New move in store plan (From Hampshire Chronicle)

New move in store plan

SUPERMARKET bosses will hold a second public exhibition over plans for a controversial store in a Hampshire town next week.

New move in store plan

Up to 13,000 residents in and around the Bishop’s Waltham area will receive a brochure today detailing revised proposals for the store on the Abbey Mill site.

Bosses have also announced a planning application will be submitted before the end of this month with building work starting in September if the green light is given.

A number of changes have been made to the original plans submitted last year, including a new landscaped area between the store and South Pond, improved pedestrian linkage between the store and St George’s Square and a new design to allow the building to blend into the historic market town.

The news comes just days after Britain’s Got Talent judge and former Bishop’s Waltham resident Amanda Holden vented her anger over the controversial plans at the town’s carnival.

The former Swanmore pupil has vowed to help those trying to stop the building of the new store.

Max Whitehand, Sainsbury’s regional development executive, said: “We have listened to the community and have greatly improved our scheme, with significant additional investment proposed for the public realm, the design and materials proposed for the store and increased landscaping.

“In redesigning the building, we have pushed the limits of supermarket store design. The result is a store that will be unique to Bishop’s Waltham and will attract shoppers into the town to enjoy all its facilities.”

The Bishop’s Waltham Action Group claims residents should have been given more notice about the public exhibition.

Chairman Tony Kippenberg, said: “They have known that they were going to hold this consultation next Tuesday since the end of May and up until today (Thursday, June 17) they have failed to tell a single resident in Bishop’s Waltham about it which I think is appalling given that it’s our Parish Council that insisted they have it.”

As part of the planning application Sainsbury’s bosses have agreed to help finance a £1.6m relocation of Bishop’s Waltham Surgery to the Abbey Mill site.

The public exhibition will be held at Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishop’s Waltham next Tuesday from 10am to 7pm.

Members of the Sainsbury’s team will be on hand to discuss the plans and answer questions.

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