7:00pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007
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.
Vikki27, Poole says...
9:17pm Tue 2 Oct 07
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.
ctessex, London says...
12:30am Wed 3 Oct 07
norbitonpaul, says...
8:31am Wed 3 Oct 07
philip.eades, Civic Centre, Poole says...
1:30pm Wed 3 Oct 07
philip.eades, Civic Centre, Poole says...
1:31pm Wed 3 Oct 07
fardo, Ringwood says...
5:06pm Wed 3 Oct 07
Tru Belle, purbeck says...
11:10pm Wed 3 Oct 07
Adrian Williams, Wimborne says...
5:56pm Mon 8 Oct 07
velnorm, Broadstone says...
12:56pm Tue 9 Oct 07
rod, wimborne says...
1:59pm Tue 9 Oct 07
robl, Wimborne says...
2:30pm Tue 9 Oct 07
richard, says...
2:35pm Tue 9 Oct 07
trfster, Wimborne says...
3:36pm Tue 9 Oct 07
lizzyloo, Wimborne says...
4:56pm Tue 9 Oct 07
jiharvey, Wimborne says...
10:02pm Tue 9 Oct 07
pjw, Wimborne says...
9:45am Wed 10 Oct 07
pjw, Wimborne says...
9:45am Wed 10 Oct 07
robl, Dorset says...
4:07pm Wed 10 Oct 07
pjw, Wimborne says...
5:04pm Wed 10 Oct 07
quoteprivileged few
quote- they suit the demographic of Wimborne almost perfectly, which is younger and more professional/manager
robl, Dorset says...
6:05pm Wed 10 Oct 07
juliewr, wimborne says...
9:00pm Wed 10 Oct 07
juliewr, wimborne says...
9:08pm Wed 10 Oct 07
rosie_arnold, Wimborne says...
11:17am Thu 11 Oct 07
jack63kids, Colehill says...
11:26am Fri 12 Oct 07
jack63kids, Colehill says...
11:46am Fri 12 Oct 07
pjw, Wimborne Minster UK says...
10:21am Mon 15 Oct 07
pjw, Wimborne Minster UK says...
10:23am Mon 15 Oct 07
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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 !!!!!!