Plans to open a Heron Foods store in a Nottinghamshire village have been met with opposition over possible safety risks from added traffic in the area. Newark and Sherwood District Council received an application for the supermarket in Kirklington Road, Rainworth.
The plans are recommended for approval at the planning committee on July 6 despite the concerns raised. They relate to the former Robin Hood Hotel, the ground floor of which is currently a Tesco Express.
A new pedestrian access off Kirklington Road would be formed by re-purposing the old vehicle access to the Former Robin Hood Car Park. Local ward member Councillor Claire Penny (Lab) said she was concerned about pedestrian safety within the car park and added: “There are currently three supermarkets located close to the site and residents do not want another retail store.”
She said: “Pedestrians use this site as a cut through. An additional retail unit with more cars will create more danger for pedestrians due to the rise in cars accessing the car park from either entrance.”
She also raised concerns that delivery vehicles currently have issues with accessing the car park at certain times and “an additional retail unit will exacerbate this issue”. She added that there is a children’s centre and park opposite the proposed site entrance.
“An additional retail unit with more cars will put children at greater risk. There are currently three supermarkets located close to the site and residents do not want another retail store”, she said.
Rainworth Parish Council objected and raised concerns over pedestrian safety within the car park, lack of space to manoeuvre delivery vehicles and the safety of children on Kirklington Road.
But council officers said: “Overall, it is considered that the proposed car park would be no more unsafe than any other retail car park where pedestrians and vehicles mix.”
The applicant would provide 15 spaces which, when added to the existing Tesco spaces, would provide 31 spaces overall to serve the two stores. But this is still 17 spaces short of the recommended amount for two food retail stores, plans state.
Their council report added: “The proposed development is acceptable and would enhance retail provision within the centre of Rainworth to serve its growing population.
“Whilst there is an overall parking shortfall, the proposed development, NCC Highways does not consider the development would result in harm to highway
safety, not creating new, or exacerbating existing on street parking problems, nor materially increase other traffic problems. “It is therefore recommended that this application is approved subject to the conditions outlined below.”
