Hundreds turn out for first Tesco public display in Sherborne
Hundreds of people turned out to view plans for a potential Tesco store in Sherborne this afternoon.
More than 200 people arrived at the West End Hall, Littlefield, within the first hour of the public display opening at 3pm.
Representatives from the retail giant discussed the plans with residents and town councillors and invited them to vote for their favourite design, and submit comments.
The company proposes to submit a planning application for a store at the site of the Sherborne Hotel, on the A30. The store is set to offer 200 full and part time jobs and more than 200 free parking spaces.
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Kevin, 63, and Pat Tucker, 62, of Sherborne, attended the consultation.
Mr Tucker said: "It would be better to see if another company like Premier Inn would take on the hotel.
"I'm worried about the traffic. We regularly use the Oxley Sports Centre and that is going to suffer if everyone is trying to get to the supermarket."
Mrs Tucker said: "We need a hotel on that site. Where are people going to stay when they visit? It's going to spoil the town."
A Sherborne man, who preferred not to be named, said: "It's inevitable for another supermarket want to build here. It is what is needed if a town is to move into the 21st century.
"It's a good thing for younger people.
"I think the designs are quite good."
The session is open until 7pm. It reopens tomorrow at the same location between 10am and 3pm. A third consultation date is set for Tuesday, February 26, between 2.30pm and 7.30pm, at the Digby Hall, Hound Street.
For full details of the plans see next week's Sherborne edition of the Western Gazette.
Keep up to date with the Tesco debate and all other Sherborne news by following Sherborne reporter Flora Thompson @WGFloraThompson and visiting thisisdorset.co.uk
Comments
by threespines
Saturday, February 16 2013, 10:33AM
“Why does "Sherborne man" think that an additional store in Sherborne will 'move the town into the 21st century'? How so? It doesn't compute.
How can it be a 'good thing for young people'? Stacking shelves at minimum wage? Don't they need genuine career opportunities with structured training programmes, leading to positions commanding salaries that mean they can actually afford to buy homes in the town?
And what's wrong with the Sherborne Hotel? Aren't people aware it's actually a popular place? It's hard to get a room there in fact, even in the winter, unless you book well in advance? It offers spacious rooms at reasonable prices, thus helping with tourism in the town. Why then the call for another chain to 'take it over'? Or to demolish it completely?
Be careful what you wish for, people of Sherborne!”