New store plans: 'Residents excited at prospect of jobs'
People living near a planned new supermarket say they hope it will be a boost to their area.
Sainsbury's wants to close its 25-year-old Belgrave store and open a larger one in Rushey Mead, Leicester, on the site of the former GE Lighting building.
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Tim Watkins, right, and Dipti Vadgama of Sainsbury’s talk over plans with Rushey Mead resident Shan Parmar
The plans for the new store went on display at St Theodore's Church, in Rushey Mead, yesterday.
They show an 80,000 sq ft (7,700 sq m) store on the corner of Troon Way and Melton Road, with a large car park and a nine-pump petrol station.
The northern third of the site will remain empty. The plan is to build office buildings for companies to rent out once the economy picks up.
The store will create an extra 300 jobs in Rushey Mead and the company estimates a further 200 jobs could be created by the new office buildings.
The majority of Rushey Mead residents who looked at the plans yesterday were happy with the proposals.
Diane Wainwright, 68, said: "It looks good to me. My husband and I both worked at GE Lighting so it's a bit sad, but at least they're doing something with the site."
Dipesh Mistry, 25, said: "I can see there being problems with traffic, but I think it would be good for the area."
Ken Naylor, 75, said: "It will be nice to have a store here, although it will affect the little shops."
Tim Watkins, portfolio development manager for Sainsbury's, who was at the exhibition, said: "It's good to meet people and the reaction has been good. People are excited about the prospect of jobs."
At the same time as yesterday's meeting at St Theodore's, residents in Belgrave were at the Peepul Centre speaking to supermarket representatives about plans for their area.
These include redeveloping the old store site with offices, more than 100 parking spaces and shops, and demolishing the Belgrave flyover.
The company has said it will have a small Sainsbury's Local store on the site.
Dalsukh Tailor, 76, said: "I've lived in Belgrave 41 years and there have been problems with parking and traffic. If this improves things it will be good."
A 67-year-old man, who did not want to be named, said: "We won't know how it affects things until the flyover closes. It could just move the rush-hour problems."
Sainsbury's representatives will be back at St Theodore's today from 9am until 1pm and at the Peepul Centre from 10am until 3pm. The plans will remain on view at the Peepul Centre until Saturday, February 4.
6 Comments
by Rachel_Leics
Sunday, January 22 2012, 7:19PM
“New business to any area is not bad news as it will bring jobs, which are badly needed at this current time. X”
by Fruit_Gum
Saturday, January 21 2012, 6:28PM
“I viewed these proposals with some concern. There is only one entrance/exit and that is onto the main Melton Road. They have proposed to change the road from 2 to 3 lanes in that area but I still think that at busy times there will be queues that will impact on traffic flow on the main road.
On the up side it will be nice to have a good supermarket in the area that will gove Asda some competition!”
by oldhenry
Saturday, January 21 2012, 4:18PM
“I laugh at these new jobs created by opening a shop on one site and closing one at another. It is mickey mouse accounting. Sleight of hand. There is onlu so much being bought by the population at any time. If you buy it at A you do not buy it a B. This will not generate new goods being bought only shilft the purchase from one location to another.
The point is that the planners never count the jobs lost at the other site.
Not new jobs but transfer jobs.”
by dannylambert
Saturday, January 21 2012, 2:45PM
“Nice to know the plans for both sites include new offices.Who for?Even the clowncil have empty offices that cannot be let/sold.But then again ,the said,clowncil never maintained the flyover.”
by FOXFAN99
Saturday, January 21 2012, 10:53AM
“Whatever happens here, demolition of a flyover that was built in the 1970s to ease congestion is a crazy idea. Who is the half wit who thought of that? Oh I know, someone on the city council.”
by Graham_LE8
Saturday, January 21 2012, 9:06AM
“If I lived in the area, I'd be cautious - this is clearly one of those times where the notion of the store and it's actual impact once operational could be two completely different realities...”