|
Tesco's supermarket
The Tesco supermarket chain first showed an interest in Bourne during the late 20th century when they tried unsuccessfully to build a store on land adjoining the A15 to the south of the town but their application for planning permission in 1996 was turned down. Councillors decided that as the proposed supermarket was outside the recognised town centre, it would jeopardise the viability and vitality of existing shops in Bourne. Ironically, the proposed site was part of 17 acres of land alongside the trunk road that was later planned as a £10 million business and commercial park but the project foundered through lack of support and the site was still lying idle in 2002. By this time, Tesco had joined forces with the Esso petroleum company that had opened its new 24-hour service filling station on the site of Woolf's garage in North Street in 1994 and their joint proposal for a petrol station cum grocery store was subsequently accepted by district planners early in 2002. This was seen by many people as an entry into Bourne by the back door but in the event there were no objections. There were also fears of increased dangers at this point, a double road junction with the main A15 that had already been improved because of public pressure with two mini roundabouts to take increased traffic flows from the new Sainsburys superstore that had opened in Exeter Street in the summer of 1999. But once again, the new development was agreed even though a grocery-petrol complex at this point was likely to create even more road traffic dangers than in the past. The pre-publicity for the project also suggested that the new grocery store would be an addition to the existing petrol filling station, which was barely seven years old, with only the loss of the car wash, but once work began, it became obvious that the entire site was to be cleared to make way for a completely new building.
Contractors started pulling down the old petrol filling station in May 2002 and the developers promised that the new facility would be in business by August 9th of that year but roadworks outside delayed the opening until Monday 19th August and the new Esso/Tesco store and petrol station is pictured below during its first week of trading. Tesco applied for an off-licence to sell alcohol from their new supermarket and filling station later that year. This was a surprise to many people in Bourne who had thought that sales would be confined to petrol and food and that if an off-licence had been intended, it would have been included in the original plans. There was still a great deal of opposition nationally to the prospect of selling intoxicating drinks at a petrol outlet and it was a subject that concerned many local councillors who may not have been so prompt with their vote for the new development had an off-licence been included. As it was, the permission necessary was no longer within their orbit but a decision by the magistrates. The application was duly considered by the licensing justices for the petty sessional division held at Stamford on Wednesday 9th October 2002 and as there were no major objections, it was granted. In December 2009, Tesco announced plans to build a new store in South Road, Bourne, covering 40,000 sq. ft. Company representatives gave a presentation on the project to the town council on Tuesday 8th December when it was revealed that they had bought the Opico site at the corner of Cherryholt Road from the Anglia Regional Co-operative Society and in January 2010, submitted an application for planning permission from South Kesteven District Council with a view to starting construction work in the summer.
In the meantime, the company began a public consultation over their intentions by writing to all households and carrying out door-to-door surveys in the surrounding area outlining the plans and the implications for the district. Corporate affairs manager Nick Gellatly said: "The new store will provide increased retail choice at good value to local residents. Tesco is always keen to recruit locally and will be working with employment organisations such as Job Centre Plus to recruit a local workforce." It had been hoped that any new retail development on South Road would also include a petrol filling station which Bourne badly needs at this time but there was no such proposal with the current project. Construction work started in September 2010 and soon the new building began to take shape. The store opened on Monday 21st February 2011 with a cake and champagne launch attended by the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Mrs Pet Moisey, and during the day, 3,500 customers passed through the checkouts. Manager Mark Porter said that he had been overwhelmed by the response for the first day's trading which had exceeded all expectations. "Many said that they had come to meet the team and take a look what we have to offer", he said. "It was a great day all round." The new eco-store, which incorporates carbon reduction technology and rainwater harvesting, is employing 180 staff and has 318 parking spaces. Apart from the usual groceries and drinks, there are fresh fish and meat counters and a bakery as well as a wide range of other goods including clothing and electrical appliances. There is also a cash machine and recycling facilities and a pharmacy is also planned and a pharmacy.
REVISED MAY 2012 See also North Street Sainsburys
Go to: Main Index Villages Index
|
