Sainsbury's plans new supermarket in Kendal (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Sainsbury's plans new supermarket in Kendal
8:10am Thursday 26th August 2010 in
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- By Andy Edgeworth » Reporter
SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s has announced plans for a new store in Kendal which would create 400 jobs.
The company said it wanted to build the full-size store, on the Shap Road site occupied by Kendal Cricket Club (KCC).
The ambitious plans would incorporate a state-of-the-art ‘sports village’, including a new home for the cricket club next to Kendal Rugby Club.
However, officials at the cricket club, which rents part of the land planned for the new store, said they would oppose the relocation.
KCC member and scorer David Sykes said: “We will be formulating a response once we have seen the plans, but we can stress that we do not want to move.”
Plans for the store will be submitted to South Lakeland District Council by the store after a public consultation, which starts next week.
Sainsbury’s development executive Kevin Macmillan said: “These plans represent a significant investment in Kendal, and not only provide a new foodstore but will also help bring forward a top class sports facility for cricket, football and other sports.”
As part of the proposals, KCC would be offered a purpose-built ground with a pavilion, clubhouse and county standard wickets.
The sports village would also provide adult and junior football pitches, a changing pavilion, an archery centre and a floodlit, artificial playing surface and more than 140 parking spaces for cars and coaches.
Sainsbury’s said KCC had a lease on the land until 2026 so an agreement would have to be reached between the two parties before the supermarket could be built.
The site is owned by Fields In Trust (FIT), a UK-wide charity which aims to protect and improve outdoor sports and play spaces.
Rocky Sharrock, FIT Fields Manager, said: “This development would be a real step-change for sports facilities in the town.
"As well as being home to the cricket club, many of Kendal’s other sports clubs would benefit from this top class facility.
“We are sad that KCC does not want to take the opportunity to move to a top class new home with us.”
Residents close to the planned site have voiced their concerns.
James Mason, of Shap Road, said: “It is a shame to see the cricket ground disappear as it is a tranquil haven and used not just by the club, but by an archery club and a nursery.
“It is also yet another green space that will be gone forever.
"From a personal point of view, it will obviously increase noise and it will be busy and probably affect the value of the surrounding properties.”
Another Shap Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The town is becoming less rural every day. Wherever we have a nice green space we build on it.”
A year ago plans were unveiled for a major redevelopment of Canal Head at Kendal to include a supermarket.
Mr Macmillan told the Westmorland Gazette: “I’m aware there was speculation that Sainsbury’s might have an interest in the Canal Head site, so I’m pleased we can be open and upfront about our plans and reveal the site we are interested in.”
SLDC’s portfolio holder for Economic Prosperity Graham Vincent said: “From a personal view I am not entirely sure that a store in an out of town location would be entirely positive.
“However, I will keep an open mind and with the plans Sainsbury’s must submit an economic assessment and highways plans, which are key to any development.
"I believe that we are also expecting a submission for Canal Head within the next month and we need to keep the town centre attractive and vibrant, so there is lots to take into account.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “I’m neutral on the matter for now as there are both pros and cons.
"On a positive side it is nice to see a developer seeking proper public consultation by setting up public meetings, but on the other hand there could be a worry about the impact another supermarket could have on the town.”
Sainsbury’s plans for the 50,000 sq feet store - similar in size to Kendal’s Morrisons - will be displayed at Stricklandgate House, Stricklandgate, Kendal on Friday, September 3 from 11am-7pm and Saturday, September 4 from 10am-2pm.
Comments(27)
Close-eye
says...
12:01pm Thu 26 Aug 10
Val A
says...
1:59pm Thu 26 Aug 10
KCC1
says...
2:14pm Thu 26 Aug 10
Roysyboy
says...
3:11pm Thu 26 Aug 10
princesskitten
says...
7:35pm Thu 26 Aug 10
Hmmmm - Do we need it???
Kendal is tiny little town - the local population is actually quite small - more a large village with big high street shops really - and we have a big Asda store - a medium Morrison's - a small Booths - and a medium Iceland - as well as all the local small/artisan food producers shops, and a couple of really big farmers outlets (plumgarths - Low Sizergh Barn - Aireys - BeeLocal) that's with out listing the Made In Cumbria - Handmade in Cumbria - and all the small local one off shops - you should see the wet fish shop in Finkle street. Where to start - certainly not at Salisbury's!
