forest. However it's goods, though very well presented are, to my wallet, markedly more expensive than Sainsbury's or the cheap and cheerful Somerfield.
I'm sure Waitrose has done it's research, and has concluded that the population of Wimborne is suitable for it's immaculately presented goods. However, the population out and about in Wimborne most days is to my eyes, mainly over 50 and not particularly over furnished in the bling department (thank goodness).
And we must agree to disagree about Sundays - no shops open - just like it should be!
Some cones might work on your reserved parking place by the way - people just assume they're put there by an official.
juliewr, wimborne says...
9:00pm Wed 10 Oct 07
As a Wimborne resident, I agree that Somerfield doesn't have the choices that you need, which is why I take enjoyment from using the greengrocers, bakers, hardware stores etc that exist currently to make sure I get everything I need. If Waitrose is to appear, it will be at the expense of everything the existing town centre represents - a relaxing, enjoyable experience in a beautiful setting. Earning a very decent salary, I will not be shopping at waitrose as it is over priced full stop. I don't mind paying that bit more to support local traders, but will not be contributing to an already fat corporations profits and equally comfortable shareholders. The issue is not limited to the cricket ground. I feel by living in Wimborne I am part of a local community and that the introduction of Waitrose will eliminate that little community and homely little town setting that I have had so much enjoyment from. And obviously it is a done deal with the Council, but I personally will put a lot of my free time into making sure the council have an uncomfortable hoop to go through in accomplishing their done deal.
juliewr, wimborne says...
9:08pm Wed 10 Oct 07
Dear PJW - You really have to try that fish from the open caravan - it's good enough to be popular with all the locals I know. I can also recommend the meat van at Wimborne market.....Don't forget Waitrose select local produce - they may be selling the same fish.
rosie_arnold, Wimborne says...
11:17am Thu 11 Oct 07
In my opinion it is disgusting that these plans are allowed to even be considered. Wimborne is a (generally)quiet town with a great character and charm, soon enough it's going to become so urbanised that it will be unrecognisable. I do understand the need for a better supermarket, as Somerfield is dire, but we need to prevent the last decent open space being ruined.
As for the plans saying there will be leftover space which will remain 'green'- how long is it before that gets tarmacced over for an extension of the car park? What the town needs (as someone rightly said earlier) is a mid range supermarket (e.g. Tesco- has cheap and cheerful and the higher class ranges) built on a brownfield site somewhere in the town, not an elitist shop where a large percentage cannot afford to shop. There are well off families in Wimborne but the shops need to cater for all of the demographics, not just the richer ones!!
As for the plans saying there will be leftover space which will remain 'green'- how long is it before that gets tarmacced over for an extension of the car park? What the town needs (as someone rightly said earlier) is a mid range supermarket (e.g. Tesco- has cheap and cheerful and the higher class ranges) built on a brownfield site somewhere in the town, not an elitist shop where a large percentage cannot afford to shop. There are well off families in Wimborne but the shops need to cater for all of the demographics, not just the richer ones!!
jack63kids, Colehill says...
11:26am Fri 12 Oct 07
pjw,
Enjoyed your post and those that followed and feel like I've learnt something and am more confused than ever about the advisability of building on the cricket pitch.
Not that I don't have views on the proposed development but thought for now I'd point out availability of just about everything in Wimborne.
Spill the Beans does all kinds of lactose-free products and is close to a good car park and near the centre of town. Not everyone likes soya milk, but I find that Alpro soya is a pretty good substitute for those of us that can't stomach the cow. Plus a few goat's products too, if those are digestible.
Also in defence of the excellent service and high quality product of the Wimborne fish van, you really should try their fish and sea food. Everything is storage hygienically, refridgerated and on ice where necessary. I've never had cause to complain about any of their products, which are 100X fresher than anything I've ever bought from a supermarket and going there is usually a sociable and enjoyable experience.
I had to smile at your shopping list and wonder if yours is a more common basket of goods for residents of Wimborne than my pitiful trawl. Suffice to say I don't even know what arborio rice is. LOL
Thanks for provoking thought, that goes for all who've posted,
J (disabled mother with young family)
Enjoyed your post and those that followed and feel like I've learnt something and am more confused than ever about the advisability of building on the cricket pitch.
Not that I don't have views on the proposed development but thought for now I'd point out availability of just about everything in Wimborne.
Spill the Beans does all kinds of lactose-free products and is close to a good car park and near the centre of town. Not everyone likes soya milk, but I find that Alpro soya is a pretty good substitute for those of us that can't stomach the cow. Plus a few goat's products too, if those are digestible.
Also in defence of the excellent service and high quality product of the Wimborne fish van, you really should try their fish and sea food. Everything is storage hygienically, refridgerated and on ice where necessary. I've never had cause to complain about any of their products, which are 100X fresher than anything I've ever bought from a supermarket and going there is usually a sociable and enjoyable experience.
I had to smile at your shopping list and wonder if yours is a more common basket of goods for residents of Wimborne than my pitiful trawl. Suffice to say I don't even know what arborio rice is. LOL
Thanks for provoking thought, that goes for all who've posted,
J (disabled mother with young family)
jack63kids, Colehill says...
