Update on new Co-op food opening near Wotton

Charfield residents living in The Siddings near Station Road said they were disappointed not to see the store - a new Co-op - open after experiencing heavy disruption with roadworks. 

Terry Nuttall said the empty building was a ‘waste’. 

“We’re all a bit cheesed off really,” he said. 

“We’ve had to endure this terrible disruption with all the drainage, traffic lights, lorries and dust on our road. 

“Me and my neighbours are upset. We were all looking forward to the opening after all the disruption. 

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“Work started about a year ago, but it all seems to have frozen. 

“It’s just an empty building with nothing going on, what a waste. 

“It must have cost more than a million to build. 

“It’s a bit of a wild goose chase really, no one really knows what's going on. 

“If it's a developer then anyone could probably take it, I just hope it’s not a KFC.”

Although an official date for the launch of the store has not yet been confirmed by the Co-op, a spokesperson said that works have finished. 

The spokesperson said: “Works are now completed by the landlord, and the building is ready to be fitted out by Co-op’s team of contractors. 

“It is not possible for these works to be completed this side of Christmas, but we are looking forward to serving and supporting the community in the new year.”

Picture of the proposed Co-op in Station Road. Charfield (Image: Terry Nuttall)

Cllr John O’Neill, Charfield’s representative on South Gloucestershire Council, said there is now a clear vision for the building. 

He said: “I wrote to the chief executive of the Co-op food group in Manchester for information on the new store. 

“There is now a clear vision for the future and Co-op food group regard Charfield as an ideal location for one of their stores.

“They were unable to confirm an exact opening date, but I understand that the tentative date is likely to be March 2023.”