Anger as Shipston denied a new supermarket

ANGRY Shipston residents have slammed a decision to block Sainsbury’s from opening a store.

The supermarket giant had planned to open a small shop on Tilemans Lane industrial estate, opposite Shipston High School and the leisure centre.

But the application to Stratford District Council was refused on several grounds, including aesthetic issues, the position of the store within the site and fears the service yard would impact on houses in Brickfield Close (see SDC ref: 24/00528/FUL for the full details).

One unhappy resident reacted to SDC’s decision to refuse the application by asking: “Does this surprise anyone? The ‘Keep Shipston Quaint’ brigade have got their way again.

“The supermarket was never going to be big enough but one is definitely needed.”

Another comment on social media added: “Shipston will implode on itself because they won’t allow a much-needed food store… when the development of new houses goes up, where are [the residents] supposed to shop?”

One resident asked SDC: “Are you paying for us to all shop locally? Because the vast majority cannot afford to.”

Others pointed out that because the application had been refused, they will carry on driving to Moreton-in-Marsh, Stratford and other areas to do their main supermarket shops.

Shipston already has four branded grocery stores, including two Co-ops in High Street.

Just a few doors down is a small Morrisons and there is a Tesco Express on the corner of Telegraph Street and the A3400.

However, the idea of adding another option was popular with some, including the father-and-daughter team who own Fosseway Furniture which would have been next door.

But there was strong and vocal opposition from those worried it would change the character of the town – and others who wanted a large supermarket. The Sainbury’s neighbourhood hub store was seen as too small and, potentially, not competitively priced.

In March, the Herald reported Sainsbury’s had applied to build a 630 sqm shop with 53 parking spaces accessed from Tilemans Lane. The scheme, which would have created 40 full- and part-time jobs, would also have included a collection point for orders from Sainbury’s sister businesses, Argos and Habitat.

Earlier this year Sainsbury’s held consultations with the community, Shipston Town Council and district and county councillors to collect feedback.

In leaflets, it claimed the new store would “help to meet the grocery needs of the people of Shipston, 75 per cent of whom currently travel outside of town for their weekly food shop, by encouraging them to shop locally rather than travelling into Stratford or Moreton”.

The Herald has approached Sainsbury’s for comment.