A SECOND round of consultation is being held on a proposed new supermarket off Southampton road today and tomorrow.

The multi-million pound Salisbury Gateway project is looking to build a Sainsbury’s store opposite the Tesco supermarket in Salisbury as well as introducing a 12-acre wildlife and wetlands area and making changes to the road, including modifying the College and Bourne Way roundabouts at either end of Southampton Road.

An initial planning application for the project was submitted in June last year but withdrawn following public consultation.

New plans will now be submitted after the latest round of consultation, which the developers behind the project say address the concerns raised by residents regarding the first application.

Ian Culverhouse director of developer Salisbury Site LLP said: “Since submitting our initial planning application, residents, community organisations and planning officers at Wiltshire Council have had their say on the detail of our proposal.

“When reviewing these comments changes have been suggested and therefore we have taken the decision to submit a new planning application.”

The original plans included removing the barrier that separates the two carriageways along Southampton Road, but this proposal has been shelved following concerns about safety and traffic flow.

The new proposal includes adding an extra lane for traffic coming off Churchill Way and turning left into Southampton Road at the College roundabout, where there are often queues, as well as putting in a larger roundabout with four access points rather than the current three at the Bourne Way roundabout.

Public access to the nature area would also be restricted, with a walkway being put in to protect the area while allowing maximum views towards the cathedral.

Concerns have been raised about the store being so close to existing stores rather than at the Fugglestone Red side of Salisbury where there is no existing store and where major development is planned.

People are also concerned about flood risk in the area, which the developers say will be adequately alleviated by the natural wetland area and by tanks being put in under the store to ensure heavy rain is gradually fed into the nearby River Avon.

Sainsbury’s said they remain “one hundred per cent committed” to keeping their city centre store open, and to be a part of the proposed revamp of the Maltings area.

Residents can talk to the developers and see the new proposals at a public exhibition being held at the Red Lion hotel in Milford Street from 10.30am to 7pm today and 9.30am to 3pm tomorrow.

The developers hope to submit a new planning application in September.