'We must stop our town stagnating'

PLANS to build a Sainsbury's supermarket in Louth were met with a mixed reaction by the town's residents at the latest meeting to discuss the proposals.

As reported, a public meeting was called by Louth Town Council after most of the councillors objected in principle to the proposals for the supermarket.

Plans for the new 20,000sqft store, on the site of the former Clothing Factory, off Eve Street – which could create 200 jobs if given the go-ahead – have now been submitted to East Lindsey District Council's (ELDC) planning department and are at the consultation stage.

Around 40 residents attended Tuesday's meeting to give their views on the plans, where several raised concerns about the proposals.

These included:

Issues with access in and out of the proposed store.

The potential loss of one of only two of the town's long stay car parks, in Kiln Lane.

The effect it could have on market traders, who regularly use the Kiln Lane car park.

Fears the building will be in a flood risk area.

The potential increase in traffic could pose a safety risk.

Those for the proposals argued that the new store would benefit the town and stop it "stagnating".

They also said it would keep more people in Louth and that "anything is better" than the derelict buildings that currently exist on the site.

Susan Dodge, of Broadbank, said: "As a victim of the 2007 floodings, I strongly object to the proposals by Sainsbury's and we should make a stand that it should not go ahead."

Mrs Dodge then referred to a section of the flood risk assessment in the proposals which states: "The store itself has been raised above the existing level of the ground in order to ensure that any future flooding of the site does not pose a risk to the property or people inside the store.

"This does, however, reduce the existing flood storage capacity on the site."

Mrs Dodge said: "There is no mention of people who live upwards of the stream which caused the flooding in 2007.

"This is a flood risk area and none of the residents should have to go through what happened two years ago again."

Nicola Oliver, of James Street, said: "One of the issues with this proposal is the amount of extra traffic it will bring into the town.

"I saw a lorry mounting the pavement a few days ago and a cyclist was knocked over by a van.

"Accidents do happen here and the pavements and roads are not wide enough for it to all come through."

Another resident, who lives in Charles Street, said: "Particularly from 8am to 9am there are a lot of children walking around this area and the increase in traffic, which is bound to come, will pose a safety risk to the children."

Jennie Dunbar, of Hawthorne Avenue, said: "Eve Street is already very busy with a nursery, a vets and a doctors and the road is very narrow so it will create problems.

Backing for the plans came from Coun Andrew Leonard, of Upgate.

He said: "If we don't accept it, it is going to stifle Louth and instead of 'Keeping Louth Special', we are keeping Louth in the dark ages.

"Young families want to stay in Louth and do a one-stop shop and we are losing a lot of business to Grimsby."

Coun David Wing said: "There has been a lot of bleating about the issues this will create, when people should be bleating about losing the town."

Find out more

Keep looking out for details of the next meeting – and any updates on the proposals – in your Grimsby Telegraph.

More news from the Louth area can be found at www.thisislouth.co.uk