11:46am Fri 12 Oct 07
I think that the key to encouraging more non-local people in is good car parking. Judging by the competition to get on street parking near the square I'd say two important factors are how near it is to the shops and whether you have to fumble for change on every trip.
Being a driver who although disabled does not qualify for disabled parking, I find the first consideration for visiting Wimborne whether I'm well enough to park and all that entails. Will I need to drive around looking for an available space, how far away is the ticket machine and do I have the change ready? It's not so much the amount it costs as the extra task and effort that defeats me and I'm sure goes for others who are older, have a car full of kids or are disabled too.
I'm sure more people would shop at Summerfields if the car park was likely to have spaces and there wasn't the added inconvenience of buying and reclaiming for a ticket. Far easier, once in the car, to go to Sainsburys or Tescos in Ferndown, where parking is easily available and free from ticket wrangles.
What I'm not sure about is, if we had a newer, bigger, better supermarket on the edge of town, whether people would then use the car park to venture into the town. I suspect not.
It seems to work in Ferndown as the free 'Tescos' car park is very close to the action, though their shops aren't a patch on ours of course.
I've heard a lot of comment about the new development being in the heart or centre of Wimborne. It would not be. The Square is in the centre of town, the cricket pitch decidedly on the outskirts. It might well encourage people to walk in from around Leigh Park, but I doubt would encourage folks who drive from out of Wimborne to compliment their supermarket shop with some fresh or unusual local produce from the High Street, for example.
I'm in two minds about the development as a whole. I've nothing against the modern design (if we must have anything built there) and providing park land, as long as it's well managed and secure at night. I do worry that it will inevitably take custom away from the 'real' heart of town.
Keep the posts coming so I can confuse myself further and get no nearer a strong view either way! LOL
Jack(ie)
Being a driver who although disabled does not qualify for disabled parking, I find the first consideration for visiting Wimborne whether I'm well enough to park and all that entails. Will I need to drive around looking for an available space, how far away is the ticket machine and do I have the change ready? It's not so much the amount it costs as the extra task and effort that defeats me and I'm sure goes for others who are older, have a car full of kids or are disabled too.
I'm sure more people would shop at Summerfields if the car park was likely to have spaces and there wasn't the added inconvenience of buying and reclaiming for a ticket. Far easier, once in the car, to go to Sainsburys or Tescos in Ferndown, where parking is easily available and free from ticket wrangles.
What I'm not sure about is, if we had a newer, bigger, better supermarket on the edge of town, whether people would then use the car park to venture into the town. I suspect not.
It seems to work in Ferndown as the free 'Tescos' car park is very close to the action, though their shops aren't a patch on ours of course.
I've heard a lot of comment about the new development being in the heart or centre of Wimborne. It would not be. The Square is in the centre of town, the cricket pitch decidedly on the outskirts. It might well encourage people to walk in from around Leigh Park, but I doubt would encourage folks who drive from out of Wimborne to compliment their supermarket shop with some fresh or unusual local produce from the High Street, for example.
I'm in two minds about the development as a whole. I've nothing against the modern design (if we must have anything built there) and providing park land, as long as it's well managed and secure at night. I do worry that it will inevitably take custom away from the 'real' heart of town.
Keep the posts coming so I can confuse myself further and get no nearer a strong view either way! LOL
Jack(ie)
pjw, Wimborne Minster UK says...
10:21am Mon 15 Oct 07
Hi Juliewr, the fish caravan perhaps needs to do something to improve how his business looks, if the produce is that good! When you walk past there doesn't seem to be any evidence of refridgeration, the same as for the meat van at Wimborne market, and I have to admit that it puts me off personally. I go to Greenslades in Poole for my fish - more business lost to Wimborne. And I really do think you're all wrong about a Waitrose "killing" everything else in town. Wimborne is dying now, but if I shop at Waitrose, it means that I'm not going to take my grocery business to Sainsbury's at Talbot Heath instead. John Lewis is not a business that is "big and faceless". The employees are also shareholders, so that the people who work there not only get paid, but if the business does well, they get a bonus. Where do they spend their wages and bonus? Locally, of course! It's called the "multiplier effect" and is basic high-school economics. Thanks for the advice about the soya milk, but it still doesn't help with the lactose free cow's milk that I can buy at any Waitrose or larger Tesco and Sainsbury stores. robl, there are probably two reasons why you see a lot of older people in Wimborne - one is that the other people are shopping elsewhere (about 50% according to research. Secondly, many elderly people shop daily, so they are seen out and about more often. And why do you want everything to be closed on a Sunday? There's still time to go to church and do DIY!
None of you responding seem to have picked up on my major point that there has been significant research done all over the UK into market towns in almost identical situations, and the one thing that has "saved" these other towns is an "anchor" store in the main part of town, NOT an out of town superstore. As I said before, it doesn't have to be a supermarket, just something that will bring people specifically in to town to shop. No-one seems to have considered this alternative. Mind you, there is a section of the community out there who seems to think that unless you live within 50 metres of the Minster that you have no right to be in Wimborne anyway! They are quite happy for the town to die.
