The old railways sidings site where Albourne Properties propose to build a new superstore for Felixstowe - looking from the Garrison Lane bridge back towards the town centre.

Felixstowe: Too big – that’s campaigners’ verdict on new town centre superstore project

BY RICHARD CORNWELL, Felixstowe editor Thursday, December 6, 2012
8:00 AM

CAMPAIGNERS say a new supermarket in Felixstowe town centre would be acceptable – if the developers would scale down the size.

Albourne Property has submitted plans for a two-storey 31,000 sq ft superstore on a two-acre site alongside the town’s railway station.

Residents’ action group Walton Felixstowe Community First (WFCF) believe the site off Station Approach is a better option than the suggested Walton Green Tesco development, but say the scheme is twice as big as needed and will create traffic congestion on High Road West.

“Whilst this application is on brownfield rather than greenfield and is largely within defined town centre boundaries, we feel a smaller store which met the Local Development Framework identified need to 2025 would be acceptable,” said a WFCF spokeswoman.

“It would not require as much car parking thus enabling a single storey structure which in turn would have a lesser effect on the local residents and on local traffic congestion.

“Not only is the store twice the size of the identified need, it is also a gross over-development of the site.

“The footprint of the building and the car parking completely fill the site and do not allow adequate landscaping to mitigate the physical visual impact of the structure.

“Projected takings in a store this size would equate to approximately 70 per cent of the amount spent now by Felixstowe residents on food and everyday items. It is therefore obvious that other town centre and Walton stores would suffer.”

The store would be built at the bottom of gardens in High Road West and WFCF says there would be a “significant and detrimental impact” on residents’ quality of life, with increased noise, light pollution and traffic, plus the height of the store.

People are being urged to make sure they put their views forward and write to Suffolk Coastal council as soon as possible.

Albourne Property has said an additional supermarket in Felixstowe will reduce the leakage of trade from the area.

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5 comments

Alan Smith no i havent thought about moving. I guess your happy with the shops that we have which is mostly charity shops and card shops and also restaurants. I was thinking a like what most people want down here for all ages not just the elderly. let me guess Alan you are part of the WFCF and dont want any thing new

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Antony Perkins

Friday, December 7, 2012
Antony Perkins have you ever thought about moving so you could be nearer to some descent stores.

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Alan Smith

Thursday, December 6, 2012
For goodness sake stop moaning. New money into the town is great news - stop trying to block everything and make life difficult for investors. They have plenty of choices elsewhere

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paul

Thursday, December 6, 2012
Shock horror! WFCF moaning again!

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Dave Martin

Thursday, December 6, 2012
Seriously can felixstowe NOT have any thing with out people trying to put a stop to these stores that we want and need. The population of this town is growing and theres not alot down here with out having to travel miles just to do some descent shopping. It would pull the trade in to this town. Just get on with the build. The people that our trying to stop this need to be in the real world. And think of the jobs it would create for local people

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Antony Perkins

Thursday, December 6, 2012