Plans for Whitchurch Sainsbury's revealed

This is the first glimpse of what could be in store for Whitchurch town centre shoppers if a new Sainsbury's supermarket is given the go-ahead.

The retail giant has revealed plans for a new 30,000 sq ft supermarket in the town on a site off London Road, near to the town centre, and a car park with more than 300 spaces.

If the scheme, being put forward in conjunction with developers Terrace Hill Group plc, goes ahead it could mean around 250 new full and part-time jobs for the area.

The proposed store will have a restaurant and a wide range of Sainsbury's food products, plus a select range of non-food items.

There will be dedicated disabled and parent/child spaces in the car park, cycle hoops and pick-up/drop-off points.

A pedestrian crossing is planned for London Road giving access to the town centre.

The site will be landscaped and the historic listed Ice House and a former tithe barn on site will be preserved.

Sainsbury's claims that its planned development will improve shopping facilities in Whitchurch, encouraging more people to stay in the town to shop rather than travelling further afield to larger centres, saving fuel costs, travel time and benefiting the local economy.

There will be an exhibition in Whitchurch on November 5 and 6 when Sainsbury's representatives and those of the development company will be able to answer questions.

The public exhibition is planned for the Brownlow Community Centre in Claypit Street, Whitchurch, between 12.30pm and 7pm, on November 5 and between 9.30am and noon on November 6.

An information leaflet will enable people to consider the plan and provide feedback as part of the public consultation.

Leaflets will also be delivered locally prior to the exhibition. All leaflets should be returned by Thursday, November 18.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "Residents' comments will help Sainsbury's to identify any key issues regarding the proposed new store before the plans are finalised for submission to Shropshire Council."