THE city council's planning committee discussed the possibility of having a regular bus service to Churchill Way West retail park if a new supermarket opens.

Subject to a successful planning application outcome, Lidl may open near Waitrose in 2025 in place of Homesense and Smyths Toys which currently occupy the units.

The leases of these businesses expire in January and February and they have both decided to vacate the premises.

At a planning meeting at the Friary Centre on November 18, Salisbury City Councillors discussed the plans and whether a public transport route to the retail park could be viable.

READ MORE: Plans submitted for Lidl to replace Smyths Toys and Homesense at retail park

Councillor Victoria Charleston told the planning committee that she “really welcomes a more affordable food store on our side of the city.”

She continued: “There are buses that go near - would it not be lovely if the R1 did stop at Lidl? We’re quite keen to suggest the buses go back there three or four times a day.

“It would be rather fantastic and I think my residents would be thrilled.”

The R1 bus currently runs from Salisbury District Hospital to Bemerton Heath via Fisherton Street.

Chairman cllr Tom Corbin agreed, suggesting the bus could run an occasional route via Ashley Road rather than going to the hospital, or use the R10 which currently runs from Fisherton Street to St Peter's Place via Fisherton Street.

Cllr Caroline Corbin said: “Opening up the road from Ashley Road to the retail park would definitely benefit active travel.

The site plan for a new Lidl supermarketThe site plan for a new Lidl supermarket (Image: Wiltshire Council planning)

“There’s no means of getting from St Pauls roundabout to Ashley Road. This would go some way to providing another route back through to Ashley Road from Fisherton Street.”

Active travel involves either walking, cycling or taking the bus through the city as opposed to driving. Currently, the nearest bus stops to the retail park are on Gas Lane and Castle Road.

Chairman cllr Tom Corbin said that losing Homesense and Smyths is a “real shame” and a “real loss to the city to lose a toy shop” but confirmed it’s not anything to do with Lidl’s development, rather just the leases expiring.

Cllr Caroline Corbin added: “I don’t think on the planning rules if we have any choice of what type of shop goes in there. It’s a shame because a lot of people are upset but it doesn’t have anything to do with us."

Cllr Sven Hocking added that it could also reduce traffic around Southampton Road.

The planning application now lies in the hands of Wiltshire Council to make a decision.