Tuesday, July 16, 2013

D-day for supermarket plan and 300 new jobs

D-day for supermarket plan and 300 new jobs

MORRISONS? edge-of-town store in Wallingford should get the go-ahead, according to planning officers.

The store has submitted a planning application to South Oxfordshire District Council to build a 30,000 sq ft foodstore with a caf? and a four-pump petrol station on the Hithercroft industrial estate.

The supermarket would create up to 300 full and part-time jobs and would be competition for Waitrose.

The planning application will be considered by councillors on the planning committee on Wednesday at 6pm at SODC?s Crowmarsh office.

A report to councillors says: ?There is strong support among local people for the proposal on the grounds that it would provide consumer choice and competition, and there is no doubt that a second supermarket in Wallingford would increase choice for consumers and provide competition for existing traders.

?Careful consideration has been given to the impact upon Wallingford town centre and in the balance of material issues, your officers have concluded that the balance is in favour of the proposals.?

Officers recommend that the planning application is granted on the basis that a number of planning agreements are fulfilled between the supermarket chain and SODC, or the county council.

These include paying the county council ?450,000 as a contribution to the cost of extending existing bus routes past the foodstore.

Morrisons is also being asked to pay ?50,000 to SODC for public art and ?20,000 to SODC for pop-up shop initiatives in the town centre.

The chain is also pledging to donate a piece of land to Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Preservation Society.

Wallingford Town Council supports the scheme.

Independent county councillor Lynda Atkins said: ?When I talk to people around the town the overwhelming majority of them want Morrisons.

?This application has been carefully considered and has not been rushed through.?

Morrisons spokesman Alexander Hall said: ?We welcome the officers? recommendation.?

Morrisons is planning to open new stores in London Road, Headington, and in Carterton. It has also opened a store in Welch Way, Witney.

Source: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/headlines/10547311.D_day_for_supermarket_plan_and_300_new_jobs/?ref=rss

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