Wimborne's Waitrose Store Trading on Borrowed Time?

By DomCar | Thursday, October 14, 2010, 13:34

On 8th July 2010, in the centre of the historic Dorset town of Wimborne

Wimborne's Waitrose to go?

Minster, following six years of planning, a large new Waitrose supermarket opened its doors for trading, several months ahead of schedule.

When Waitrose's intention to build this store on the Cricket field in the

centre of Wimborne was first made public in 2004, there was immediate

strong local opposition. Several petitions were organised and an action

group, "Keep Wimborne Town Green" was formed. During the four years that it took for the planning application to be made, a series of surveys of local public opinion all revealed that a clear majority of townsfolk opposed any such development on the ground where Cricket has been played since 1793.

Despite the two hectare site lying within the town's Conservation Area and being designated as an open space in local plans, adjacent to the flood plain and to a chalk stream that is a Biodiversity Action Plan Habitat because it is a home to Otters and the threatened white-clawed Crayfish, planning permission was granted by District Councillors on 6 January 2009, contrary to a recommendation by the Head of Planning that the Application be refused.

A spokesman for the Keep Wimborne Town Green group stated," Having been unable to mount a Judicial Review of this decision, we organised an application to have the Cricket Ground registered as a Town Green. This Application was finally accepted by the Registration Authority - the County Council - as being 'duly made' on 24 September 2009".

On 2 October 2009, the County Council notified Waitrose that a Town Green Application had been accepted; two weeks later Waitrose began construction in the full knowledge that it was doing so at its own risk.

The County Council has now announced that the Town Green Application will be the subject of Public Inquiry - but not for at least 8 months. If the Inquiry recommends that the site be registered as a Town Green, then Waitrose could be required to demolish the store and to restore the site to its pre-development condition. Costs incurred by the removal of the supermarket from the field would consequently be borne entirely by Waitrose.

"So, although Waitrose in Wimborne is currently trading - the company could well be trading on borrowed time", the spokesman added.

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Comments

"Just because the land was bought doesn't mean that you could do what you want with it." It is clear that when the Hanham family bought the land they could do what they wanted with it, i.e. fence it, lock it, exclude the townspeople of Wimborne from it.

By Soobie7 at 14:41 on 26/12/10
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actually it was a village green and has been since the 1700.Well documented reports of fetes ,cricket matches and village celebrations.Just because the land was bought doesnt mean that you could do what you want with it.It should have village green status.Lets look at the facts.Planning department rejected it.However,the council put it to a vote.Now watch this clip,yes its very slow to start,but give it a go.It was a bbc documentry but interestingly was never aired.You may see a familiar face on there.Im making no allegations here,Im also not implying anything.That particular person did however vote on the wimborne developement .that is all i have to say.see
http://tinyurl.com/3adh5g3

By meninblack at 22:31 on 28/11/10
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I feel that it is quite sad that this whole saga continues. The store is built, people are flocking to it in their droves, Wimborne is actually starting to pick up a last. I am sure that the individuals who opposed this scheme still feel angry, but please let's give this topic a rest.

I do believe that the supporters of the development kept quiet during the planning process and now are voting with their feet: the car park is well used, the store is full and should sufficient support be garnered to try and close the store, I do feel that the protesters will face much greater opposition from those who enjoy the service of an excellent supermarket and one that is helping to regenerate the town.

As luck would have it, there is a new cause I believe! Hurrah, I can join that cause, JD Wetherspoon is coming to town, whatever next, cheaper drinks, reasonable furnishings, food uninspiring but reasonably priced: pretty much the same as every other hostelry in WImborne with the exception of the price.

I feel another petition coming on and ladies with two library books in a wicker basket storming W H Smith to get a ream of paper to start a petition.

By PrincessElla at 21:35 on 12/11/10
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Let’s be rational about this. There can be few towns or villages anywhere in the country that do not have some element of anti social behaviour, drug related or not. To suggest that a town is free of drug problems is probably as much wishful thinking as that indulged in by the Head of a school who says ‘there is no bullying in my school’. (I’m an educator by the way) The reality is that an area of the town which is infrequently used by what we might call ‘mainstream citizens’, that’s to say ordinary decent folk, is bound to become an area where anti social behaviour is more likely to happen. To avoid this it’s important to ensure that parts of the town do not become ‘no go areas’ for ordinary folk. Consider the reality – with the new Waitrose shop on the site the area is better lit, more frequented, more security patrolled and far more a part of the town than it ever was. The park area is open and clearly lit and as a consequence far less attractive to those with covert intent. Compare this with the shady, unlit open space which was the cricket ground. If I wanted a quiet spot in which to conduct anti social behaviour I know which I’d favour. More to the point consider the covered walkway alongside the Allen on the Crown Mead development. It’s dark, sordid, dirty and with a low foot fall in the evenings. Now I’m not going to feed the over active imagination anymore, but here’s something else to dwell on. Imagine what that part of the town could be like – I lively, riverside, café style location which is clean, well frequented by mainstream citizens and a true asset to the town. In fact perfectly in keeping with the new development on the other side of the river - what’s it called again? Oh yes, Waitrose! Now come to think about it wouldn’t it make more sense to put all this campaigning zeal into doing something to put appropriate pressure on those responsible for the Crown Mead to encourage them to clean up their act and put money into development? The result would greatly remove the tendency for the area to act as a magnet for anti social behaviour. Hey! I think I’ll start a ‘Keep Wimborne Town Clean (and in the 21st Century)’ website, anyone up for that?

By Anunkasan_Ska at 18:12 on 04/11/10
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Goodness me! A true resident of WIMBOURNE....oh dear. Classic "post office" style error!Drug addicts in the streets?! You're hard pressed to find anyone in the streets most evenings...oh well, what can I say? You obviously know more than those of us who have lived here all our lives....and still do...

By wimbornelad at 18:30 on 01/11/10
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