The new store will be on the same road as Morrison's (about 1/2 mile away) - and more expensive so I won't do my big shop there (like - who will). And it's not got the quality or local stockist that Booths have - so I won't switch there. Plus, we are a pretty poor lot up here you know. It may look drop dead pretty in the pictures (and it is) but really there are no high profile jobs (very few anyway), no big factories / industries / etc - we are all very local, small, entrepreneurs - and the farmers up on the fells have to work really hard (above and beyond the call of duty) to earn a crust - I really can't see how a Salisbury's is going to fit in here.
Then - they are going to build over the local Kendal League cricket ground - and the cricket club are against it all.
Am I being mardy - or just missing the point of supermarkets being exciting
calanso
says...
8:28pm Thu 26 Aug 10
What makes you all think you understand the economic considerations of opening a new supermarket better than Sainsburys Ltd? You all shop in Supermarkets topped by visits to farmers markets and farm shops (to ease your guilt and massage your egos).
gray1ham
says...
11:17pm Thu 26 Aug 10
I am a little confused as to why so many people are already opposed without seeing the plans fully. The store is closer to the town centre than either Morrisons or Asda, the food quality is much better and there is the potential of much needed employment in the town. At 50,000 q feet, the town should be grateful it is not a huge mega 120,000 sq feet tesco. The improvements in local sporting facilities would be also good not just for us but for generations to come - and with the increasing amount of obeisty in the UK, anything to keep young/old people fit an active in modern facilities is a great welcome. I do not believe the canel head location would be good for the potential other store (we all know its Tesco), as access is restricted and this would be better turned in public space and car parking as the town is always busy with tourists in the summer.
Praise must be given to the fact that Sainsbury's are willing to consult and listen rather than being railroaded through like other retailers and developers do. In some towns in the south e.g Dursley where a new Sainsbury's opened on the edge of town, and Wimborne where a Waitrose opened have helped small retailers see an increase in footfall, which is good for everyone.
The high street and markets have died in the last 10-15 years as more people get lazyer and internet shopping takes over!!!
Mrs Ann Gree
says...
11:42am Fri 27 Aug 10
Lakeuk
says...
1:01pm Fri 27 Aug 10
If I was a cricket fan/member I wouldn't move to the proposed alternative site, it's on a flood plain and you won't get the passing social trade that help fund the running of the club
Val A
says...
2:05pm Fri 27 Aug 10
iestynjohn
says...
4:13pm Sat 28 Aug 10
Lakeuk
says...
1:19pm Sun 29 Aug 10
Sainsbury's were on Radio Cumbria on Friday giving it the big sell, I've posted the interview on my blog for people to listen to and also some other points on why Kendal could have more supermarkets springing up in future.
http://lakeuk.blogsp
ot.com
A Forseti
says...
12:55pm Mon 30 Aug 10
The town centre will see sales diminish further, profit (your cash) will leave the town in greater amounts than it already does when you shop at Asda and Morrisons, and will increase corporate profit elsewhere.
Sainsburys must believe this otherwise they wouldn't be proposing to build it.
Local shopkeepers lose out, again; and our local economy becomes poorer. If you are proud of your town then you should be spending your money in a way that means it stays in the town.
The counter argument to this is about creating more local jobs - we may well need them - but we also need the profit created by those jobs to stay in the town. Surely people would rather work for a local profitable business.
If our local shop keepers became more profitable it is more likely that this profit would be spent again locally, and so it goes on... local residents (hairdressers, shoe shops(!), pub restaurant owners) all profit.
The store will not attract additional sales transactions, since everyone already spends what they need to on groceries.
You can currently buy everything you really need in terms of groceries in Kendal anyway, so unless they are going to sell 'contentment in a box' you can count me out.
Tourists using this supermarket will either already have driven past Morrisons (why would they if they are looking for a supermarket?), or more likely have driven through town and mistakenly driven up Shap Rd trying to get to Windermere. We should be encouraging tourists into the town centre anyway.
On an environmental note...Shap road is currently a congested traffic jam twice a day, and a race track every weekend evening (where are the speed cameras when you need them!). Adding another demand to this road is stupid. Sainsburys architects and planners will know this, and will be making a decision about whether the profit the store could attract for its shareholders is worth enough to put up with the flack they will get in terms of traffic issues, and the increased noise and fumes; and less grass to soak them up!
