Sainsbury's in talks to open Leominster store (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Sainsbury's in talks to open a superstore in Leominster
1:30pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News
SAINSBURY’S has switched its attention from Ledbury to Leominster as it continues its search for a new Herefordshire store.
A total of 200 jobs are promised in the scheme that would put Sainsbury’s into direct competition with Morrisons, Aldi and the Cooperative in Leominster.
Thomas Panels and Profiles currently occupies the proposed site in Southern Avenue and would have to move to a purpose-built factory should the application be successful.
Developers Morbaine and Sainsbury’s will be hoping to avoid the opposition that saw the supermarket's application to build a new store in Ledbury defeated
Tricia Thomas, director and co-owner of Thomas Panels and Profiles along with husband Richard, has backed the plan.
She said: “This move would enable us to secure the growth of the business and allow us to develop further and flourish.”
Public consultation sessions are due to take place next Tuesday and Wednesday at Leominster Town Council chamber.
A planning application is expected to be submitted ahead of Christmas.
- See today's Hereford Times for more on this story.
Comments(18)
Surefunk
says...
4:49pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Thomas re-located there not that long ago, completely refurbed the cladding and have recently built an extention to the building. This relatively new manufacturing site would be demolished for a new retail store.
Thomas are at the enterance to the Leominster enterprise park which has masses of empty land waiting to be filled. I don't know it just does'nt add up for me but i'm sure it does for Tricia Thomas, director and co-owner of Thomas Panels and Profiles along with husband Richard.
basil jones
says...
7:05am Fri 12 Oct 12
steveinleo
says...
7:39am Fri 12 Oct 12
If Sainsbury's get their proposed location It would be at the eastern end of the ghostly by-pass route I mentioned earlier.
A petrol station on our industrial estate would certainly be handy too. This would also bring a fairer price competition to town.
Another big pluss would be the job creation for Leominster.
We were promised a big employer for the advantage west midlands "white elephant" (new industrial estate) where so far there has been mostly a relocation of current employers, which has done little to help Leominster.
The Thomas family business has been a welcome sight to the industrial estate and I hope they will simply relocate to another part of the industrial estate and maintain their existing employee's and flourish as suggested.
Got my thumbs up for sure.
TwoWheelsGood
says...
8:10am Fri 12 Oct 12
Andrew Warmington
says...
8:53am Fri 12 Oct 12
Fairly typical reporting of the subject in the local press, needless to add. So the people who will cash in by selling their existing site are in favour of the development - who knew?!
AJS2992
says...
12:08pm Fri 12 Oct 12
The quality of Sainsbury's food for the most part is far superior than that of Tesco, Morrison's and ASDA hence the higher prices. Even then it is only by 30p or so.
Customer Service there is much better than the other supermarkets. Staff actually smile and talk to you unlike at Tesco where the staff just look at you miserably and are generally rude and unhelpful, not all of them but most.
Branded food is slightly higher by 10p or so but Brand Match will take care of that.
I think Sainsbury's in Leominster will be great as there is no choice there and a percieved 'overpriced' store might actaully spruce the place up.
High streets are dead across the country and people need to accept that the only profitable stores these days are supermarkets. Why pay £2 for a cabbage at a greengrocer when I can go to a supermarket and get one for 70p?
The reason myself and others have left Ledbury is the lack of options and a Sainsbury's there would have kept me there.
drewbreath
says...
1:26pm Fri 12 Oct 12
Colin J Marschall
says...
2:02pm Fri 12 Oct 12
drewbreath wrote:Not as far as I am aware, and just like Leominster it is badly required.
Has Sainsbury's actually said it's not trying again in Ledbury?
RichHadley
says...
5:06pm Fri 12 Oct 12
"Why pay £2 for a cabbage at a greengrocer when I can go to a supermarket and get one for 70p?" If you buy fresh seasonal produce (probably locally produced) in your local greengrocer or butcher, you will find better prices, fresher produce and infinitely better tasting than the packaged, transported, cold-stored variety from the supermarkets, whether Asda or Waitrose. Here in Ledbury we have three greengrocers and a range of market stall selling amazing Herefordshire and Gloucestershire produce at prices that regularly and substantially undercut the supermarkets. Plus they represent very much lower carbon footprint/food miles.
Local independent shops that make up our High Streets are worth fighting for. They represent a hub of the community, provide friendly, responsive service and serve to maintain the historic fabric of the buildings in old towns like Ledbury and Leominster. Boarded up shops lead to festering crime, decay and social alienation.
People who want to do all their shopping in supermarkets are freely able to use them - god knows we have enough (not including the internet). Those that want the choice of supermarket and local independent traders operating side by side should resist out of town superstore developments - they suck trade and footfall out of town centres and lead to the ruination of bustling, busy high streets. Check out what Mary Portas has to say on the matter.
Good luck Leominster.
etnam news
says...
9:03am Sat 13 Oct 12
Leominster needs a thriving town centre alongside out of town retail, but this will not happen if Hereford council bleed it dry with unfair charges not found in any supermarket car parks.
s.cowell
says...
3:45pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Plus the added bonus of more local jobs!! AMAZING!
David Tyler
says...
5:18pm Sat 13 Oct 12
You go for it Leominster - Don't let your part of Herefordshire become a reflection of Eastbourne Under Hill a.k.a Ledbury where the town offers absolutely nothing for those struggling with juggling the household finances etc, not to mention the lack of jobs be they part or full time for John Masefield school leavers.
Investement in the town by a major national supermarket shouild be welcomed by all and not poo pooed by a few who wish to think only of themselves.
RichHadley
says...
10:20pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Astute readers will of course know that Mr Tyler is Sainsburys' Chairman, and is finding time to grace us with a few pithy and well-aimed remarks in support of his company and its expansion plans in rural Herefordshire.
Unless of course Mr Tyler is a fictional creation, someone who likes to hide their identity and stir up a bit of class-war/social conflict from the comfort of
their back bedroom computer table.
Mmm. Wonder who that could be...
s.cowell
says...
11:33pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Andrew Warmington
says...
9:58am Sun 14 Oct 12
(I also use my own name, as does Rich Hadley. 'David Tyler' is the pseudonym of the most prominent pro campaigner; he has a long record of using false names to say he things he'd rather not say under his real name. He knows who he is and he also knows that I know who he is.)
Anyway, this thread shouldn't be about Ledbury but Leominster. I hope you manage to organise yourselves to fight this off. You know even better than we do how an OOTS can rip the heart out of a town because it has happened to you once already. Of course some will want it and that's their privilege, try not to let it get personal as we sometimes did.
LOTS can't fight your battle for you but do take heart from the result of Sainsbury's and Tesco both failing to get an OOTS here. They don't always win.
amylouhufc
says...
10:51am Sun 14 Oct 12
If I had the time, and the money, I would happily shop in local businesses on a weekly basis, but this isn't a luxury many of us can entertain.
Sainsbury's can not only offer a competitive price for the goods that they sell, they will offer job and career opportunities, support for local charities, and will work with local businesses and local councils to ensure they don't suffer by making agreements regarding ranges.
If the local businesses can adapt and offer a service that the supermarket cannot, they will not lose out.
basil jones
says...
4:04pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Lukio says...
4:24pm Thu 11 Oct 12
It will be interesting to see if this application comes up against as fierce opposition as the Ledbury one did.