SUPERMARKET bosses say they have been cheered by the result of their latest survey over plans to build a new superstore on the edge of Bishop’s Waltham town centre.
Sainsbury’s polled more than 13,000 people last July about the proposed new superstore on the Abbey Mill site.
Now bosses have hailed the close result, saying they have been encouraged that there is not a big majority of people against the plan.
They say that of the 37 per cent (1,162) of forms returned from Bishop’s Waltham residents, 51 per cent opposed the new store, and 46 per cent supported it.
Across the nine wards polled the figures were almost exactly the same.
Now Sainsbury’s bosses have announced that they will send out details of the finalised proposals to 13,000 people before they press ahead with a planning application, which is expected in the next three months.
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “It’s quite clear that there is not a big majority against the proposals.
“We understand that there are some people that are die hard opponents of the supermarket, and we won’t change their views.
“But what we want to do is get the facts in front of the whole community for them to see.”
This week 13,000 residents will be leafleted in and around the market town with the results of the consultation from last July.
Although supermarket bosses are remaining tightlipped on possible changes to previous plans, they have stated there would be six daily deliveries by Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
These would travel from the M3 via Twyford and Colden Common. There would also be up to four additional deliveries per day by smaller vehicles.
The Bishop’s Waltham Action Group fears that the 35,000 sq ft store will have a detrimental effect on independent shops and could put many out of business.
Around 500 people crammed into the town’s Jubilee Hall last May to voice almost unanimous opposition to the building of a store.
As previously reported in the Hampshire Chronicle, Sainsbury’s admitted that regardless of public opinion, it would submit a planning application.
If built, the store would cover an area of land more than twice the size of an Olympic swimming pool, and employ about 350 people.
Nobody from the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group was available to comment at the time of going to press.
For more information contact Sainsbury’s community information line on 0845 602 1151, or the Bishop’s Waltham Action Group at bwactiongroup.org.uk.
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