Crowds flock to see new Christchurch Morrisons plan (From Bournemouth Echo)

Crowds flock to see new Christchurch Morrisons plan

12:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Katie Clark

Graeme Cosgrove, development director from Simons, explains the plans

A “POP-UP shop” showing off detailed plans for a new supermarket in Christchurch has attracted crowds of people since it opened.

The revised proposals for a Morrisons in Christchurch are being shown three times a week after the supermarket took over a vacant shop in Bridge Street on Saturday.

The supermarket, along with retail developer Simons is launching a fresh bid to build their state of the art store on the site currently occupied by Beagle Technology in Stony Lane. The move would enable Beagle to transfer their premises to Bournemouth Airport , allowing them to cater for bigger, more lucrative contracts.

The proposal, along with two other separate schemes – one for Bailey Drive just off Barrack Road and another for Meteor Park in Somerford – are due for re-decisions by Christchurch Borough Council ’s planning committee in October.

Despite decisions being made on all three proposals in June, they were scrapped due to the threat of a legal challenge from one of the unsuccessful developers.

Graeme Cosgrove, development director at Simons said: “It’s going very well. We had more than 100 people through the door on Saturday and around 50 today.

“People have been overwhelmingly positive to be honest and they are really pleased with the revisions that have been made. To be honest, people can’t quite understand what the delay is and they are very supportive of the proposals.”

He added: “This is ready to go. We have an operator and this is the site that Morrisons has chosen. They are a very popular choice and this will be a store for them for the 21st century.”

Graeme said some of the changes include lowering the height of the building by 3.5metres as well changing the access for delivery vehicles so they use Stony Lane rather than Bridge Street.

The new pop-up shop will open between 10am and 4pm every Monday, Friday and Saturday until late October.

You have your say

Marion Burleson, 79, from Christchurch said: “I like it. The only thing that concerned me was the water meadow but I’ve heard about the plans for that now. The public art is brilliant.”

Pauline Shackford, 58, from Christchurch said: “It’s not Tesco and that is the most important thing. It will provide jobs and Morrisons is a good company. It will be a good thing for the town.”

John Shackford, 62, from Christchurch said: “For me the best thing about the plans is that they will sort the Stony Lane roundabout out. That would be great. If they sort it out then great.”

Sylvia Armstrong, 79, from Christchurch said: “I like the plans. It will be economical for people. It will be close to the centre so people can walk and be good for the town. It should be allowed.”