Wells Morrisons store approved but Sainburys rejected
By Wells_Jaqui | Friday, April 22, 2011, 06:27
Mendip District Council made the
-
Wells supermarket planning permission results
surprise announcement yesterday that they had granted Morrisons outline
planning permission to build a supermarket and housing on the former Clares
site on the Parkwood Estate.
Indications were that planning officers were going to refuse
permission for both the Morrison and nearby Sainsburys applications, on the
grounds that they would be taking trade from the city, and that the local
population was insufficient to present any real need for additional
supermarkets.
The Morrisons application was also initially refused over
concerns for the building’s design and the impact it would have on neighbours
but the firm was quick to submit an altered design which it was felt to be more
in keeping with a suitable theme for the area.
A spokesman for Morrisons said: "When we open a new
store, we create real jobs and real skills and there are seven million people
around the UK who don't have an option of a Morrisons within an easy reach. So
that’s why we’re keen to expand into the area.”
In January, Waitrose was given the go-ahead to build a new
store in the centre of Wells so it looks promising for inter-store competition keeping
a lid on prices locally.
One Wells resident said “The Morrisons application doesn’t
represent a threat to the local infrastructure as far as I can tell, located as
it is on the A371 and I welcome a realistic alternative to shopping at Tesco
which currently has a stranglehold on the local area.”
Do you think Wells needs more competition for Tesco or would
you prefer that the Clares site be put forward for a different use? Let us know
what you think below:
Comments
You can shout as much as you like but these stores will come eventually for two reasons. 1. Because they have the commercial klout to get around pretty much any planning refusal once they're determined, and 2. because people, when it comes down to it, couldn't really care about long-term prospects for their community if it means they'll save money and/or effort, no matter how small the potential savings really are?
I personally think Wells can support a low-end supermarket (Lidl), a mid-range (Tesco) and one other? It is amazing, given the city's demographic, that we haven't already had a 'top-end' operator here for years? The reality is that most people now shop in supermarkets; many residents already ignore the high street and will simply do their shopping in another town if this one doesn't provide a suitable supermarket for them?
I do wish supermarkets would stop bleating on about creating jobs though. You only 'create' jobs if you start a totally new business, otherwise all you're doing is poaching jobs from somewhere else? As supermarkets are the ultimate efficiency machine (compared to smaller competitors), it is self-evident that they actually remove retail jobs from the marketplace. We all just believe they create them because they take jobs from a wide area and concentrate them in one building...
By Kings Head at 12:42 on 27/04/11
Reportwell that's independent local delis and food shops well and truly stuffed and all your hard earnt cash funneled strait out of the city.. great!! one day we will wake up and say why did we do that!
By the sheppey at 12:07 on 25/04/11
ReportWells will soon be known as SUPERMARKET CITY!
The smallist city in England - without any shops, just SUPERMARKETS!
Why not turn the High street into AMUSEMENT ARCADE ALLEY?
And you don't need a football club, - earmark the ground for SAINSBURY'S!.
By Calvin72 at 07:34 on 23/04/11
ReportThe Tesco Express in Stokes Croft nearly had petrol last night. I think it has closed for refurbishment today!!
By cardinal_sin at 00:02 on 23/04/11
ReportThe best thing about getting a Morrisons should be the petrol station, something Wells is crying out for to improve competition. However, for main shopping, I'll be heading to Waitrose...
By TimothyL12 at 14:48 on 22/04/11
Report