Civic group adds weight to anti-store campaign (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Unanimous opposition to Sainsbury’s plan in Bishop's Waltham

9:06am Saturday 3rd April 2010 in News By Andrew Napier

THE Bishop’s Waltham Society is supporting the campaign against a new Sainsbury’s store in the town.

At its recent annual meeting, the civic group decided to make a stand, after weeks of discussion, on the impact a giant supermarket would have on Bishop’s Waltham.

The society was established in 1986 to help preserve and protect the historic market town. It has now published the reasons it opposes the plans for the superstore, including the fact that:

• It does not respond positively to the character and appearance of the town and it will have an unacceptable adverse impact on the town centre. Its design has no features that are important to the history and form of the area;
• It will detract from important public views in the immediate vicinity. It will not enhance important landscape, historical or archaeological features;
• It will undermine the vitality and viability of the existing town centre.

Said secretary, Robert Shields: “The society has voted unanimously to oppose the plans for a Sainsbury’s on the Abbey Mill site. We hope to complement the work of Bishop’s Waltham Action Group and we are looking forward to working with them in the future.”

Bishop’s Waltham Action Group chairman, the recently- appointed Tony Kippenberger, welcomed the news.

He said “We are delighted the Bishop’s Waltham Society is unanimous in its opposition to the proposed superstore. And the reasons they give are all directly related to Winchester City Council’s planning policies or Local District Plan.

“It is vital that we all now work together to protect the vitality and viability of the town centre and prevent dramatic increases in traffic and its associated congestion and pollution.”

Sainsbury’s have sent a second consultation update brochure on their plans for the Abbey Mill site to local residents, and currently no planning application has been made.

Mr Kippenberger took over from Henry Fryer.

What do you think? Is it a much-needed store or do you fear it would destroy Bishop's Waltham's independent shops? Leave your comments below.