Supermarket wars heat up in Wells
Plans for a Sainsbury's foodstore in Wells have come a step closer with the approval of the company's plans to build a petrol station on the Tincknell's site at Southover.
The petrol station, which would include six pumps and a small kiosk, would be located a short distance from Tincknell's Strawberry Way site where the two companies have submitted a joint planning application for the main Sainsbury's foodstore.
The foodstore application, which was supported by 90 per cent of those who attended a consultation event in November, is due to be determined by Mendip District Council planning committee on Wednesday.
Now that plans for the petrol station have been approved, along with proposed new housing and the relocation of Tincknell's, the foodstore itself is the final element of the proposed development yet to be given the go-ahead.
Jamie Baker, Sainsbury's regional development executive, said: "During our consultation, we heard a very clear message from the people of Wells that a petrol station was badly needed to improve fuel retail choice and supply in the city.
"The approved site is ideally located for our proposed food store on Strawberry Way, which we hope will also be approved next week."
See pages 4 and 5 for more on the Wells supermarket wars.
Comments
by jim, Wells
Thursday, March 18 2010, 11:01AM
“Well well well the planning committee have yet again postponed the planning meeting until May at the earliest. WHY? simply because there is a possibility that Morrisons will have their application submitted by then?
Is this because someone knows something that they are not telling us. Keeping all the people in Wells in suspense is not good. Lets face it the number of votes cast for Morrisons in your on-line vote are very poor. Personally I think the planning committee have much to answer for - they cannot seem to make up their minds and worst of all they do not seem to be inclined to let the rest of Wells know what is actually on their minds.
The planning committee should be made to tell all uf us exactly why they continually defer the meetings with no explained reason.
No wonder Wells is "in decline" when our planning committee keep dithering on a major issue like this.
COME ON - EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!”