Shoppers angry as Chippenham ASDA appeal fails (From This Is Wiltshire)

Shoppers angry as Chippenham ASDA appeal fails

1:32pm Thursday 19th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(8)

Shoppers in Chipp-enham have been left disappointed after a last ditch appeal for planning permission to create an ASDA superstore at Langley Park was turned down.

Campaigner Joseph Dagostino, whose Facebook ASDA support group has attracted more than 800 members, is disappointed by the result of ASDA’s latest appeal to The Royal Courts of Justice.

He said: “I have been getting loads of messages and basically everyone wants an ASDA Wallmart like they have in Swindon.

“It is not just the food part of it that people want, but the George clothing too.

“Some people have said it might be better off on the Pewsham end of town, but they still want a big supermarket in Chippenham.”

Mr Dagostino, 21, of Kingsley Road, said: “I do not think people would be happy with a smaller store.

“We already have small supermarkets and people want a big store or nothing at all.

“They are talking about building a bypass and thousands of new houses so we will end up with acres and acres of houses and a tiny village in the middle. We need bigger shops and maybe ASDA would encourage other big name stores to come to Chippenham.”

The former North Wiltshire District Council rejected the original plans for the £25 million redevelopment of Langley Park two years ago.

Last month developers Ashtenne and ASDA were refused leave to appeal against the High Court and on Wednesday Lord Justice Pill dismissed a second appeal for the 52,000 sq ft ASDA store and 192 homes.

Now the developers are falling back on a second application made in February for 220 homes and a smaller foodstore of 38,000 sq ft.

This will be considered by the Strategic Planning Committee within the next two months.

A spokesman for Ashtenne said: “Negotiations are already well advanced in respect of a heavily revised mixed use scheme, incorporating a much reduced retail provision.”

He said that the new scheme for a smaller store addressed criticisms relating to urban design and density.

Coun Chris Caswill is campaigning for the plans to be discussed in Chippenham rather than Trowbridge but a decision has not yet been made.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(8)