These morons who prefer a supermarket to a beautiful green lung in the centre of Wimborne really exasperate me. Why do you think the residents of London, New York and other cities and towns manage to preserve their open green spaces, instead of letting Waitrose of Tesco build on them?

Building a grossly incongruous supermarket on a greenfield site, cannot ever be condoned. Especially on a flood plain, in the middle of a conservation area and adjacent to a chalk stream and Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat, home to otters, the threatened white-clawed crayfish, water voles, freshwater fish, wildfowl and other wildlife!

Some locals have expressed satisfaction with the landscaping carried out by Waitrose. However, this is not how the managing director of a long-established local garden and landscaping business sees it. This professional describes the Waitrose landscaping as 'an absolute disgrace!'

Biodiversity! Don't talk rot! A flat, closely mown sward of monoculture grass aka cricket pitch, is the next best thing to desert when it comes to biodiversity. A planting which involves trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will encourage a far wider variety of wildlife including mycorrhizal fungi, insects and birds whilst at the same time widen the natural wildlife corridor through the town represented by the river Allen. Did you ever see small birds using the cricket pitch? Did you ever see anything other than grass growing inside the boundary line? No? Hardly surprising! Already I've noticed that there are birds beginning to feed in the areas where the shrubs are developing and there were bees and hoverflies around during the summer. In fact if you're concerned about biodiversity why on earth wasn't something done to alleviate the biological wasteland that was the cricket pitch?

Had it been possible to establish the site as a nature reserve I'd be right behind you. Short of the Dorset Wildlife Trust purchasing the site - a non starter due to the cost - this is a very acceptable compromise - of all companies Waitrose are possibly the most willing to to work with the community of any I know. Come on, if you want to develop biodiversity on the site let's pool our ideas and get on and do it! The notion that it would make logical or economic sense to un-develop the site is quite frankly ridiculous.

More twaddle and I bet the managing director in question was even more angry as he didn't get the contract! I wonder whether he would be honest enough to come forward an reveal whether he bid for the contract?

Since the hot weather has ceased, the whole site is starting to pick up and by next year will have recovered to the state that was intended.

It is clear that when the trees mature they will screen the new Waitrose building very well. I was concerned at the timing of the planting as the summer drought took its toll of some of the trees and shrubs. Most have recovered well, as has the grass, and I would expect Waitrose to replace the dead trees and shrubs at an appropriate time. Thankfully the site is NOT now the 'green desert' that existed inside the locked and fenced private cricket ground. I enjoy our new, pleasant, open to the public, town green every time I walk through it - thanks Waitrose.

Rubbish, green area is always worth fighting for and with Waitrose gone the trade for town centre businesses will pick up significantly. I hope public inquiry goes KWTG's way.

If our crass local council had any balls and foresight at all, they would have stepped in long ago to procure this unique amenity for the public to enjoy. Our Victorian ancestors appreciated the value of our greens and parks, even in the depths of the industrial revolution.
Once its built on, it is extremely unlikely that it can ever be restored to its former state.
I appreciate the point of all those readers who state they they NEVER had access by right, but so what! What the heck is wrong with a bit of ambition and imagination.
A supermarket, for goodness sake.....
In a Conservation area too...
Enjoy the shopping, morons!"

You know if this debate was about an area of north London where the nearest really open space in any direction was miles away I could understand all the fuss. As it is Wimborne lies at the heart of one of the most rural counties in the land, it's absolutely surrounded by the loveliest countryside. Whilst I agree the loss of green space is a shame I return to an earlier point I made on this forum which is that it's value as an environmentally important site in the town has actually been enhanced by the mixed planting and 'wildlife corridor' effect that this achieves. I can appreciate that this is emotive but we now use the site in a way that was previously impossible. I am reminded of the photographs on the KWTG website of the cricket pitch as it was - to be quite honest it was tatty and frankly, uninviting. Compare that with the sight of young families picnicking on the green or the liveliness during festivals - I am bound to ask Baxi22, have you actually visited it?

So you are suggesting what sort of policy exactly? The council (I assume you mean the district one) should check the size of the company proposing to fill an empty building (Wetherspoons) and their share holders' dividend policies? How would you apply your warped logic to extant businesses? Lloyds? Barclays? HSBC? Santander? Fat Face? Co-op? etc. What about all the other pubs? Do you imagine they are owned by jolly, independent rustic landlords not tied into breweries? The extortionately priced Olive Branch could do with some competition in my opinion! you completely ignore everyone else's points about now having access to the newly created open space. A very sore loser indeed who is not speaking for anyone else.

