PLANS to create a new Aldi supermarket in Canford Bottom have been approved, but a final decision will be made by the Secretary of State.
The budget supermarket giant has been wanting to build the £7 million store off the busy Canford Bottom roundabout since they first submitted plans in 2024.
The plans had been recommend for refusal by council officers due to around half of the site being a in a green belt.
But members of Dorset Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee voted in favour of the plans, which would create 30 to 35 full time jobs in the local area.
Their decision will now be reviewed by the Secretary of State due to the plans encroaching on the green belt.
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The plans would see two buildings demolished to make way for the supermarket.
Around 250 objections to the plans were submitted, with 174 in support.
Readers of your New Stour & Avon previously raised concerns that the planned entrance to the supermarket was too close to the busy roundabout, with one person describing it as “absolute madness” with others saying it would only increase the number of accidents and congestion.
But many were in support of a budget supermarket being built in the area as there is a “distinct lack of discount supermarket options for Colehill residents”.
The new access would see a filter lane and a pelican crossing created.
Definitely in favour of having the supermarket
Its easy to see that the people who approved this do not live or travel around that road very much.
It was obvious from the day I read that Aldi had been given permission to demolish a bungalow that is the last remaining link with the old Castleman Railway that enough palms had been greased for the decision for the supermarket to go in their favour, but I still cannot believe that any sane person who knows the chaos that is the Canford Bottom roundabout would have thought it was a good idea. Those of us who live nearby know how congested it can get, and how many minor accidents there are on a regular basis, and the last thing we need is a supermarket that will bring even more traffic onto the surrounding roads. I don’t think the ‘distinct lack of discount supermarket options for Colehill residents’ really holds water as a reason for the build either, as there is a huge LIDL a few minutes’ drive away at Trickett’s Cross.
It is in the wrong place bang goes are village statics as for the house that was built in the 19thcentre 1864
This decision flies in the face of local opinion and logic. There are few, if any, in the area who would not welcome another discount supermarket but to build it adjacent to an existant problematic junction defies reason. For reasons unknown both National and Dorset Highways failed to recognise the problems that will inevitably arise.
A potential disaster. Anyone visiting the site from the Ferndown side, Ham Lane/Longham, or from the huge new housing sites off Leigh Rd will only add pressure / congestion on the chaotic at times Canford Bottom roundabout, traffic from the Wimborne side having to go all the way around it. If that frustrates them they could try to turn right across the traffic flow and would probably add to the problems in Hayes Lane.
Perhaps those from outside the immediate area would give that a thought
I grew up in the area so frequently need to visit family in this locality. I know that roundabout and roads well and was astounded to see the plans for what is essentially a busy residential road; not a main road in any sense except that increased housing, (including many infill developments in existing gardens), has already resulted in increased of traffic. This is more noticeable when visiting periodically. People generally choose to live in an area buffered by green belt with the knowledge that there are fewer services and shops. The DCC do not choose to listen to neighours nor the local parish councillors who have much better knowledge of their area and electorate. I am convinced there is another agenda. Could the contributions made to the council by developers be the incentive? Why else would it be important for the CC to gratify a large global concern rather than encourage local business, (one is already on the non-green belt part of the site). The existing nearby stores including two post offices will be impacted.
The image, as depicted, is a gross misrepresentation of what will be, where are the vehicles? Where are the happy shoppers crossing the road avoiding the incoming traffic from Canford Bottom roundabout? This PR impression is a crass and deceitful piece of work and has no place in the debate.
As a colehill resident t’s the best thing that has happened to the area, not everyone can afford to shop in Waitrose. The people who don’t like it can leave colehill if they want.
If you wanted more services why would you live in Colehill in the first place?
This is really not a good idea to put it mildly. I am, quite frankly ,amazed this has gone through despite all the valid concerns raised from the residents who live in this area.