Hearing over controversial plans for fourth supermarket on outskirts of Shrewsbury
A hearing to consider whether another supermarket should be built on the outskirts of Shrewsbury will take place next week.
The development of a 21,000sq ft store by Chester-based developers Morbaine has already by turned down twice by Shropshire Council planning committee members.
Now a hearing in to the proposed development, on land to the rear of the BP garage on Hereford Road, will be held at the town's Shirehall next Tuesday at 10am by the Secretary of State's planning inspectorate.
Objections to the development range from increased traffic, to delays and loss of employment from surrounding businesses.
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Many people in the locality are unaware that this appeal is about to take place and we would like to bring it to their attention. There was a lot of objection to this development at the time and it was refused planning permission on two occasions for very valid reasons.
"Councillors rejected the plans in August 2013 over concerns about the impact on traders in the town centre, the potential for the new development to exacerbate existing traffic problems and the loss of employment land to make way for the site. They had previously knocked back the plans in May.
"In the locality we currently have a Sainsbury's store with planning permission for a large extension, a new Waitrose store due for completion shortly and a new supermarket with planning permission approved on the Meole Brace retail park with completion in 2015.
"A fourth supermarket is completely unnecessary and would cause major traffic problems on an existing junction well known for being a traffic bottleneck and will lead to longer traffic delays on a busy commuter route.
"This could also impact on the nearby ambulance station with response times for ambulances being affected.
"When Shrewsbury Town hold their home matches the junction is overrun with traffic and pedestrians leaving the area and the junction is a virtual no go area. The new supermarket will lead to the loss of six other businesses that provide a diverse range of services in the area and consequently to the loss of full time jobs."
Graham Adams from Morbaine said: "We will be putting our case forward to the Secretary of State inspectorate and hopefully this will have a positive outcome.We believe there is a need for another store of this kind in that part of Shrewsbury and we hope to be able to deliver that."
