Another supermarket?

[joshua]

Theres a rumour going round that morrisons are going to take the north walls/kingsmead car park, a supermarket that big right in the middle of town would have a great effect on other retailers in the town. Anyone know if this is true or is it just another speculation? .

 

[tek-monkey]

Much as I'd prefer a morrisons to any of the three we have, I doubt it. They'd need parking too and that site aint that big really.

 

[Withnail]

What happened to the multi-storey car park planned for the site? Didn't that originally have 'retail space' planned underneath?

I guess it must've been (thieves') ditched.

 

[ddub1984]

I would have thought the site would be plenty big enough? If not, they could do what they are doing with the new Tesco in Hednesford & having the car park part open & part under the store. (http://www.expressandstar.com/business/midlands-business/2010/09/16/hednesford-tesco-on-stilts-set-to-go-ahead/)

It wouldnt surprise me if Morrisons were looking to build a store in Stafford, they have them in Cannock & Stone, seems odd that we have never had one to be honest.

 

[Slainte]

I would have thought the site would be plenty big enough? If not, they could do what they are doing with the new Tesco in Hednesford & having the car park part open & part under the store. (http://www.expressandstar.com/business/midlands-business/2010/09/16/hednesford-tesco-on-stilts-set-to-go-ahead/)

It wouldnt surprise me if Morrisons were looking to build a store in Stafford, they have them in Cannock & Stone, seems odd that we have never had one to be honest.

Having been to the Lichfield Tesco stores, as quoted in the E&S article, it does work suprisingly, so wouldn't suprise me that it could be done by Morrisons.

Just on reflection to the Tesco proposal in Hednesford, I wonder how that would affect the one approx 2 miles up the road in Heath Hayes, whether that one would close.

 

[gilesjuk]

Theres a rumour going round that morrisons are going to take the north walls/kingsmead car park, a supermarket that big right in the middle of town would have a great effect on other retailers in the town. Anyone know if this is true or is it just another speculation? .

Great as in "big" or great as in "good"?

I don't think another supermarket is needed. What is needed is improvements to infrastructure to get people into the town easier. Be it road improvements or more cycling provision to get people out of their cars.

 

[henryscat]

Yep, Morrisons want a Stafford store and North Walls is identified as a possible location:
http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/live/Documents/Forward%20Planning/Additional_Material/Retail-study.pdf

 

[Hetairoi]

We do not need another supermarket in the middle of town, out near Jct 13 or 14 would be better.

 

[db]

i would defo like a morrisons nearby - i often see deals in the national press that i'd like to take advantage off - but agree that bang in the middle of town (well, near enough) is far from an ideal location!

 

[Mr X]

As already mentioned, surely J14 (Mustang/Hurricane/Spitfire/etc.) would be an ideal location for a supermarket - good road access from all directions and development of the area already taking place.

Building on Kingsmead would no doubt mean more traffic lights (although the SCC Highways-Henryscat double act would be able to somehow turn this into a positive thing I'm sure), and the increase in traffic would quite possibly grind the town to a halt forever. This site is almost dead centre between ASDA and Sainsbury's too - surely Stafford doesn't need four major supermarkets, all within a few minutes walk of each other, and the town centre?!

Edit: corrected appalling grammar!

 

[dangerousdave]

the main problem stafford has always had has been the traffic in the town centre, mainly due to the stupid number of traffic lights in sich a confined space. for a small-ish town i don't think the need for another supermarket is really there either. however, would obviously help create jobs. if i was morrisons i'd be suggesting by jct 14 as i'd imagine there's more people 'that' side of town (especially with the MOD camp's garrisons) who would probably prefer a more easily accessible supermarket

 

[henryscat]

the main problem stafford has always had has been the traffic in the town centre, mainly due to the stupid number of traffic lights in sich a confined space.

The amount of traffic on the roads is a function of land use, not the number of traffic lights.

if i was morrisons i'd be suggesting by jct 14 as i'd imagine there's more people 'that' side of town (especially with the MOD camp's garrisons) who would probably prefer a more easily accessible supermarket

J14 is only easily accessible if you have a car and a lot of people don't.

