Co-op supermarket has plans for a Warwick estate

[dutchman]

Plans have been drawn up for a small supermarket on the Woodloes Estate and new investment in the Woodloes Tavern.



Punch Taverns and its development partner Midland Assured have unveiled plans for a 5,000 sq ft Midlands Co-operative store to be built on land next to the pub on the corner of Woodloes Avenue and Deansway.

The Woodloes Estate currently has a small row of shops near the pub, which provides a Premier convenience store, a newsagents, chip shop, off licence, post office and pharmacy but the nearest major supermarket outlet is the small Marks and Spencer at the Coventry Road BP Garage.

A Midlands Cooperative spokesman said: “The Woodloes new store will offer a full range. The store will also offer everyday essentials for all budgets, fresh and frozen product ranges, as well as an in-store bakery, a cash machine and services such as Paypoint and Payzone. Customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of shopping with a true local community retailer by becoming a member of the co-operative.”

Simon Davis of Midland Assured added: “The store is within walking and cycling distance of its intended catchment and it is hoped that the development will revitalise the heart of Woodloes and encourage residents to do more shopping locally, increasing trade and providing locals with a high quality food store and easy access to every day amenities.”

Punch Taverns, which will retain the ownership of Woodloes Tavern, has committed to investing money back into the pub to improve and promote the public house as a community facility.

However, the proposal has received a mixed reception from the nearby traders, and Kamal Patel of KP Newsagents said: “We fought for that pub to be opened because Tesco were interested in it and people were against it.

“We’ve already got a supermarket next door, do we need another one? People were very against Tesco so I presume it will be the same thing again. We’ve got everything we want on this estate, I don’t think the public will want it.

“I imagine this would take over everything. We’ve been here for many years, we’re open from 6am to 6pm seven days a week, we have a post office, pharmacy, wine shop and mini supermarket - do we really require another one?”

But Michael Passmore of the Post Office said: “Anything that brings more trade onto the estate I would welcome, but I’d need to see the plans of where to put it.”

Architect David Sercombe said the store has been designed “sensitively” and trees will screen the building from Deansway.

A public consultation will be held, with the plans exhibited, in the Woodloes Tavern from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on Thursday.