Hi j, don't call your shopping basket "pitiful", it's just different to mine. robl had asked me to articulate some of the things that I can't buy in Wimborne. I could go on, and talk about being able to buy groceries in family-sized, economically priced packages, rather than OAP-sized ones - I am sure that you would appreciate that.
Thanks for the sensible, well argued debate everyone! PS I do not work for or have anything to do with Waitrose or the development, by the way - this is purely a personal opinion.
None of you responding seem to have picked up on my major point that there has been significant research done all over the UK into market towns in almost identical situations, and the one thing that has "saved" these other towns is an "anchor" store in the main part of town, NOT an out of town superstore. As I said before, it doesn't have to be a supermarket, just something that will bring people specifically in to town to shop. No-one seems to have considered this alternative. Mind you, there is a section of the community out there who seems to think that unless you live within 50 metres of the Minster that you have no right to be in Wimborne anyway! They are quite happy for the town to die.
Hi j, don't call your shopping basket "pitiful", it's just different to mine. robl had asked me to articulate some of the things that I can't buy in Wimborne. I could go on, and talk about being able to buy groceries in family-sized, economically priced packages, rather than OAP-sized ones - I am sure that you would appreciate that.
Thanks for the sensible, well argued debate everyone! PS I do not work for or have anything to do with Waitrose or the development, by the way - this is purely a personal opinion.
pjw, Wimborne Minster UK says...
10:23am Mon 15 Oct 07
Hi Juliewr, the fish caravan perhaps needs to do something to improve how his business looks, if the produce is that good! When you walk past there doesn't seem to be any evidence of refridgeration, the same as for the meat van at Wimborne market, and I have to admit that it puts me off personally. I go to Greenslades in Poole for my fish - more business lost to Wimborne. And I really do think you're all wrong about a Waitrose "killing" everything else in town. Wimborne is dying now, but if I shop at Waitrose, it means that I'm not going to take my grocery business to Sainsbury's at Talbot Heath instead. John Lewis is not a business that is "big and faceless". The employees are also shareholders, so that the people who work there not only get paid, but if the business does well, they get a bonus. Where do they spend their wages and bonus? Locally, of course! It's called the "multiplier effect" and is basic high-school economics. Thanks for the advice about the soya milk, but it still doesn't help with the lactose free cow's milk that I can buy at any Waitrose or larger Tesco and Sainsbury stores. robl, there are probably two reasons why you see a lot of older people in Wimborne - one is that the other people are shopping elsewhere (about 50% according to research. Secondly, many elderly people shop daily, so they are seen out and about more often. And why do you want everything to be closed on a Sunday? There's still time to go to church and do DIY!
None of you responding seem to have picked up on my major point that there has been significant research done all over the UK into market towns in almost identical situations, and the one thing that has "saved" these other towns is an "anchor" store in the main part of town, NOT an out of town superstore. As I said before, it doesn't have to be a supermarket, just something that will bring people specifically in to town to shop. No-one seems to have considered this alternative. Mind you, there is a section of the community out there who seems to think that unless you live within 50 metres of the Minster that you have no right to be in Wimborne anyway! They are quite happy for the town to die.
Hi j, don't call your shopping basket "pitiful", it's just different to mine. robl had asked me to articulate some of the things that I can't buy in Wimborne. I could go on, and talk about being able to buy groceries in family-sized, economically priced packages, rather than OAP-sized ones - I am sure that you would appreciate that.
Thanks for the sensible, well argued debate everyone! PS I do not work for or have anything to do with Waitrose or the development, by the way - this is purely a personal opinion.
None of you responding seem to have picked up on my major point that there has been significant research done all over the UK into market towns in almost identical situations, and the one thing that has "saved" these other towns is an "anchor" store in the main part of town, NOT an out of town superstore. As I said before, it doesn't have to be a supermarket, just something that will bring people specifically in to town to shop. No-one seems to have considered this alternative. Mind you, there is a section of the community out there who seems to think that unless you live within 50 metres of the Minster that you have no right to be in Wimborne anyway! They are quite happy for the town to die.
Hi j, don't call your shopping basket "pitiful", it's just different to mine. robl had asked me to articulate some of the things that I can't buy in Wimborne. I could go on, and talk about being able to buy groceries in family-sized, economically priced packages, rather than OAP-sized ones - I am sure that you would appreciate that.
Thanks for the sensible, well argued debate everyone! PS I do not work for or have anything to do with Waitrose or the development, by the way - this is purely a personal opinion.
STEEL AND GLASS: An artist's impression of the proposed Waitrose site in Wimborne
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Tru Belle, purbeck says...
9:12pm Tue 2 Oct 07
This is a well loved and cared for cricket ground, which has hosted some class games. The beauty of having a little green lung, where weary shoppers or cricket enthusiasts could cheer on their favourite cricket side.
Why not put a Supermarket at Redcotts instead? or better still the conurbation is well served with super markets,bring back some old fashioned grocers, and of course the butchers and fishmongers that were there years ago.!
Leave the green space alone, local commerce has slaughtered Wimborne town centre, it has nothing to offer anymore. A tad too twee !!!!!!