If you look at Kendal from Serpentine woods, this Cricket field is the largest green space close to the town centre - do we want to lose it?
Floods are a concern - where will the water that falls on this concrete go? In the heavy rain fall that occurred earlier in the year - the drains that lead to Gooseholme outside the Porsche garage were full? Are they planning to tunnel under Beezon industrial estate to put more water immediately into the river. It will need to go into the river somewhere; residents down stream be warned! The cricket field will have soaked up an enormous amount of water in those deluges, in a very short space of time. If this water just runs off to somewhere else there will clearly be consequences. While we are at it, why don't concrete over Castle Hill that might create some impressive Kayaking too for local residents!
Lets try and keep our traditional Victorian cricket pavilion, as a piece of our cultural heritage, rather than becoming another clone town with a clone sports centre we don't need. Visitors to The Lakes on the train can continue to see our beautiful town instead of the side of a tin box.
Some of the comments made by others above, sound too positive to be believable, and seem out of context being from addresses where there would be no environmental impact.
I will be strongly opposing the plans, as will the many people I have spoken to since this was first suggested years ago.
TwoHat
says...
1:41pm Mon 30 Aug 10
calanso
says...
4:31pm Mon 30 Aug 10
A Forseti
says...
5:42pm Mon 30 Aug 10
Bowness, where you are from, is a diverse economic center with much to commend it due to lots of small shops, and family run businesses. Shall we displace this thriving community by building a Sainsburys there too? Maybe we could float it on the lake on a gigantic raft - so you can do your massive weekly shop without having to walk up the hill to Booths.
Who mentioned push bikes?
There are plenty of people in Kendal who are more than happy to do a part of their shop in the town -long may it continue.
calanso
says...
6:03pm Mon 30 Aug 10
You need to stop living in adream world and face reality- you shop in Supermarkets as does everyone else , therefore Supermarkets will be built- Stop using them and then you will not be a hypocrite
A Forseti
says...
8:19pm Mon 30 Aug 10
Just because most of us shop in super markets doesn't mean we need more. Resources are finite.
I describe a scenario in which people choose a balance and compromise, which is entirely realistic. Your hypocrite claim is weak and is simply clutching at straws.
calanso
says...
8:39pm Mon 30 Aug 10
Who are you to decide which ones go where and how many there are?
You like to use lines like "line the pockets of those who are not interested in whether towns the length and breadth of the land are homogenised" & "Surely people would rather work for a local profitable business" but its all garbage and you know it because you shop in the bloody places! HYPOCRITE
A Forseti
says...
10:51pm Mon 30 Aug 10
I think you should read this:
http://www.catalystm
edia.org.uk/issues/n
erve6/rise_of_superm
arkets.htm
and then come back with some sensible suggestions.
Lakeuk
says...
11:42pm Mon 30 Aug 10
Seems the momentum is in full swing on this one, someone already organised a petition
I always take job numbers as a pitch of salt as the context of the numbers is never given - how many full, part-time, temporary, construction etc... A classic example of this was Sand Aire House which employed 350 people, it was sold to the town that turning it into flats/offices would result in a net gain - 200 jobs in the building plus schemes to generate 200 construction jobs probably temporary whilst rebuild took place. Hard to see whether that is the reality
calanso
says...
7:33am Tue 31 Aug 10
TwoHat
says...
10:39am Tue 31 Aug 10
calanso
says...
12:15pm Tue 31 Aug 10
doodleshire14
says...
12:59pm Tue 31 Aug 10
lesleyzxr
says...
3:30pm Tue 7 Sep 10
If you want to have an idea of how the area will look after they have 'developed', google Sainsbury's Urmston to view the 'development' that was completed there over 12 months ago, a shocking white complex surrounded by empty retail units.
You could always look for the ABetterCrosby page on Facebook and view the photo's that were taken only last week which clearly shows how the 'development' in that area has progressed.
Sainsbury's is not interested in developing your, nor any other area, for the benefit of the community, they are interested merely in developing their market share with the aim of increasing profits. I know, they told our group that only last week.
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VISION: An artist’s impression of how the new store could look on the site of Kendal Cricket Club
CAUTIOUS: Graham Vincent said he was keeping an open mind on Sainsbury’s plans for the Kendal Cricket club site, above
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BentheBorderCollie says...
10:18am Thu 26 Aug 10
What sort of town do we want to live in?