Do we know who might move into the proposed new supermarket?
No, we don't, although we are told it won't be Waitrose; apparently they would have been interested in taking over the existing store, but are not interested in a bigger one. The developers say they are negotiating with a client, but will say nothing about who this is, except that they require the parking time limits throughour the Close to be reduced to 2 hours.
Where can we do our local food shopping doing the estimated 18 months redevelopment period?
Unless you want to restrict your diet to meat, eggs, and bread (the only dedicated food shops are the two butchers and the baker in the High Street) you'll have to drive, get the bus, walk, or cycle to the nearest supermarket...Tesco in Wolverton, two miles away. This could be very hard on the many elderly people in the town without cars who currently rely on Budgens. The developers agreed to 'look into the matter' at the Town Council meeting in March, but no concrete interim proposal have been made by them
.
Will a new and bigger supermarket really attract more customers into the High Street shops?
Opinion is divided on this: the vast majority of the local community who have expressed a view think it is very unlikely, especially if parking in the Close is restricted to 2 hours. Some shopkeepers say a big supermarket would bankrupt them. A few local business people hold a diametrically opposite view, believing that a bigger supermarket will increase 'footfall' in the town centre. Others think it all depends on who moves into the supermarket, and what range of goods they sell.
Can a much larger supermarket in the centre of Stony really be commercially viable?
The developers seem to think so; but to many local people, it seems doubtful, given that the big Tesco supermarket in Wolverton is due to be enlarged, and outline planning permission has been given for another supermarket (7,500 sq m gross, possibly to be increased to 9,000 sq m) in the Western Expansion area, only 1.5 km from the town centre. So who is going to attempt to drive through the congested centre of Stony, with likely parking problems, when they can go to these other, much bigger stores which are easier to get to and park. If the new store in the Close is built, and turns out to be unprofitable, what happens then? After a minimum of 18 months of re-development disruption, we are left with a 'white elephant' surrounded by a dreary car park.
What about the people working in the town centre who can park all day in Cofferidge Close at the moment?
They will have to get in to work earlier to get a place to park in nearby roads, or walk to Ostlers Lane and other car parks further away, as the 62 free all-day parking spaces in the Close will no longer be available.
What about the NHS Dental Practice: will it stay in the town?
The developers have been made aware of this problem, but, so far, have offered no specific proposals for re-location of the dental practice, and no provision has been made to include it in the planning application. Considering the care that went into the conversion of the building to provide excellent and well-designed reception and surgery facilities for 7 dentists, only a few years ago, it is regrettable to see that the building is scheduled for demolition. What a waste!
The question I want to ask is not included in the FAQ above
Send an email to [email protected], and we will do our best to answer.
No, we don't, although we are told it won't be Waitrose; apparently they would have been interested in taking over the existing store, but are not interested in a bigger one. The developers say they are negotiating with a client, but will say nothing about who this is, except that they require the parking time limits throughour the Close to be reduced to 2 hours.
Where can we do our local food shopping doing the estimated 18 months redevelopment period?
Unless you want to restrict your diet to meat, eggs, and bread (the only dedicated food shops are the two butchers and the baker in the High Street) you'll have to drive, get the bus, walk, or cycle to the nearest supermarket...Tesco in Wolverton, two miles away. This could be very hard on the many elderly people in the town without cars who currently rely on Budgens. The developers agreed to 'look into the matter' at the Town Council meeting in March, but no concrete interim proposal have been made by them
.
Will a new and bigger supermarket really attract more customers into the High Street shops?
Opinion is divided on this: the vast majority of the local community who have expressed a view think it is very unlikely, especially if parking in the Close is restricted to 2 hours. Some shopkeepers say a big supermarket would bankrupt them. A few local business people hold a diametrically opposite view, believing that a bigger supermarket will increase 'footfall' in the town centre. Others think it all depends on who moves into the supermarket, and what range of goods they sell.
Can a much larger supermarket in the centre of Stony really be commercially viable?
The developers seem to think so; but to many local people, it seems doubtful, given that the big Tesco supermarket in Wolverton is due to be enlarged, and outline planning permission has been given for another supermarket (7,500 sq m gross, possibly to be increased to 9,000 sq m) in the Western Expansion area, only 1.5 km from the town centre. So who is going to attempt to drive through the congested centre of Stony, with likely parking problems, when they can go to these other, much bigger stores which are easier to get to and park. If the new store in the Close is built, and turns out to be unprofitable, what happens then? After a minimum of 18 months of re-development disruption, we are left with a 'white elephant' surrounded by a dreary car park.
What about the people working in the town centre who can park all day in Cofferidge Close at the moment?
They will have to get in to work earlier to get a place to park in nearby roads, or walk to Ostlers Lane and other car parks further away, as the 62 free all-day parking spaces in the Close will no longer be available.
What about the NHS Dental Practice: will it stay in the town?
The developers have been made aware of this problem, but, so far, have offered no specific proposals for re-location of the dental practice, and no provision has been made to include it in the planning application. Considering the care that went into the conversion of the building to provide excellent and well-designed reception and surgery facilities for 7 dentists, only a few years ago, it is regrettable to see that the building is scheduled for demolition. What a waste!
The question I want to ask is not included in the FAQ above
Send an email to [email protected], and we will do our best to answer.
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