PLANS to move a Warndon supermarket across the road have been given the green light by councillors despite fears of ‘intensification’ within the area.
Proposals were set out to replace the Blackpole Retail Park Lidl store with a new one on the Archdale 73’ Club site which Worcester City Council’s planning committee approved at a meeting yesterday (Thursday).
However, concerns were raised that an increase in traffic volume would cause problems at an already ‘dangerous junction’ and that access should be moved from Blackpole Road to Windermere Drive, despite a mini-roundabout being installed to ease congestion.
Coun Roger Berry, councillor for Gorse Hill, also said he was worried about the loss of land and felt the retail park should not start encroaching over the road.
“It is the loss of a major green space in an area of Worcester which has very little green space and if you look at that site you are squashing as much as you can on to it,” he said.
“It is also an intensification of that retail park. If you are going to have a retail park you need to have it grown properly and not bit by bit like this is.
“What is the next step? Next door we have a pub and I could see that going very soon.”
As part of the development, which would bring with it up to 20 jobs and at least 80 car parking spaces, Archdale Club’s existing building will be transformed to include an adult size football pitch, a clubhouse building with bar, lounge, skittles rooms, hall and 60 parking spaces.
But despite the fears, Coun Jo Hodges, councillor for the area, said she believed the revamp would be a major benefit to a ‘dilapidated’ and ‘eyesore’ plot of land.
“I know this site well and the Archdale Club has fallen really,” she said. “It is quite a dilapidated building and is quite an eyesore and I would welcome the development of the site.
“It will be a good development for the area and I like the fact it is revamping the sports facility.
“I am not totally convinced by the access, I think it would be better off Windermere Drive, but I do take on board the comments of a mini roundabout slowing down traffic and I would hope it will make it easier to leave the retail park.
“I think it will bring great benefits to the area.”
A total of nine councillors voted in favour of the development, with two opposing it.