 

[henryscat]

As already mentioned, surely J14 (Mustang/Hurricane/Spitfire/etc.) would be an ideal location for a supermarket - good road access from all directions and development of the area already taking place.

Only accessible by car. Also, how much of the traffic might route via the town centre?

the increase in traffic would quite possibly grind the town to a halt forever. This site is almost dead centre between ASDA and Sainsbury's too - surely Stafford doesn't need four major supermarkets, all within a few minutes walk of each other, and the town centre?!

Any development will generate traffic, and there is arguably already enough traffic going into town. Question is how much extra traffic would be created as a proportion of it would be customers of the other three supermarkets deciding to shop at the fourth supermarket instead. As for need perhaps not, but if Morrisons are interested they evidently think they can make sufficient dosh out of it. They do sell a rather good beer selection as well.

 

[tek-monkey]

J14 is easily navigable by bus, we have done it a few times to take the kids to the redhill.

 

[gilesjuk]

J14 is only easily accessible if you have a car and a lot of people don't.

Plenty of people down the Eccleshall road could walk there. There's even a rather iffy cycle lane down there.

 

[Jonah]

There is already and empty store big enough for a supermarket with plenty of parking in the town centre. Morrisons should take advantage of it.

 

[ddub1984]

Just on reflection to the Tesco proposal in Hednesford, I wonder how that would affect the one approx 2 miles up the road in Heath Hayes, whether that one would close.

No plans for it to close apparently, according to them, although I can see a lot of their regular customers going down the road to the new Hednesford one once it opens... I visit the Heath Hayes one regularly & it is has got to be the worst run Tesco in the country. Anything on special offer- is out of stock. They deliberately hide the baskets in all sorts of locations so theres never any by the door. The staff are incredibly rude & they dont man the self service tills at night, they wander off. (so youre left listening to "unexpected item in bagging area" for 20 minutes...) The staff stocking the shelves deliberately block the aisles off with their loading cages to stop customers going down & inconveniencing them. I could go on with my list of gripes but I dont want to hijack the thread. It just annoys me so much!!!

With regards to the comments about siting a supermarket near J14, I think that would be popular & better for a lot of car drivers but the planning department would never allow it, they have to be seen to be encouraging people not to use cars, & also trying to keep the town centre alive, rather than moving retail out of the town centre too much. Both valid points which I can understand.

 

[Withnail]

There is a strange, alternate universe in which the big supermarkets live.

In this universe, if a site becomes available just down the road from an existing unit, it is worth buying solely because it would deny the opportunity of another supplier to occupy it.

Your needs and convenience and choice are anathema in this universe - the customer is king only if they make the right choice.

It's a bit like, but not entirely like, fake tits.

 

[Mr X]

As already mentioned, surely J14 (Mustang/Hurricane/Spitfire/etc.) would be an ideal location for a supermarket - good road access from all directions and development of the area already taking place.

Only accessible by car.

gilesjuk mentioned it, but the developers of the site included a cycle lane that runs between the J14 roundabout and the Redhill roundabout. If a supermarket was built, could it not be part of the conditions that this cycle lane is extended down Eccleshall Road, Stone Road, Beaconside (and done properly, mind, so that people can and want to use it safely and conveniently). To get it as far as the Isobel Trail on the Ecc/Stone Road wouldn't be difficult, nor would getting it as far as Marston Lane on Beaconside, where it continues as far as the University. If these final links were made we could actually have a good cycle infrastructure (to the North of the town at least!)

I have no reason to doubt tek-monkey saying that bus travel is possible also. Isn't that all modes of transport covered then?

 

[henryscat]

In terms of accessibility by any mode of transport, town centres are the most accessible. How many people live within 10 mins cycle ride of town? How many people live within 10 mins cycle ride of J14? Same question for bus. For the town centre, it is most of the town's population, for j14 it's a lot less than that.

Whether or not a new supermarket is desirable is perhaps another question.