Traffic concerns over Yeovil Town Football Club's supermarket plans
A senior highways official has raised traffic concerns over the Glovers' plans for a new supermarket in Yeovil.
As part of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme of Yeovil Town Football Club, plans for a 70,000 sq ft store beside the Huish Park ground have been submitted to South Somerset District Council for approval.
Carl Brinkman, Somerset County Council's principal planning liaison officer, has highlighted problems currently faced by motorists using two roads near the club, Copse Road and Western Avenue, during rush hour.
Mr Brinkman claims consultants acting for the football club have underestimated the volume of traffic in the area during peak hours on Saturdays. He also criticised 2007 traffic data used in the consultants' assessment as being out of date.
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In a report to the district council, Mr Brinkman warned a proposed roundabout at the junction of Copse Road with Western Avenue could result in accidents.
He said: "Currently, there are no accidents at this junction. The introduction of a roundabout may introduce accidents at this location unless all aspects are carefully considered.
"Provision must be made so that both pedestrians and cyclists can safely negotiate the roundabout without coming into conflict with motorised vehicles.
"There are still a significant number of areas of concern and unless these are addressed satisfactorily I would have no alternative but to recommend refusal of the application."
The football club's planning consultant told the Western Gazette the concerns are "technical matters" which can be resolved.
Mark Wood, of Gloucester-based company MWA, said: "Our transport consultant, Richard Parker, is in contact with Mr Brinkman and we hope a meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the requirement for additional information.
"However Mr Parker has reviewed Mr Brinkman's comments in detail and, while we believe a number of these have in fact been addressed in the submitted transport assessment, we are planning to provide the additional information once we have understood precisely what is required."
Other areas for concern include car parking provision – which Mr Brinkman believes has been over-estimated by the assessment – and temporary traffic management arrangements to relieve delays at Western Avenue / Thorne Lane.
The club's plans have been met with a mixed reception since they were submitted more than a year ago – with criticism by a planning expert, three parish councils, and the owners of the Quedam Centre, UBS, who claim the store will make its own redevelopment plans unviable.
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