PLANS for a late-night supermarket at a former Poole police station have been condemned by nearby residents.

Civic leaders will debate proposals to convert part of the renovated Ashley Road station house into a Co-op store at a crunch meeting tomorrow.

Borough of Poole officers recommend rubber-stamping the application, paving the way for a 235-square metre shop and 20 new jobs.

However, neighbours – including Daniel Newsum and Jo Refoy – say it’s unfair for families living opposite who thought the developed site would be purely residential.

The couple, who have a young child, only moved to their new home in October after first checking official plans for the police station.

“As first time buyers we looked at any proposed applications before contracts were exchanged and were happy that the old police station was being made into flats and town houses,” said Daniel.

Residential properties will make up the majority of the Parkstone redevelopment.

The convenience store application only surfaced recently.

Neighbours now fear the store, which according to documents could open from 8am-10pm, may become a magnet for noise and anti-social behaviour.

Nearby resident Ian Shutler, former operations manager for Wilts and Dorset Buses, said: “My major concern is over the issues of traffic generation and road safety.

“Many mornings, including weekends, there are queues of vehicles stretching from the junction of Victoria Road well past my house and on towards Sea View. This development will only exacerbate an already poor situation and cause more congestion.”

A Borough of Poole report recommends councillors agree the proposals on condition developers contribute £15,000 for a new Ashley Road pedestrian crossing.

This report concludes: “The proposals will contribute positively to the character and appearance of the area, would not harm the residential privacy and amenity and will provide adequate parking and access.”

  • Southern Co-operative acquisitions manager Ross Davey said: “The Southern Cooperative is hoping to open a convenience food store within the redevelopment of the former police station building proposed by the new owners.

“This includes converting the majority of the building to residential apartments for which consent has already been granted.

“If approved, we envisage that the new store will create around 20 full and part-time jobs for local people.”