Tesco wants to build new store in Amesbury (From Salisbury Journal)

Tesco wants to build new store in Amesbury

8:49am Tuesday 25th September 2007 in News By Roland Batten

THE re-generation of Amesbury as a shopping centre could soon be under way if permission is given for a new Tesco supermarket on a partly derelict site on the edge of the town centre.

That's the view of Tesco's regional corporate affairs manager, Melanie Chiswell, who said the company's proposals for a 40,000 square-foot supermarket on the former Gregory's Transport depot in London Road, will save Amesbury residents both time and money.

She said: "We firmly believe the first large foodstore in Amesbury should be one which turns a derelict eyesore into a well presented area.

"This is the only brownfield location in Amesbury which would be large enough to take a new supermarket.

"Our proposed site will save the people of Amesbury both time and money in travel.

"Building on this site will address the current situation where we have a drain of shoppers to Salisbury.

"It will also bring more people to Amesbury town centre, thus benefiting the town's other businesses." According to Tesco, a household survey carried out by telephone, and involving more than 850 people, followed with a public exhibition of their plans, resulted in feedback from more than 200 people - 94 per cent of whom said they would welcome the arrival of a second supermarket.

The company plans to use part of the depot site and other buildings in London Road for the new store.

The intention is to construct the supermarket low into the site, which will screen it from the surrounding houses.

Tesco's planning application was submitted to Salisbury District Council last week and will eventually go before the council's northern area planning committee and Amesbury Town Council before a decision is made by the council's planning committee members.

Tesco said that if permission is given, the new store will create more than 300 new jobs for the town and surrounding villages.