Store plans made public

Proposals for a new, bigger Co-op food store were presented to villagers on Wednesday.

More than 100 people attended the meeting in Collingham Memorial Hall.

The new store would be built behind Collingham Medical Centre, on land used by Collingham Football Club.

The proposals include the construction of a new all-weather pitch for the club and the creation of 82 parking spaces.

The new store would provide up to 18 jobs.

Lincolnshire Co-operative’s chief executive, Ursula Lidbetter, said business in the existing store on High Street had more than doubled since it was built ten years ago.

She said: “When we rank the 70 food stores owned by the Lincolnshire Co-operative by sales per square foot Collingham is at the top by a long way.

“Collingham is about 21/2 times what a normal store would run at. It is great it is busy but in terms of running the store it is not good at all.”

Ursula Lidbetter said there was not enough space for a larger range of products. They were unable to carry enough stock so shelves were constantly being refilled, and there were not enough parking spaces.

She said they had considered extending, but decided a new-build was the best option.

Ursula Lidbetter said they would consult villagers about how the old building could be used.

Mr Peter Banks, of chartered surveyors Banks and Long, who worked with Co-op on the proposals, said the store would not try to compete with existing shops.

He said the all-weather pitch would encroach slightly on Nottinghamshire County Council-owned land that was part of John Blow Primary School. If the plans were approved, the school would have full access to the pitch.

Mr Matthew Wilkinson, from Lincolnshire Co-operative’s food and drink division, said about 5,200 people a week used the Collingham store.

He said the new store would be more accessible for the disabled and elderly and they could stock 1,500 more types of product.

Among residents’ main concerns was extra traffic and the effect of plans for an entrance for goods vehicles from Station Road.

Ursula Lidbetter said there would be no increase in the number of lorries, but they felt a separate entrance would be safer for customers.

Villagers asked for the needs of pedestrians crossing High Street to be considered, and requested an in-store cafe.

Villagers have been asked to fill in comment cards that the parish council will give to the Co-op.

If permission is given, the store could be built before Easter, 2011.