"The Olive Branch could do with some competition?"

You are aware of how many pubs and restaurants we have in the town, aren't you??? Why do you think adding another will help boost the town's fortunes?

I for one am very happy to pay a little extra for the quality you get at the Olive Branch. It's a fantastic place to eat and they have an excellent reputation which has been earned and is well deserved.

Hmmm. Without intending to be partisan let's not try to compare the marketing strategy of Waitrose with that of Tesco; there is very little comparison to be drawn. The point made by Wimbornelad is very valid; sadly there are few genuinely independent shops anywhere. Have you noticed however the emergence of Wimborne Direct which is a way in which the local independent traders are approaching the problem - absolutely wonderful! I remain a bit perturbed by the idea that the town is full of empty shops! Where are they exactly? To change the subject slightly, as I have mentioned before, I think what we should be focusing on is the dreadful state of the Crown Mead development which in parts is dilapidated and depressing. This is owned I believe by an off-shore company that REALLY doesn't seem to care about the town. I would be an enormous help to Wimborne to do something about that issue. Incidentally I too think the word 'moron' is unreasonable.

I too think it unnecessary to call people morons simply because they have differing views. It is just plain rude to do that. How Waitrose can be compared with Wetherspoons is beyond me. The two companies have entirely differing business models and intentions. Some basic research would make that crystal clear. Whilst we are on the subject of ugly buildings there is,sadly, no shortage of those in Wimborne, e.g. the Police Station and Magistrates Court, Crown Mead - what a mess! and the building that houses Savills Estate Agents - none of these have any aesthetic value nor are they in keeping with the traditional style of most of the town.

You're welcome! Actually I think there is a pretty good balance in Wimborne which is why we like it so much. There is room for the chains (and Waitrose and the Coop are probably the best of the bunch) and for the local traders who provide superb local produce. I honestly believe that if we could make better use of the river frontage which has the potential to be delightful, the town would present a very attractive prospect for shoppers. Sorry, my hobby horse again; the state of parts of the Crown Mead development!

£11 for a roast dinner, that's only £2 more than most other places - I wouldn't really call that expensive.

Nimbyism? Do behave! I'm more than happy for new businesses to come to Wimborne, I just want the right kind - businesses that are local, staffed with local faces, who care about Wimborne and not just profit. Take Wimborne Direct for instance, a new LOCAL service delivering food from LOCAL businesses direct to your door. It's these kind of businesses that should be supported and encouraged.

I don't like Waitrose for two simple reasons. 1) It's an ugly building. If they had bothered to plant trees on the other side of it to give the people who drive or walk past something other than a huge ugly building to look at then that would have been preferable. Great care was taken to make the gardens look good, but none to make the building look good from the road. 2) Local businesses were always going to suffer after Waitrose's introduction regardless of the wishes of those who hoped it would bring more trade to the town. Keating butchers and Minster Greens have suffered the most at the hands of Waitrose, simply because it's more convenient to shop in one place rather than go to several shops to get all your goods.

But I agree something should be done about Crown Mead...it needs to be dragged out of the seventies that's for sure.

I really do suggest we try to move on. I think that the issue of Crown Mead IS important because whilst the Waitrose building may be too modern for some, it is at least clean, will be maintained and over time will be softened by the planting. By contrast the Crown Mead development is a wonderful example of mid to lateC20 brutalism which is not kept clean, is not maintained and parts of it are both degrading to the town and eyesore. If we could bury the hatchet and work together to change that situation I think we would do much to attract the small businesses that give heart to the town. As it is what should be an asset is actually quite depressing and off putting.

I agree too - turn our attentions to something that can be achieved! If someone checks with the Town Hall, the clerk will be able to tell you the contact details for the Crown Mead landlord(s), or someone such as Mr Oliver. Basically, it's a holding company for several different owners with a contact address in London. In short, from past dealings, they absolutely couldn't give a monkeys so perhaps a concerted campaign of action?! It's worth a try.
Domcar - do you REALLY close your eyes driving past Waitrose?! Hardly safe! Mr BB - your point about the trees is fair enough, I suppose, although I would say I still think the Olive Branch is expensive. You've even admitted a 20% mark up on most other places. I would say it's a lot higher in reality - but we are digressing again. The point is, though, surely we should welcome a business creating local jobs over an empty one? It's difficult to "vet" who comes into any town's empty buildings but I for one would rather see them filled.

I now have contact addresses for the owners of Crown Mead and will be writing to them in the near future. However I have been told not to hold out much hope of receiving a reply. Let's see what they have to say.