Waitrose aims for town store (From Gazette Series)

Waitrose aims for town store

9:00am Sunday 24th June 2007 in News By Alex Ross

THE first Waitrose store in South Gloucestershire looks set to be opened in Chipping Sodbury.

Bosses from the upmarket supermarket have confirmed they are working with developers Chelverton Deeley Freed to open a store in the town.

The medium-sized supermarket would form part of a development of 300 houses on 30 acres of brown field land, just 100 metres from Chipping Sodbury town centre.

The development will include other retail units and see significant improvement to nearby roads and pedestrian walkways.

But traders have voiced fears that the supermarket will have an adverse impact on their business.

The Gazette had reported exclusively two months ago that Waitrose were leading Sainsbury's in the race to secure the site.

Director of development for Waitrose, Nigel Keen, said: "We believe all of our new stores should bring benefits to the surrounding area as well as to Waitrose.

"The Chelverton scheme meets these requirements and will allow us to offer a wide choice of quality food to the people who live and work in Chipping Sodbury, in a fresh, modern and attractive shopping environment."

Director of Chelverton Deeley Freed, Patrick Fox, said: "We are delighted that Waitrose have chosen our scheme in Chipping Sodbury to serve the town and catchment area.

"It will be their first store for South Gloucestershire and, being a highly respected quality retailer, will dovetail neatly into the existing fabric of the medieval town.

"Acting as a magnet to draw increased trade into the town centre, we are confident Waitrose will enhance the centre's long term viability and look forward to working with them."

But the owner of Sweets and Eats and last president of the recently disbanded town's Chamber of Trade, Andy Brawn, said opening a supermarket was a step backwards for the town.

"I don't think opening Waitrose 100 metres from the town's high street will do anything for the town's businesses.

"These days supermarkets sell everything, people will go to Waitrose and pick up everything they need. They will stop going to the town's two good butchers, bakers and greengrocers.

"I am convinced it will have a negative impact on the town and I will be making a serious case against it at the public consultation."

The public exhibition will be on at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Wednesday, June 27 (4pm-7.30pm) and The Old Grammar School on Thursday, June 28 (3pm-8pm).

The consultation will form a final planning application which will be submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.