Store plans will go on show for public (From Thisisdorset)

Store plans will go on show for public

7:00pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007 in

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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.